What is a no ball in cricket?

THE rules of cricket can sometimes be confusing for those watching the sport.

As the fourth test of the 2023 Ashes continues at Old Trafford, let’s take a look at what a no ball means.

A no ball in cricket is a delivery which does not conform to the rules of the sport.

What is a no ball in cricket?

A no ball in cricket is a type of illegal delivery from the bowler to a batter.

It is a delivery that does not conform to the rules of the sport.

An example of a no ball could be a delivery that is too high or too short.

It could also be bowled from the wrong place. 

No balls are called, and signalled, by the umpire.

The umpire will signal a no ball by raising an arm at shoulder height.

The fielding team must then bowl another, legitimate, delivery.

A no ball does not count as one of the bowler’s six legitimate balls in one over.

There is no limit on the number of no balls that a bowler can bowl in one over but every time a no ball is bowled, the batting side get an extra delivery.

How many types of no balls are there in cricket?

There are multiple ways a fielding team can bowl a no ball in cricket.

There are 15 types of no balls, which are:

• Front foot no ball
• Back foot no ball
• Waist height no ball
• No ball for ball bouncing over the head
• No ball for ball bouncing multiple times 
• No ball for delivery pitching outside the playing area
• No ball for bowler breaking wickets while delivering the ball
• No ball for ball throwing
• No ball for delivering underarm
• No ball for throwing the ball towards striker before delivery
• No ball for failure to notify umpires the mode of delivery 
• No ball for fielder intercepting the delivery
• No ball for breaching the number of fielders on the on side
• No ball for delivery coming to rest before reaching the striker
• No ball if wicket-keeper is in front of the stumps

What is the difference between a wide and a no ball?

A wide is another type of illegal delivery to a batter in the laws of cricket.

These are judged by the umpire to be too wide to be hit by the batsman.

A wide ball results in one extra run being awarded to the batting team.

A no ball, meanwhile, results in one extra run being awarded to the batting team, as well as a free hit for the next delivery.