No Balls and Wides in Cricket Explained
What is a no-ball and what is a wide in cricket, why do they result in extra runs, and how do they affect the outcome of limited-overs matches?
No-balls and wides are illegal deliveries that result in penalty runs for the batting side. Both deliveries must be rebowled (they do not count as a legal ball in the over), meaning the bowling team effectively concedes runs while also giving the batting side an extra delivery. In close T20 matches, a single no-ball or wide at the death can be the difference between winning and losing.
No-Ball
A no-ball is called by the umpire for multiple reasons: the most common is overstepping — the bowler's front foot lands beyond the bowling crease (popping crease) at the batsman's end. Other causes include the ball being bowled above waist height (full pitch, no bounce), more than two bouncers in an over, or incorrect fielding restrictions (illegal field placement). A no-ball costs 1 run and the delivery must be rebowled. In ODIs and T20Is, a no-ball also results in a free hit on the next delivery.
Free Hit
A free hit is a special delivery (the ball after a no-ball) where the batsman cannot be dismissed by most methods — only run out, obstruction of field, or handling the ball apply. The free hit was introduced in 2007 in limited-overs cricket to punish bowlers for no-balls more severely. On a free hit, batsmen attempt to score maximally knowing they cannot be bowled, caught, stumped, or LBW. The umpire signals a free hit by circling one arm above their head.
Wide
A wide is called when the ball passes so far from the batsman that they could not reasonably have hit it with a conventional batting stroke. The umpire extends both arms horizontally to signal a wide. A wide costs 1 run (plus any runs the batsmen may have run or any overthrows). Wides are rebowled as an extra ball in the over. Wicketkeepers can be dismissed from a wide delivery (the batsman can be stumped if they leave the crease).
| Illegal Delivery | Penalty Runs | Free Hit? | Rebowled? |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-ball (overstepping) | 1 run | Yes (T20/ODI) | Yes |
| No-ball (waist-high full pitch) | 1 run | Yes (T20/ODI) | Yes |
| Wide | 1 run | No | Yes |
Impact on T20 Matches
In T20 cricket, wides and no-balls are especially costly. A wide or no-ball in the last over of a match costs the bowling team an extra ball (rebowled) and a run penalty — in a match decided by 1 run, a single wide can be the margin of defeat. Professional coaches track 'extras percentage' as a key bowling discipline metric. Teams that concede more than 8–10 extras per T20 innings are considered to have significant discipline problems.
Frequently asked questions
Does a no-ball count in the bowler's figures?
A no-ball counts toward the bowler's runs conceded but not as a legal delivery in their over. The runs from the no-ball (including runs scored off it) are added to the bowler's figures. However, if the bowler bowls 1 no-ball in an over, they must bowl an extra delivery to complete the over (6 legal balls). The no-ball run is shown as 'NB' in the bowling figures and the batsman's runs off a no-ball count in their personal score.
Can a bowler be hit for six off a no-ball?
Yes. If the batsman hits a no-ball for six, the batting side receives 6 runs to the batsman's individual score plus 1 no-ball penalty run as a bowling extra — 7 runs total from one delivery. The next ball is also a free hit, giving the batsman two consecutive aggressive-opportunity deliveries. This is why conceding a no-ball in the death overs is so damaging — it often leads to 8–9 runs off one legitimate and one no-ball delivery.