The no ball rules in cricket represent one of the most frustrating setbacks a bowler can face. Widely viewed as a criminal act from the bowling side, it’s often the last thing you want, especially in a tightly poised contest. Not only do u allow the opposition to sneak an extra run and an extra delivery to score off, but these days all types of no ball in cricket are accompanied by a free hit. Batter gets the freedom to go big while not having to worry about his or her wicket. Such a scenario can severely hinder the bowling team’s ability to restrict a batting side in a limited-overs game. Unfortunately, it is the bowler who typically has to bear the brunt of bowling a no ball in cricket.
Quick List of All Types of Cricket No Ball Rules
- Popping crease no ball rules (a.k.a foot fault no ball)
- Waist height no ball rules (Any non-pitching presumably passing above waist)
- Height no ball rules (2nd bouncer no ball)
- Double bounce no ball rules (Ball bouncing more than once before reaching the batter)
- Wicket keeper no ball rules (Keeper collecting the ball in front of the stumps)
- Chucking (Illegal bowling action)
- Fielder encroaching on the pitch
- Bowler breaking the stumps while delivering the ball
- Leg side no ball rules (No more than two fielders can be allowed behind square on the leg side)
- Fielding restriction violation
- Under-arm bowling (Rarest type of no ball rule)
- T20/ODI no ball rules (Can’t field more than 5 fielders on the leg side)
- Ball pitching outside the pitch no ball rule
- Change of Action/Side without prior approval from umpire
The no ball rules in cricket were first introduced sometime in the 1780s. The lawmakers back then mandated that for a delivery to be fair, the bowler shall deliver the cricket ball with one foot behind the bowling crease and within the return crease. Earlier in the day, the cricket no ball rules primarily applied to foot-fault no balls. But as generations and years rolled by, the scope of the no ball was expanded to encompass numerous other scenarios.
While we may not have the capacity to cover all types of no ball rules in cricket, in this article, we will try to go beyond the traditional concept of a front-foot no ball in cricket and explore other mainstream types of no ball rules in cricket. Remember, the bowler is not always the guilty party here!
Table of Contents
Waist Height No Ball Rules In Cricket
The waist height no ball rules in cricket are one of the most contentious rules of the game. It’s also one of the hardest decisions to make as an umpire and has long fueled controversies and intense on-field clashes between players and match officials. The game can swing either way if the waist height no ball in cricket is not called correctly without the help of technology.
While it may not always be easy to correctly assess waist height no balls all the time, the fundamental principle behind this ruling is based on a rather simple concept, which can be understood by any ardent cricket lover.
The waist height no ball rules in cricket are covered under Law 41.1 of the MCC Laws of Cricket. It states that any delivery which passes or would have presumably passed over the waist height of a batter standing upright at the popping crease, then a no ball must be called by the umpire.
41.7 Bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries
Law 41 (Unfair Play)
41.7.1 Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is unfair. Whenever such a delivery is bowled, the umpire shall call and signal No ball.
When It’s NOT a Waist Height No Ball
Under no ball rules in cricket, there are certain provisions put in place to prevent misuse of this type of no ball rule in cricket. A batter can’t just merely skip down the track and meet the cricket ball on the full and then expect the no ball rule to benefit him/her.
In such a scenario, ONLY the batter’s original position will be considered while adjudicating the waist height no ball rules in cricket. Take a look at the illustration video above to understand how the bowler, T Natarajan, got away with a very high full toss since Ben Stokes had advanced way down the wicket to meet the ball.
Shoulder Height No Ball Rules in Cricket
Did you know that, as a bowler, you can also get called for a no-ball due to height? This is where the shoulder height no ball rules in cricket kick in. It’s commonly referred to as the bouncer no ball rules or 2nd bounce no ball. This type of no ball in cricket applies when a bowler exceeds their quota of bouncers in an over. According to the latest regulations imposed by the ICC under the 2nd bounce no ball rule, a bowler is only allowed to bowl a maximum of 2 bouncers each in an ODI or a Test match, while only one bouncer is allowed in T20 cricket. As soon as the cricket ball is delivered above shoulder height, the concerned umpire signals one bouncer for the over by tapping his or her opposite shoulder with their hand.
But the moment this threshold is breached, the umpire reserves the right to issue a 2nd bouncer a no ball. This is done by signalling a no ball first and then using the same arm to tap on the head, indicating the height factor of the 2nd bouncer no ball rule. The second bounce no ball rule is only valid in the Test and the ODI format. In T20 cricket, the 2nd bouncer no ball does not apply as a bowler is only allowed to deliver one bouncer above shoulder height.
