Free Hit Rules in Cricket: No-Balls and Scoring Opportunities
The free hit was introduced in limited-overs cricket to penalise no-balls — on the delivery after a no-ball, the batsman cannot be dismissed (except run-out). This guide explains free hit rules in full, when they apply, and how teams exploit them strategically.
The free hit is a limited-overs cricket rule where, following a no-ball delivery, the next delivery is a 'free hit' — on which the batsman can only be dismissed run-out. The batsman cannot be bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, or dismissed by any other method on a free hit delivery. This rule was introduced to create additional penalty for no-balls beyond the one extra run — making bowlers more careful about over-stepping.
What Triggers a Free Hit
In T20 Internationals, any no-ball triggers a free hit on the following delivery. In ODIs, only a front-foot no-ball (bowler's back foot landing over the return crease, or front foot landing outside the crease) triggers a free hit — height no-balls (full-toss above waist height) and ball-wide no-balls have additional penalty runs but do not automatically trigger a free hit in all formats. The ICC has periodically reviewed the inconsistency between formats.
Field Placement on Free Hits
On a free hit, fielding captains position fielders defensively: deep on both sides to prevent sixes, saving the boundary in the most likely scoring direction. Since the batsman can only be dismissed run-out, the most valuable fielder placement is close enough to the batting crease to prevent a run being taken from a defensive shot — though this leaves more boundary gaps. The strategic tension in free hit field placement is between conceding a boundary vs allowing a comfortable single.
No-Ball Rules in Full
A no-ball is called when: the bowler's front foot lands outside the crease (front foot no-ball, most common), the ball bounces more than twice before reaching the batsman, the ball pitches off the pitch completely, the wicketkeeper moves in front of the wicket before the ball passes, there are too many fielders behind square on the leg side (more than 2), or the ball is bowled above the batsman's waist on the full (a full-toss beamer). Each no-ball adds 1 run to the batting team's total and delivers an extra ball.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free hit in cricket?
A free hit is a delivery following a no-ball in limited-overs cricket where the batsman cannot be dismissed by any method except run-out. The batting team cannot be bowled, caught, LBW, or stumped on a free hit delivery. The rule was introduced to add additional penalty to no-balls beyond the 1-run extra awarded.
Can you score a six on a free hit in cricket?
Yes — the batsman can score any runs on a free hit delivery, including sixes. A six on a free hit adds 6 runs to the batting team's total from the free hit delivery, plus the 1 run already awarded for the no-ball itself — making a six on a free hit worth 7 runs total from those two deliveries.
Does every no-ball in cricket give a free hit?
In T20 International cricket, every no-ball triggers a free hit on the following delivery. In ODI cricket, only front-foot no-balls (over-stepping the crease) automatically trigger a free hit. Height no-balls (above-waist full-tosses) and wide no-balls have additional run penalties in ODIs but do not always trigger a free hit — ICC rules have varied by format and tournament.