No-ball

In cricket, a no-ball is a type of illegal delivery to a batter (the other type being a wide). It is also a type of extra, being the run awarded to the batting team as a consequence of the illegal delivery. For most cricket games, especially amateur, the definition of all forms of no-ball is from the MCC Laws of Cricket.^[1]

Originally "no Ball" was called when a bowler overstepped the bowling crease, requiring another - fair - ball to be bowled.

As the game developed, "No ball" has also been called for an unfair ball delivered round-arm, over-arm or thrown, eventually resulting in today's over-arm bowling being the only legal style.

Technical infringements, and practices considered unfair or dangerous, have been added for bowling, field placement, fielder and wicket-keeper actions. "No-ball" has become a passage of play.

The delivery of a no-ball results in one run – two under some regulations – to be added to the batting team's overall score, and an additional ball must be bowled. In addition, the number of ways in which the batter can be given out is reduced to three. In shorter competition cricket, a batter receives a free hit on the ball after any kind of no-ball, which means the batter can freely hit that one ball with no danger of being out in most ways.

No-balls due to overstepping the crease are common, especially in short form cricket, and fast bowlers tend to bowl them more often than spin bowlers.

It is also a no-ball when the bowler's back foot lands touching or wide of the return crease.

Any of the many no-ball cases is at least 'unfair' to the extent that the batting team is given a fair ball and a penalty run in compensation. Some no-balls are given under Law 41^[2] 'Unfair Play' and hence have further repercussions: a fast short pitched delivery (a "bouncer") may be judged to be a no-ball by the umpire (Law 41.6), and any high full-pitched delivery (a "beamer", Law 41.7), or any deliberate front-foot fault (deliberate overstepping, Law 41.8), is inherently dangerous or unfair.

Any beamer is unfair and therefore a no-ball, but the umpire may judge that a particular beamer is not also dangerous, and does not warrant a warning or suspension.^[3]

For deliberate beamers and deliberate overstepping, the bowler may be suspended from bowling immediately, and the incident reported. For other dangerous and unfair no-balls, or for throwing, repetition will have additional consequences for the bowler and team. The bowler may be suspended from bowling in the game, reported, and required to undertake remedial work on their bowling action.