Bouncer in Cricket: The Short-Pitched Delivery That Intimidates Batters

What is a bouncer?

A bouncer (or short-pitched delivery) is a delivery bowled very short of a length, so that it pitches well behind the usual good-length zone and rises sharply — targeting the batter's chest, shoulders, or head. Fast bowlers use bouncers to unsettle batters, force them to play uncomfortable defensive shots, and create edges to the wicketkeeper or slip cordon. At 85–95 mph, a bouncer can reach the batter's head in under 0.4 seconds after pitching, leaving minimal reaction time.

Bouncer rules and limits

The ICC regulates bouncers to prevent intimidation and protect batters. In international cricket, bowlers are limited to two bouncers per over (deliveries passing above shoulder height of the standing batter). A third bouncer in the same over is called a no-ball — a free hit follows in T20Is and ODIs. Umpires warn bowlers for persistent short-pitched bowling deemed dangerous (rising at the head or upper body repetitively), and persistent violations can result in the bowler being removed from the attack.

How batters play the bouncer

The standard defensive response is the ducking: the batter bends their knees and drops under the line of the ball, letting it pass harmlessly overhead. The alternative — the hook shot — involves the batter pulling a bouncer at or above head height, with a horizontal bat, aiming to hit the ball towards fine leg or square leg for six. The hook carries risk: a top edge can fly to a fielder stationed on the fine-leg or deep backward-square boundary specifically for this purpose. The pull shot is the lower-trajectory version of the hook, targeting a bouncer at chest or shoulder height with more control.