According to the ICC Playing Conditions across formats, Law 41.6.1.8 under Unfair Play makes it clear that if any bowler were to cross the fast short-pitched delivery quota, he or she will be called for a no-ball.
41.7 Bowling of dangerous and unfair short pitched deliveries
Law 41 (Height No Ball Unfair Play)
41.7.1 In the event of a bowler bowling more than one fast short-pitched
delivery in an over as defined in clause 41.6.1.5 above, the umpire at the
bowler’s end shall call and signal No ball on each occasion. A differential
signal shall be used to signify a fast short pitched delivery. The umpire
shall call and signal ‘No ball’ and then tap the head with the other hand.
The height no ball in cricket has been witnessed several times in the past, preferably with the help of technology, though its frequency is generally on the lower side when compared to other types of no ball rules in cricket. As always, all types of no ball in cricket are now accompanied by a free hit.
Bowler Breaking Wicket No Ball Rules in Cricket
A bowler can now be penalized for a no ball in cricket if he or she, while delivering the cricket ball, makes contact with the bowler’s end stumps and subsequently breaks them in the process. This variant of no ball rules in cricket will also apply even if the wickets are broken with the help of a bowler’s clothing.
Law 21 of the MCC, which specifically covers all possible scenarios of no ball rules in cricket decribes the exact circumstances that might lead to a bowler being called for a no-ball for breaking the wicket.
21.6 Bowler breaking wicket in delivering ball
Law 21 (No Ball Law)
If the ball is delivered and if the non-striker is not dismissed under Law 41.16 (Non-striker leaving his/her ground early), either umpire shall call and signal No ball if the bowler breaks the wicket at any time after the ball comes into play and before completion of the stride after the delivery stride. This shall include any clothing or other object that falls from his/her person and breaks the wicket. See Appendix A.12. Laws 20.4.2.8, 20.4.2.10 (Umpire calling and signalling Dead ball) and 21.12 will apply.
Instances of this type of no ball rule in cricket is generally not seen on a widespread scale. While it might be a rarity in modern-day cricket, players at the amateur level or from junior cricket are generally more susceptible to bowling such a type of no ball in cricket. Additionally, bowlers who get too close to the stumps while in their delivery stride risk flicking the stumps with their bowling arm. You might be interested in checking out how New Zealand’s Zak Foulkes wicket-breaking no ball in cricket proved costly for his side.
Ball Bouncing More Than Once No Ball Rules In Cricket
It’s seen as a moment of embarrassment for the bowler if a cricket ball delivered reaches the batter after bouncing more than once. It’s often the sluggish nature of the delivery that causes it to bounce twice before it reaches the batter. This gives away the impression that the bowler is simply not quick enough, which can in turn lower a bowler’s morale.
According to MCC Law 21.7, the umpires are required to signal a no ball in cricket if they consider the ball to have either bounced more than once before reaching the striker’s popping crease or rolled along the turf.
21.7 Ball bouncing more than once, rolling along the ground or pitching off the pitch
Law 21 (No Ball Law)
The umpire shall call and signal No ball if a ball which he/she considers to have been delivered, without having previously touched bat or person of the striker,
bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease
Did you know you could also be called for a no ball in cricket if the ball pitches outside the pitch? Yes, you heard it right, but only in certain instances. Know what the rules say if the ball pitches outside the pitch by visiting the link below.
Wicket Keeper Encroachment No Ball Rules in Cricket
Under the No ball rules in cricket, a wicket-keeper’d encroachment is a specific type of no ball in cricket that occurs when the keeper does not remain in the correct position at the time the ball is delivered.
Wondering how this unfolds in a real-life scenario?
Well, according to Law 27.3, the entire body of the wicket-keeper must fully remain behind the wickets till the cricket ball has either made contact with the bat or the batter’s body, or gone past the striker’s wicket. Failure to meet either of those conditions can lead to a call of no ball in cricket.
27.3 Position of wicket-keeper
Law 27 (Wicket-keeper)
27.3.1 The wicket-keeper shall remain wholly behind the wicket at the striker’s end from the moment the ball comes into play until a ball delivered by the bowler
touches the bat or person of the striker or
passes the wicket at the striker’s end or
the striker attempts a run.
27.3.2 In the event of the wicket-keeper contravening this Law, the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal No ball as soon as applicable after the delivery of the ball.
Such types of no ball rules in cricket can only be applied effectively with the use of technology. But for the naked eye to judge, this could be a tall order to fill. And as always, all types of no ball in cricket come with an added punishment which needs to be faced by the bowler.
