Free Hit Explained — When and How a Free Hit Is Awarded in Cricket

A free hit is the delivery that follows a no-ball in limited-overs cricket. On a free hit, the batter cannot be dismissed by most forms of dismissal — they can only be run out. The rule was introduced to punish bowlers for overstepping and to give batters a clean swing at a wide-open boundary.

When a free hit is awarded

Any no-ball in a T20 or ODI is followed by a free hit. The most common no-ball is a front-foot overstep, but the same rule applies to a beamer above waist height called a no-ball or a fielding-restriction breach.

What's on for the bowler on a free hit

• Run out — the only dismissal still available.
• Wides and no-balls — still cost runs as usual.
• Hitting the stumps — bowled does not dismiss the batter on a free hit.
• Catches — a clean catch on a free hit does not dismiss the batter.

How batters approach a free hit

Batters know they cannot be dismissed unless they leave the crease unwisely, so they tee off. T20 free hits often see the batter step down the pitch and look to clear the longest boundary. ODI batters tend to play percentage shots — singles and twos are also welcome — though boundary-hitting is the headline option.

Field changes between the no-ball and free hit

The fielding side cannot change the field for a free hit unless the batter at the striker's end has changed (off a single during the no-ball). This prevents a captain from packing the deep on the free hit to deny the boundary.

History

The free hit was introduced by the ICC in October 2007 for ODIs, after a long history of fans complaining that a no-ball was too small a penalty. The T20 free hit followed soon after. Since 2015, the rule applies to ALL no-balls — not just front-foot overstepping.