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Men's Test Match Clause 21: No Ball

20. No Ball

  • 21.1. Mode of delivery

    • 21.1.1. The umpire shall ascertain whether the bowler intends to bowl right handed or left handed, over or round the wicket, and shall so inform the striker.

      It is unfair if the bowler fails to notify the umpire of a change in his mode of delivery. In this case the umpire shall call and signal No ball.

    • 21.1.2. Underarm bowling shall not be permitted.

  • 21.2. Fair delivery – the armFor a delivery to be fair in respect of the arm the ball must not be delivered with an Illegal Bowling Action.

An Illegal Bowling Action is defined as a bowling action where a bowler’s Elbow Extension exceeds 15 degrees, measured from the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal until the point at which the ball is released (any Elbow Hyperextension shall be discounted for the purposes of determining an Illegal Bowling Action).

Should either umpire or the ICC Match Referee suspect that a bowler has used an Illegal Bowling Action, they shall complete the ICC Bowling Action Report Form at the conclusion of the match, as set out in the Illegal Bowling Regulations.

  • 21.3. Ball thrown or delivered underarm – action by umpires

    • 21.3.1. If, in the opinion of either umpire, the ball has been thrown (where such mode of delivery does not correspond to the bowler’s normal bowling action) or delivered underarm, he/she shall call and signal No ball and, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the reason for the call.

      The bowler’s end umpire shall then

      • warn the bowler, indicating that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply to that bowler throughout the innings.

      • inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action.

      • inform the batsmen at the wicket of what has occurred.

    • 21.3.2. If either umpire considers that, in that innings, a further delivery by the same bowler is thrown (where such mode of delivery does not correspond to the bowler’s normal bowling action) or delivered underarm, he/she shall call and signal No ball and when the ball is dead inform the other umpire of the reason for the call.

      The bowler’s end umpire shall then

      • direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from bowling. The over shall, if applicable, be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have bowled the previous over or part thereof nor be allowed to bowl any part of the next over. The bowler thus suspended shall not bowl again in that innings.

      • inform the batsmen at the wicket and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action.

    • 21.3.3. The umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the ICC Match Referee, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the bowler concerned.

  • 21.4. Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before deliveryIf the bowler throws the ball towards the striker’s end before entering the delivery stride, either umpire shall call and signal No ball. See clause 41.17 (Batsmen stealing a run).

However, the procedure stated in clause 21.3 of caution, informing, final warning, action against the bowler and reporting shall not apply.

  • 21.5. Fair delivery – the feetFor a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride

    • 21.5.1. the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease appertaining to his stated mode of delivery.

    • 21.5.2. the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or raised

      • on the same side of the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps as the return crease described in clause 21.5.1, and

      • behind the popping crease.

If the bowler’s end umpire is satisfied that any of these three conditions have not been met, he shall call and signal No ball. See clause 41.8 (Bowling of deliberate front foot No ball).

  • 21.6. Bowler breaking wicket in delivering ballEither umpire shall call and signal No ball if, other than in an attempt to run out the non-striker under clause 41.16, the bowler breaks the wicket at any time after the ball comes into play and before completion of the stride after the delivery stride. This shall include any clothing or other object that falls from his person and breaks the wicket.

  • 21.7. Ball bouncing more than once, rolling along the ground or pitching off the pitchThe umpire shall call and signal No ball if a ball which he/she considers to have been delivered, without having previously touched bat or person of the striker,

  • bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease.

  • or pitches wholly or partially off the pitch as defined in clause 6.1 (Area of pitch) before it reaches the line of the striker’s wicket.

  • 21.8. Ball coming to rest in front of striker’s wicketIf a ball delivered by the bowler comes to rest in front of the line of the striker’s wicket, without having previously touched the bat or person of the striker, the umpire shall call and signal No ball and immediately call and signal Dead ball.

  • 21.9. Fielder intercepting a deliveryIf, except in the circumstances of clause 27.3 (Position of wicket-keeper) a ball delivered by the bowler, makes contact with any part of a fielder’s person before it either makes contact with the striker’s bat or person, or it passes the striker’s wicket, the umpire shall call and signal No ball and immediately call and signal Dead ball.

  • 21.10. Ball bouncing over head height of strikerSee clauses 22.1.1.2, 41.6.4 and 41.6.5.
  • 21.11. Call of No ball for infringement of other Playing ConditionsIn addition to the instances above, No ball is to be called and signalled as required by the following clauses: Clause 27.3 – Position of wicket-keeper

Clause 28.4 – Limitation of on side fielders

Clause 28.5 – Fielders not to encroach on pitch

Clause 41.6 – Bowling of dangerous and unfair short pitched deliveries

Clause 41.7 – Bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries

Clause 41.8 – Bowling of deliberate front foot No ball.

  • 21.12. Revoking a call of No ballAn umpire shall revoke the call of No ball if Dead ball is called under any of clauses 20.4.2.4 to 20.4.2.9 (Umpire calling and signaling Dead ball).
  • 21.13. No ball to over-ride WideA call of No ball shall over-ride the call of Wide ball at any time. See clauses 22.1 (Judging a Wide) and 22.2 (Call and signal of Wide ball).
  • 21.14. Ball not deadThe ball does not become dead on the call of No ball.
  • 21.15. Penalty for a No ballA penalty of one run shall be awarded instantly on the call of No ball. Unless the call is revoked, the penalty shall stand even if a batsman is dismissed. It shall be in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary allowance and any other runs awarded for penalties.
  • 21.16. Runs resulting from a No ball – how scored

The one run penalty shall be scored as a No ball extra and shall be debited against the bowler. If other Penalty runs have been awarded to either side these shall be scored as stated in clause 41.18 (Penalty runs). Any runs completed by the batsmen or any boundary allowance shall be credited to the striker if the ball has been struck by the bat; otherwise they shall also be scored as Byes or Leg byes as appropriate.

  • 21.17. No ball not to countA No ball shall not count as one of the over. See clause 17.3 (Validity of balls).
  • 21.18. Out from a No ballWhen No ball has been called, neither batsman shall be out under any of the Playing Conditions except clause 34 (Hit the ball twice), clause 37 (Obstructing the field) or clause 38 (Run out).