Fielder Encroachment No Ball Rules in Cricket
The no ball rules in cricket hardly spare anyone from the fielding side, though it is the bowler alone who has to suffer all the consequences. In this type of no ball rule in cricket, the sin originates from a close-in fielder rather than the bowler.
According to clause 28.5 of the Fielder Law, from the moment the bowler starts his/her run up to the point the ball makes contact with the bat, no fielder reserves the right to extend his/her body or clothing over the pitch. If any of the possibilities were to occur, the concerned umpire would call and signal no ball.
28.5 Fielders not to encroach on pitch
Law 28 (Fielder law)
While the ball is in play and until the ball has made contact with the striker’s bat or person, or has passed the striker’s bat, no fielder, other than the bowler, may have any part of his/her person grounded on or extended over the pitch.
The occurrence of such types of no ball in cricket is usually rare. But encroachment from fielders and the wicket-keeper has occurred in the history of the game. You’d normally get close to seeing these no ball rules in cricket take effect during a Test match, where more players can be seen surrounding the batter when spin is in operation.
No Ball Rules in Cricket Dictated By Fielding Restrictions
Much to the ire of the bowlers, fielders fuel more agony when they find themselves wrongly positioned in the field while the ball is in play. It’s primarily caused when the fielding team has more than the required number of players outside the 30-yard circle. This type of cricket no ball rule originally stems from a fielding infringement, and the punishment for it is one extra run to the opposition followed by a free-hit.
So, how do the fielding violation no ball rules in cricket apply in real-time? The regulations set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) dictate how many fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle depending on the match format. The no ball rules in T20 cricket allow a fielding side to have a maximum of five fielders outside the ring after the completion of the first 6 overs. However, the no ball rules differ considerably in the ODI format, where fielding restrictions are divided across three main types of powerplay as highlighted in the table below.
| Cricket No Ball Rules (Fielding Restriction) | Test (Max fielders allowed) | ODI (Max fielders allowed) | T20I (Max fielders allowed) |
| Fielders Behind Square | Not more than 2 fielders can be placed behind the square leg umpire | Stays same | Stays same |
| Fielders inside 30-yard circle | Does not apply | P1 – 2 fielders outside P2- 4 fielders to be outside P3- 5 fielders can be out | Over 1-6: Max 2 fielders outside After 6 overs: Max 5 fielders outside |
FAQ on No Ball Rules In Cricket
How many types of no ball rules exist in cricket?
Currently, there are over 10 types of cricket no ball rules, primarily resulting from bowler lapses and fielding infringements.
What is the bouncer no ball rule in cricket all about?
Also commonly referred to as the shoulder height no ball rules in cricket. A bowler can be called for a no ball if he/she exceeds the quota of bowling bouncers in an over at any point during a match.
How many bouncers is a bowler allowed before the 2nd bounce no ball rule takes effect in a match?
The bouncer no ball rules in cricket varies according to the format of the game. In a T20I, a bowler is allowed to bowl one bouncer in an over. The 2nd bounce no ball rule is only applicable in ODI and Tests, where a bowler is permitted to bowl a maximum of two bouncers above a batter’s shoulder.
Is double bounce a no ball?
Yes, if a ball bounces more than once or rolls along the turf before reaching the striker’s popping crease, then it’s a clear case of a double bounce no ball in cricket.
What’s the core concept behind waist height no ball rules in cricket?
The best way to judge a waist height no ball in cricket is by considering a batter’s original upright batting stance at the popping crease. If, according to the umpire’s opinion, the ball would have gone above the waist height of a batter, who originally would have stood upright at the popping crease, then a no ball must be signalled.
Do all no ball rules in cricket have a free-hit?
All types of no ball rules in cricket not only cost 1 run but are also accompanied by a free-hit, thereby adding to the plight of the bowling team.
Departing Thoughts on No Ball Rules in Cricket
A no ball in cricket carries costly repercussions for the bowling side. A bowler can get it entirely wrong in so many different ways. By now, you must have understood that the cricket no ball rules are very extensive and are not merely confined to front-foot no-balls alone. But in most cases, apart from fielding infringement and keeper encroaching, it’s within the bowler’s control to curtail the no balls. But Game pressure and intense match situations can often dent the mental composure of a bowler, leading him or her to deliver a dreadful no ball in cricket.
If you found our guide on no ball rules in cricket helpful, then you might be interested in knowing what our rulebook has to say about the pitching outside off LBW rule in cricket.
