No Ball in Cricket — Every Type Explained
A no ball is one of cricket's most varied rules — it can be called for a bowler overstepping the crease, a beamer, too many fielders outside the circle, or several other reasons. Learn every type of no ball and what happens when one is called.
A no ball is an illegal delivery that results in a run being added to the batting side's extras, the delivery being rebowled, and — in limited-overs cricket — a free hit on the next ball (for front-foot no balls). There are more than a dozen ways a delivery can be called a no ball.
The most common no ball — front foot overstepping
The most frequent no ball is the front foot no ball: when the bowler's front foot lands on or beyond the popping crease at the moment of delivery. The bowler must land with some part of their front foot behind the crease. This is checked by on-field umpires and, increasingly, by the third umpire with camera assistance in ICC events.
All types of no balls
- Front foot overstepping — most common type; front foot touches or crosses the popping crease.
- Back foot touching the return crease — the bowler's back foot must land within (not on or beyond) the return crease.
- Beamer — a full-toss delivered above waist height. Dangerous. Automatic no ball; the bowler is warned. Second beamer in an innings means the bowler is removed.
- Ball bouncing more than twice — if the ball bounces twice before reaching the batter.
- Ball coming to rest before reaching the batter — e.g., an extremely slow delivery that stops in the pitch.
- Ball coming to rest on top of the stumps — extremely rare.
- Too many fielders outside the circle during powerplay restrictions.
- Fielder positioned too close to batter at delivery — Laws prohibit certain fielding positions.
- Underarm delivery without warning — if a bowler bowls underarm without declaring intent beforehand.
What happens when a no ball is called
- 1 run added to batting side's extras (not to the bowler's figures or the batter's score).
- The delivery is re-bowled — it does not count as a legal delivery.
- Any runs scored off the delivery (including batter's runs) also count in addition to the 1 extra.
- In T20 and ODI: a free hit is awarded on the next delivery for front-foot no balls.
- Batter CANNOT be out bowled, caught, or lbw off a no ball (though other dismissals like run-out and hit-wicket are still valid).
Frequently asked questions
What is a no ball in cricket?
A no ball is an illegal delivery. The most common type is a front-foot no ball where the bowler's foot crosses the popping crease. Results in 1 extra run, the delivery must be re-bowled, and in T20/ODI cricket a free hit is awarded.
Can a batter be dismissed off a no ball?
Only by run out, hit wicket, handled the ball, obstructing the field, or timed out. A batter cannot be dismissed bowled, caught, lbw, or stumped off a no ball.
What is a beamer in cricket?
A beamer is a no-ball: a full-toss (non-bouncing delivery) bowled above waist height. It is considered dangerous and illegal. The bowler is automatically warned; a second beamer results in removal from the attack for the rest of the innings.
What is the free hit rule in cricket?
After a front-foot no ball in T20 or ODI cricket, the next delivery is a free hit — the batter cannot be out bowled, caught, or lbw. The fielding side cannot change their field settings between the no ball and the free hit.