15 Laws of cricket that you need to know

2. No Ball:

The law 24 of the rule book states that the delivery bowled by the bowler is declared a ‘no ball’ by the umpire, if

• The bowler’s front foot lands beyond the popping crease.
• The bowler’s front foot is crossing the imaginary line joining the 2 middle stumps.
• The bowler’s back foot touches the return crease.
• The bowler throws the ball.
• The bowler changes his method of delivery without informing the umpire.
• The bowler bowls underarm.
• The ball bounces twice before reaching the batsman or comes to rest in front of the batsman’s wickets.
• The bowler hits his own stumps.
• The bowler bowls a delivery above the hips of the batsman.
• The bowler bowls a fast short pitched ball after 1st warning.

This law clearly explains how a ball is considered as a no-ball. In modern day cricket, no ball is like a gift to the batting team as the they get a run extra and also a free hit in limited overs matches. On July 5th 2015, the ICC announced that in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals a free hit will be awarded to the batsman for all the conditions given above, previously free hit was awarded only for a front-foot No Ball.