No Ball in Cricket: All Types and What Happens After One
A no-ball in cricket is an illegal delivery that results in a penalty run for the batting team, a free hit (in limited overs cricket), and the delivery being re-bowled. There are multiple ways a bowler can bowl a no-ball: overstepping the popping crease, having the ball land above waist height (full toss), bowling from the wrong side, or having too many fielders in certain positions. Understanding no-ball types helps explain why some deliveries are called illegal even when the batsman is dismissed.
No-ball definition: a no-ball is a delivery that violates the Laws of Cricket regarding the mode of delivery. The consequences of a no-ball: (1) a penalty run (1 extra run) is added to the batting team's score; (2) the delivery does not count as a legal delivery in the over and must be re-bowled; (3) in limited-overs cricket (ODIs and T20s), the following delivery is a free hit — the batsman cannot be dismissed off a free hit except by being run out; (4) the batsman can still be dismissed off a no-ball in some modes (run out, obstructing the field) but cannot be caught, bowled, stumped, or LBW off a no-ball.
Foot No-Ball
The foot no-ball (overstepping): the most common type of no-ball in professional cricket is the foot no-ball — where the bowler's front foot lands on or beyond the popping crease (the crease 4 feet in front of the bowling crease). The bowler must land their front foot (or any part of it) behind the popping crease at the moment of delivery; if any part of the foot is on or across the crease, it is a no-ball. The square-leg umpire is responsible for calling foot no-balls — they watch the front foot and call 'no ball' if it oversteps. In international cricket, a third umpire check system has been introduced so the TV umpire can flag overstepping that the square-leg umpire misses (particularly for back-foot no-balls and wide no-balls).
Full Toss No-Ball
Full toss no-ball: a delivery that reaches the batsman above waist height on the full (without bouncing) is called a no-ball. For a pace bowler, a high full toss (above waist height) is illegal because it is a dangerous delivery that the batsman cannot legitimately play. For spin bowlers, the waist-height full toss rule applies similarly — a straight spinning full toss above waist height is illegal. The umpire uses the batsman's height and stance as the reference point for waist height. Beamer: a specific type of full toss (at or above head height) that is particularly dangerous — if a bowler bowls a deliberate beamer, the umpire will warn them and can remove them from bowling for the rest of the innings. The bowler does not need to intentionally bowl a beamer to be warned — if the delivery is deemed intentional, the sanction is immediate.
Free Hit After No-Ball
Free hit rules: in limited-overs cricket (ODI and T20 formats), a no-ball results in a free hit on the following delivery. On a free hit: the fielding team cannot dismiss the batsman through any method except a run-out; the batsman can attempt any shot without fear of getting out caught, bowled, stumped, hit wicket, or LBW. The umpires signal a free hit by making a circular arm motion above their head before the delivery. If the batsman hits the free hit to the boundary, they score 4 or 6 (plus the 1 no-ball extra already scored). If they miss the free hit and are not run out, the free hit is completed and normal play resumes. A wide off a no-ball: if the re-bowled delivery after a no-ball is wide, both a no-ball extra (from the original delivery) and a wide extra (from the next delivery) are counted, and the free hit must still be bowled.
Frequently asked questions
What is a no ball in cricket?
A no-ball in cricket is an illegal delivery that violates the Laws of Cricket. The most common type is the foot no-ball, where the bowler's front foot lands on or beyond the popping crease at the moment of delivery. Other types include: a full toss above waist height (delivered without bouncing); a delivery bowled from the wrong side of the wicket; having too many fielders behind square on the leg side (more than 2); or the wicketkeeper moving in front of the stumps before the ball passes the bat. Consequences of a no-ball: 1 penalty run for the batting team; the delivery is re-bowled; and in limited-overs cricket, the next delivery is a free hit (the batsman can only be dismissed by a run-out off a free hit).
What is a free hit in cricket?
A free hit in cricket is a delivery (following a no-ball in limited-overs cricket) on which the batsman cannot be dismissed except by a run-out. Free hits were introduced in ODI cricket in 2007 and in T20 cricket from its inception, to penalise no-balls more heavily and reward the batting team. The umpire signals a free hit by making a circular motion with one arm above their head. On a free hit, the batsman can swing freely knowing they cannot be caught, bowled, stumped, hit wicket, or LBW — only a run-out is possible. Free hits create high-pressure moments: batsmen sometimes hit the free hit for six or four; occasionally batsmen are run out attempting to exploit the free hit. Free hits do not apply in Test cricket — no-balls in Tests simply result in the 1 penalty run and a re-bowled delivery without the free hit bonus.
Can you be out off a no ball in cricket?
A batsman can only be dismissed in specific ways off a no-ball in cricket. The dismissal modes that ARE still valid off a no-ball: run out (if the batsman or non-striker leaves their crease and is dismissed); obstructing the field; handled the ball (now considered obstructing); and hit the ball twice. The dismissal modes that are NOT valid off a no-ball: caught (the catch does not count); bowled; LBW; stumped; and hit wicket. If the ball deflects off the no-ball delivery and hits the stumps without a fielder touching it, the batsman is not out. In limited-overs cricket, the free hit delivery after a no-ball also exempts the batsman from all dismissals except run-out. This means a batsman can survive what appears to be a dismissal if it occurs off a no-ball.