Free Hit Explained: What Happens After a No-Ball
What a free hit is in cricket — the delivery that cannot dismiss the batter out (except by run-out), how it is awarded after a no-ball, and why free hits have become one of T20 cricket's most exciting and tactically significant moments.
A free hit in cricket is a delivery on which the batter cannot be dismissed by most methods — they can only be given out run-out, obstructing the field, or handling the ball. A free hit is awarded after a no-ball: the following delivery becomes a free hit, signalled by the umpire with a circular motion of the raised arm. Free hits apply in all T20I and ODI cricket; in Test cricket, there are no free hits.
When Is a Free Hit Awarded?
A free hit is awarded after any no-ball called by the umpire — the most common reason is a front-foot no-ball, where the bowler's front foot lands beyond the popping crease (the white line 1.22 metres/4 feet in front of the stumps). Other no-ball types that trigger a free hit include: overstepping, bowling from outside the return crease, bowling an illegal delivery (above waist height, bouncing twice, underarm in most formats). The free hit applies to the very next ball bowled — if that ball is also a no-ball, a new free hit is awarded for the following ball.
What the Batter Can and Cannot Do on a Free Hit
On a free hit delivery, the batter cannot be dismissed caught, bowled, LBW, stumped, hit wicket, or by handled the ball (now covered by obstructing the field). They CAN be dismissed run-out — so running between wickets still carries risk. The batter cannot be given out by any dismissal method that requires the ball to hit the stumps (bowled, hit wicket) or that requires the batter to play a technically incorrect shot (LBW, caught). This means the batter can play any shot they choose — including leaving the ball entirely, missing it completely — without fear of most dismissals.
Tactical Implications
Free hits create specific tactical situations for both teams: the batting team can position a right-handed batter to maximise advantage (swap ends with their left-handed partner to create a left-right combination that forces the fielding team to reset), and the batting team knows the batter can swing freely without fear of dismissal. Captains must decide whether to move fielders (which is allowed between free hit balls in T20I cricket) or maintain the field. Batters typically attack free hits aggressively: the combination of no-dismissal-risk and a bowler who may bowl defensively to limit damage creates a scoring opportunity.
Famous Free Hit Moments
Free hits have produced some of T20 cricket's most dramatic moments — batters who have hit sixes off free hits to win matches, or who have missed free hits entirely (no consequence, game continues). The free hit's drama comes from the batter's opportunity: a delivery that cannot get them out, on which they can play anything. In tight T20 finishes where a team needs 12 from 3 balls, a free hit in those balls can transform the equation — or waste an opportunity if the batter cannot capitalise.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free hit in cricket?
A free hit is a delivery on which the batter cannot be dismissed by most methods — only run-out, obstructing the field, or handling the ball apply. It is awarded after any no-ball (most commonly a front-foot no-ball), with the umpire signalling it by rotating their raised arm. Free hits apply in T20I and ODI cricket, not in Test cricket.
Can a batter be dismissed on a free hit?
Yes, but only by run-out, obstructing the field, or handling the ball. They cannot be dismissed bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, or hit wicket on a free hit delivery. So the batter can miss the ball completely, play any shot they want — but must not run carelessly between wickets.
When was the free hit rule introduced?
In ODI cricket in 2007. Before that, a no-ball resulted in only a penalty run and a re-ball. The free hit was introduced to increase the penalty on bowlers for front-foot no-balls — creating a double punishment (penalty run + a delivery the batter cannot be dismissed on) that incentivises bowlers to stay legal.