The definition and application of the no-ball rule plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and fairness of the sport. In this post we’ll explore the current definition of a no-ball, as well as step back in the time machine and see how the rule has changed of cricket’s history. We’ll also discuss the ramifications of bowling a no-ball for the bowler, and whether or not the batter can be dismissed on a no-ball.
Current definition and explanation of a no ball
A no-ball is an illegal delivery that is bowled to the batsman. When a ball is deemed to be a no-ball, the batting team is awarded one run (sometimes two, in some country’s domestic competitions), and the bowler has to re-bowl the ball. Note, that the batter themselves are not awarded the run; instead, the run is added to the ‘extras’ column, along with ‘wides’, ‘byes’ and ‘leg-byes’.
A batsman can be out when a no-ball is bowled, but they can’t be out in the types of dismissals that are attributed to the bowler. So, for example, when a batsman is bowled, or caught, or given leg before wicket, the wicket is attributed to the bowler – i.e. it goes in their wicket column. But dismissals like ‘run out’, ‘obstructing the field’ and ‘hit the ball twice’ are not attributed to the bowler.
So, a batsman can be out ‘run out’ off a no ball, but not ‘bowled’, for example.
Interestingly, a batsman can not be out ‘stumped’ or even ‘hit wicket’, because those are attributed to the bowler too. The ‘stumped’ dismissal is an odd one, because ‘stumped’ and ‘run out’ are very similar dismissals. The difference being whether the batsman was trying to take a run; if the batsman was not trying to take a run, and the wicketkeeper whips off the bails with the batsman short of the crease, that would not be out if the ball was a no-ball.
But if a batsman was trying to take a run, that would be out … because that would be a run out.
See? Isn’t cricket fun?
The most common form of a no-ball is what is known as ‘overstepping’.
A bowler, in their last step when they release the ball, must have some part of their front foot (left foot for right arm bowlers) behind what is called the ‘popping crease’, which is the line approximately 4 feet in front of the stumps.
There are a couple of things to add to that rule. Now, these might seem pedantic, but cricket can be a very pedantic game. This foot doesn’t have to be grounded behind the line; if their heel is in the air, but behind the line, that is a legal delivery. Secondly, the front foot can slide forward beyond the crease, but as long as that initial landing had some part of the foot behind the line, it is a legal delivery.
But the ‘overstepping’ rule, the most common of the ways a bowler can be no-balled, has changed in its life time.
Made by me, Nichalp using Inkscape. 2500×625 (20134 bytes) (Cricket pitch measurements. Made by me, Shizhao using inkscape.), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The OverStepping Rule: From Back Foot To Front Foot.
Way back in the late 1700’s, the no-ball rule was different. Instead of the front foot having to remain behind the ‘popping crease’, the back foot (i.e. right foot for right hand bowlers) had to land behind the ‘bowling crease’, which is a line parallel to the popping crease but back where the stumps are located.
At that time, the ball was instantly called dead. A batter couldn’t get out, but they couldn’t score any runs from it.
In the early 19th century, the rule changed so that the batter could score runs from a no-ball, and also couldn’t get out, except for run out.
This back-foot law stood the test of time from the late 1700’s to 1963 when the biggest change to the OverStepping rule occurred. Tall bowlers, who naturally had long last strides, would land their back foot behind the bowling crease, but aim their front foot well in front of the popping crease, making the distance between batter and bowler even smaller than the 20 metres it was supposed to be.
Added to this, bowlers of that time became very skilled at ‘dragging their back foot’. In their delivery stride bowlers tried to drag the toe of their back foot across the bowler’s crease, again to make the distance between bowler and batter even shorter. A bowler was able to time the release of the ball just as their back toe was still behind the crease. Some bowlers were able to drag their back foot for up to seven feet … now, add to that their huge final stride, and a lot of bowlers were bowling off 18 metres, not twenty.
It became an umpire’s nightmare, because the dust that was raised by the ‘dragging’ foot, and the fact that the release point and back foot were six or seven feet away from each other, meant that umpires struggled to keep watch of the position of the toe on the bowler’s back foot at the time of the release of the ball.
So, the rule was changed, and the front foot rule became the norm.
Other types of No Balls.
There are many other situations, not necessarily related to overstepping the popping crease, that can also be called ‘no ball’. Some rules still relate to the position of the bowler’s feet, others relate to the method used by the bowler to deliver the ball, some relate to dangerous or unfair bowling and there is a final lot that doesn’t relate to the bowler at all, but the actions of the fielders.
