As an avid cricket fan, you must have had a hard time figuring out the 2nd bounce rule in cricket at some point, right? Well, you are not alone. The 2nd bouncer rule in cricket, also known as the 2nd bounce no ball rule or the 2 no ball rule informally, is applied differently across several formats of the game, which keeps the fans guessing. At the start of every over, every bowler has his/her bouncer limit fixed. Once the bouncer warning limit is breached, the fielding side gets penalized by a no ball call. So, is 2nd bouncer a no ball right away, irrespective of the format? To get a much deeper understanding of the 2 bouncers per over rule in cricket, we must begin by understanding what a bouncer ball is.

A bouncer is a typical short-pitched delivery designed to push the batters on the back foot and keep them inside their crease. Any delivery which passes above the shoulder height of a batter standing upright at the popping crease is deemed to be a bouncer. According to the latest regulations of the game, a bowler’s ability to bowl bouncers in an over is dictated by the bouncer no ball rules in cricket.

As a matter of fact, the 2 bouncers per over rule varies across formats, and the failure to comply with this 2nd bouncer rule in cricket will most certainly attract a no ball penalty. So this indeed begs the question. What is the bouncer rule in cricket? And how does the 2nd bounce rule in cricket apply uniformly across all formats? In this cricket rules and regulations guide, we will explore how many bouncers are allowed in cricket and understand what happens when a fast bowler exceeds his/her quota of bowling short-pitched bouncers in an over.

2nd Bouncer Rule in Cricket: Difference Between Bouncer and Short Pitched Delivery

Wondering what is the major difference between bouncer and short ball? What makes the two deliveries so distinct? Any delivery that causes the batter to play the cricket ball on the back foot is deemed a short-pitched delivery, regardless of how high the cricket ball might have passed. Whereas a bouncer is typically bowled above the shoulder height of a batter standing upright at the popping crease. It is imperative to note that for any short-pitched delivery to be considered a bouncer, the cricket ball must have passed above the shoulder height of a batter. This further takes into account any possible deliveries that might have gone above a batter’s head, which is traditionally accompanied by the call of a wide. In other words, all bouncers are technically short-pitched deliveries, but not all short-pitched deliveries are considered bouncers.

Difference between bouncer and short ball (Key Pointers)

Feature	Bouncer	Short-Pitched Delivery
Height at Batter	Above shoulder to head height (or higher).	Knee, waist, or chest height.
Pitch Position	Usually halfway or less down the wicket.	Generally back of a good length to halfway down.
Restrictions (If any)	2nd bounce no ball rule applies	No restrictions

2nd Bouncer Rule in Cricket: All Formats Covered

Format	Bouncers Allowed (In an Over)	2nd Bounce No Ball Rule Valid?	What Follows After The 2nd Bounce No Ball Rule?
Test	2	No	No ball
ODI	2	No	No ball + Free-hit
T20I	1	Yes	No ball + Free-hit

There are presently three main types of bouncer no ball rules in cricket, split across three main formats – Test, ODI, and T20I.

Test: So, how many bouncers are allowed in the test? In Test cricket, a fast bowler is allowed 2 bouncers above shoulder height. When the first bouncer is bowled, the umpire signals one bounce for the over by tapping his/her opposite shoulder with their primary arm. The signal is repeated again in the event of a second bouncer, and the bowler is cautioned politely after reaching the bouncer threshold under the bouncer no ball rule. But as soon as the limit is breached, the bowling team is liable to be penalized under the bouncer no ball rules in cricket. The bouncer rule in cricket only kicks in when more than 2 bouncers are bowled in an over.

ODI: Let’s move on to our next query on how many bouncers are allowed in ODI? In ODIs, a fast bowler is also allowed the same number of bouncers (2) in an over as in Test cricket. The umpire usually taps the opposite shoulder with one arm when the first bouncer is bowled. The process stays the same in the event of a second bouncer in an over, followed by a friendly caution. If at any point in an over, this threshold is breached under the no ball bouncer rule, the fielding team is slapped by a no ball offence. Unlike Tests, a free-hit delivery follows, which further adds to the woes of the fielding side. The bouncer no ball rule in cricket does not apply as the bowler is permitted to bowl a maximum of two bouncers above shoulder height.

T20I: Did you know how many bouncers are allowed in T20 internationals? This is where the 2nd bouncer rule in cricket comes into play. In T20s, the bouncer no ball rules in cricket apply a little differently compared to the other two formats. Instead of 2, a bowler can only bowl 1 bouncer in an over. Bowling a second bouncer above shoulder height inadvertently forces the 2nd bounce no ball rule to come into effect. Under the second bouncer rule, the bowler gets penalized for a no ball if the bouncer count exceeds 1. Similar to the ODI format, the 2nd bouncer rule in cricket is followed by a free-hit.

2nd Bouncer Rule in Cricket: Is Bouncer Warning Issued in Cricket?

The bouncer no ball rules in cricket are designed in a way to prevent fast bowlers from bowling an unlimited amount of short-pitched deliveries in an over. Under the ICC Playing Conditions, clause 41.6.1 states that a bowler is limited to 2 bouncers in ODI and Tests and just one bouncer in T20s.

If the bouncer count exceeds under the second bounce rule in cricket, the umpire reserves the right to signal a no ball. But if the no ball under the bouncer rules in cricket is ignored, the playing conditions guide an umpire to do the following:

41.6.1.1. The umpire shall call and signal No ball, and when the ball is dead, caution the bowler and inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the batsmen of what has occurred. This caution shall apply to that bowler throughout the innings.

41.6.1.2. If there is a second instance, the umpire shall repeat the above procedure and indicate to the bowler that this is a final warning, which shall apply to that bowler throughout the innings.

41.6.1.3. Should there be any further instance by the same bowler in that innings, the umpire shall:

a) Call and signal No ball
b) Direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling
c) Inform the other umpire for the reason. The bowler is not allowed to bowl again in that match.

Clause 41.6 (Unfair Play)

Points a, b, and c under clause 46.6.1.3 make it very clear that repeated offences under the bouncer no ball rule in cricket would compel the umpire to debar a bowler from bowling again in the match. As per the bouncer warning in cricket goes, a maximum of two warnings is issued to a bowler after the second bouncer in an over is bowled, before he/she gets taken out of the attack.

FAQ on Bouncer No Ball Rules in Cricket

Closing Thoughts on 2nd Bouncer No Ball Rule in Cricket

There are primarily three main types of bouncer no ball rules in cricket that apply based on the format of the game. Any cricket ball that is deemed to have passed above the shoulder height of a batter constitutes a bouncer. Under the bouncer rule in cricket, only two bouncers are allowed in the Tests & ODIs, while T20 cricket only permits one bouncer in an over. Once the threshold under the bouncer ball rule in cricket is breached, the fielding team is liable to be punished by a no ball, followed by a free-hit in case of a limited-overs format. The application of the 2nd bounce no ball rule only occurs in the T20I format, where a bowler is allowed no more than one bouncer in an over.

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