Full Toss in Cricket: A Delivery That Reaches the Batsman Without Bouncing
A full toss is a delivery that reaches the batsman at or below waist height without bouncing, typically easy to hit but still a dangerous weapon at high pace.
What Is a Full Toss in Cricket?
A full toss is a delivery that reaches the batsman without pitching (bouncing) first. Unlike the beamer (which is illegal when at head height), a full toss at or below waist height is legal. Full tosses are generally considered good balls to hit, but at high pace they can still be difficult to time correctly.
Why Full Tosses Happen
- Bowler slips in delivery — particularly at full pace
- Spinner attempting a flight delivery overpitches
- Deliberate slower ball full toss to change the pace
- Fatigue in death overs when bowlers have less control
Full Toss in Spin Bowling
Spin bowlers sometimes bowl deliberate full tosses as variation deliveries — a slow, loopy full toss can tempt the batsman to hit over the top and miscue to an outfielder. However, a poorly executed full toss by a spinner usually gets hit for a boundary.
Full Toss in Death Overs
In T20 death overs, batsmen actually look for full tosses — they provide the perfect platform for slogging. Bowlers who bowl full tosses under pressure of batting attack often get hit for boundaries or sixes. Tight, accurate bowling in death overs means avoiding full tosses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a full toss in cricket?
A full toss is a delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing. At or below waist height it is legal; above waist height it is a no-ball (beamer).
Is a full toss always easy to hit?
Generally yes, but at high pace a full toss can still be hard to time. In spin bowling, a slow full toss can be a deliberate variation.
When is a full toss a no-ball?
A full toss above waist height is automatically a no-ball (beamer).