what is no ball in cricket?

In cricket, a “no ball” refers to an illegal delivery bowled by the bowler. When a bowler delivers a no ball, it means that the delivery is not counted as a legal delivery, and the batting team is awarded an extra run (usually referred to as an “extra”) on top of any runs scored or outcomes of that particular delivery. Additionally, the batsman cannot be dismissed on a no ball unless they are run out, hit wicket, or obstructing the field.

There are several ways in which a delivery can be deemed a no ball:

1. Foot Fault: If the bowler’s front foot crosses the bowling crease before releasing the ball, it’s considered a no ball.
2. Full Toss Above Waist Height: If the ball is delivered as a full toss (bouncing only once before reaching the batsman) and passes the batsman above waist height, it’s considered a no ball.
3. Pitching Outside Leg Stump: If the ball pitches (bounces) outside the leg stump of a right-handed batsman (or off stump of a left-handed batsman) without touching the batsman’s body or bat, it’s a no ball.
4. Bowling Over the Shoulder: If the bowler’s arm is bent more than 15 degrees while delivering the ball (a measure to prevent illegal bowling actions), it can result in a no ball.
5. Number of Fielders Outside the Inner Circle: In limited-overs formats, if there are more than the allowed number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle (inner circle) at the time of delivery, it can be called a no ball.
6. Bouncing More Than Once: If the ball bounces more than once before reaching the batsman, it’s considered a no ball.

These are just a few examples of situations that can lead to a no ball being called. In most cases, a no ball is signaled by the umpire by extending their arm horizontally and calling “no ball.” The batting team also gets a “free hit” on the next delivery following a front foot no ball. This means that the batsman cannot be dismissed on that delivery (except in the cases mentioned earlier), and they can only be run out.