Bowler’s feet
These are similar to the ‘overstepping’ law, in that it involves the bowler’s feet, but there are other ways a bowler’s feet can get the bowler in trouble.
- If the back foot touches beyond the line called the ‘return crease’ – a line perpendicular to the popping crease, near the edge of the pitch – a no ball is called.
- A no ball will be called if the bowler lands his front foot on a different side of the stumps as the back foot.
Method of Deliveries
Let’s forget feet for a second. How a bowler bowls the ball is important as well, not just where the bowler’s foot lands.
- A bowler can’t throw the ball. It must be bowled. Now, what’s the difference between a throw and a bowl? This is a very contentions and controversial differentiation. Currently, the rule is that if, in the process of delivering the ball, the arm is straightened by more than 15 degrees, it is a no ball. So, since no umpire has a protractor and a bowler’s arm moves so quickly, these days a bowler has to really be obviously be throwing the ball to be called a ‘no ball’.
- A bowler can not bowl with his other hand, without first telling the umpire.
- A bowler can not change the side of the wicket he will bowl from without first telling the umpire.
- If a bowler bowls underarm, it’s a no ball. There is a proviso to this, and that is that an underarm delivery is allowed if everyone agrees to it beforehand.
- If a bowler, in the course of delivering the ball, knocks the bails off the wicket at the bowler’s end.
- The ball bounces more than once.
- The ball bounces off the edge of the pitch.
- The balls sails so far from the batsman that he has to leave the pitch area to play it.
Dangerous or unfair deliveries
But wait, as they say, there’s more. We now get into the realm of what the umpire calls dangerous or unfair deliveries.
- A no ball is called when a bowler bowls a full toss that would pass the waist of the batsman in his normal position.
- A no ball is called when a bowler bowls a bouncer that, given the skill level of the batter, is deemed too dangerous.
- A no ball is called when the ball bounces a long way over the batsman’s head.
- A no ball is called if the bowler continually bowls balls that bounce over a batsman’s head, but, individually, the ball doesn’t met the previous requirement.
Unfair or illegal fielder actions
A bowler can be penalised a no ball even if it’s the fielders who do the transgression, as in the following cases.
- A wicket-keeper moves in front of the line of the stumps before the batter hits it, or the ball passes beyond the line of the stumps.
- A fielder is on the pitch at the time of delivery.
- The fielder interferes with the ball once it’s been delivered but before the batter can play it.
- There are three or more fielders behind the batter’s crease on the leg side.
- The fielding team has too many fielders within the 30 metres field restriction circle during a limited overs game.
It’s a wonder the umpire has enough computing space in his brain to judge on anything after figuring out what constitutes a no ball.
Impact of technology on no ball decisions
Television replays has changed how umpires umpire, particularly in the case of no-balls.
It is only recently that video umpires were able to help the on-field umpires with determining no-ball decisions, particularly the ‘overstepping’ rule. Previous to that, when bowlers released the ball, the umpires had to glance down at the bowler’s feet to determine the location of their front foot, and call out ‘no ball’ when the bowler overstepped.
But even when the bowler didn’t ‘overstep’, the umpire than had to refocus their eyes from the location of the bowler’s feet to the location of where the ball was going to be able to judge on catches or leg before wicket appeals. This change of focus had to happen in less than half a second, and it was a very difficult thing for a umpire to do.
Understandably, no balls were being missed. A particularly famous instance of a no-ball not being called by the umpire was when Shane Warne, the legendary leg-spinner, was batting and on 99 runs. To get to his century he swung for the hills, but instead of connecting properly, he skied it and he was caught.
His highest test score would remain at 99, but it was only found out long later that the ball was a no ball. Even though he was caught, he wouldn’t have been out if the no-ball was called, and he had enough time to run through for the single and score his 100th run.
In the last few years, when a dismissal occurred, the video umpire would check the bowler’s front foot for a no-ball, and if it found a no-ball, the batsman would return to the wicket. But now, every ball in international cricket is scrutinised for a no-ball, and when one is found, the bowler would have to re-bowl the ball.
Hopefully, even with technological advancements, umpiring never comes to this.
In conclusion, the no ball rule has been around for a long time, and like any rule in cricket, it changes over time. It is hard to guess what the rule may be in 50 years time, but the likelihood is that technology will have made it even easier to determine ‘illegal’ balls that should be called no ball.
So … how often have you been out to a ball that you was sure should have been a ‘no ball’? Tell us your stories in the comments below and let’s get a discussion started.