Cricket bowling rules determine how a bowler can deliver the ball, where the bowler’s feet can land, what makes a delivery legal, and what happens when a bowler breaks the rules. These regulations help maintain a fair contest between bat and ball while also protecting players from dangerous bowling.
Whether you are learning cricket, playing competitively, coaching a team or simply trying to understand an umpire’s decisions, knowing the bowling rules can make the game much easier to follow. The Laws of Cricket maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) form the foundation of the game, while the International Cricket Council (ICC) applies additional playing conditions to international formats.
This guide explains the important cricket bowling rules, including legal bowling actions, foot-fault no-balls, wides, bouncers, beamers, overs, free hits, bowling from different angles and other restrictions that apply during a cricket match.
Note: MCC’s 2026 edition of the Laws comes into force on 1 October 2026. The rules below reflect the Laws and ICC playing conditions applicable in September 2026, while noting format-specific differences where relevant.
What are the Basic Bowling Rules in Cricket?
A bowler must deliver the ball legally for it to count as one of the six valid deliveries in an over. The bowler’s action, foot position, delivery type and the position of the ball can all affect whether the delivery is legal.
The main cricket bowling rules include the following:
- An over consists of six legal deliveries.
- A bowler must use a legal bowling action and cannot throw the ball.
- The front foot must land with some part of it behind the popping crease.
- The back foot must land within and not touch the applicable return crease.
- No-balls and wides do not count towards the six legal deliveries of an over.
- A no-ball carries a one-run penalty, while a wide normally carries a one-run penalty.
- In ODIs and T20Is, a no-ball results in a free hit on the following delivery.
- Short-pitched bowling is subject to format-specific restrictions.
- Underarm bowling is not permitted unless it has been specifically agreed before the match.
Read More: Guide to Cricket Umpire Hand Signals
1. How Many Balls are in an Over?
A standard cricket over contains six valid deliveries. Once six legal balls have been completed, the umpire calls “Over”, and another bowler delivers the next over from the opposite end.
A wide or no-ball does not count as one of the six legal deliveries. Therefore, if a bowler delivers a wide during an over, another delivery must be bowled. The same applies to a no-ball.
A bowler also cannot normally bowl two consecutive overs. After completing an over, another eligible bowler must deliver the next one from the opposite end.
2. Cricket Pitch and Crease Rules for Bowlers
The cricket pitch is 22 yards (20.12 metres) long and 10 feet (3.05 metres) wide. The creases determine the areas that bowlers and batters must use during a delivery.
The bowling crease is 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 metres) long. The popping crease is positioned 4 feet (1.22 metres) in front of the bowling crease, while the return creases run at right angles to the popping crease.
These measurements are important because a bowler’s foot position at the moment of delivery determines whether the delivery is legal.
3. Legal Bowling Action and the 15-Degree Rule
A bowler cannot throw the ball towards the batter. Under the Laws, the arm must be used in a bowling action rather than a throwing action.
The 15-degree rule is an ICC regulation used when assessing suspected illegal bowling actions. Under the ICC’s regulations, an illegal action occurs when the bowler’s elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees between the point at which the bowling arm reaches the horizontal and the point at which the ball is released.
The 15-degree limit applies to both fast bowlers and spin bowlers. It does not mean that the arm must remain completely straight throughout the delivery. The measurement concerns elbow extension during the specified part of the bowling action.
If match officials suspect an illegal action, the bowler can be reported. The action is then assessed using biomechanical testing at an ICC-accredited testing centre. A bowler found to have an illegal action can be suspended from bowling in international cricket until the action is modified and successfully reassessed.
4. Front-Foot No-Ball Rule
The front-foot no-ball is one of the most common bowling infringements.
For the delivery to be legal, the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot behind the popping crease. The relevant part of the foot can be grounded or raised, provided the requirements of the Law are satisfied. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that the entire front foot must remain behind the crease.
If the bowler’s front foot lands completely beyond the popping crease, the umpire calls a no-ball.
5. Back-Foot No-Ball Rule
The bowler’s back foot also has to land legally. It must land within and not touch the applicable return crease for the mode of delivery being used.
If the back foot touches or crosses the return crease during the delivery stride, the umpire calls a no-ball. This is why bowlers need to maintain control of their run-up and delivery stride even when they are not close to overstepping the popping crease.
6. What is a No-Ball in Cricket?
A no-ball is an illegal delivery for which the batting side receives a penalty of one run. The delivery does not count as one of the six legal balls in the over, so the bowler must deliver another ball.
A no-ball can be called for several reasons, including an illegal foot position, certain dangerous deliveries, an illegal bowling action, an underarm delivery where underarm bowling has not been agreed, or a ball that behaves illegally before reaching the striker.
The Laws also cover less common situations. A delivery can be called a no-ball if it bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before reaching the popping crease, or if it pitches wholly or partly off the pitch before reaching the line of the striker’s wicket.
A no-ball can also be called if the ball comes to rest in front of the striker’s wicket or is so far from the pitch that the striker would need to leave the pitch to attempt to play it, provided the relevant conditions are met. A delivery intercepted by a fielder before reaching the striker can also result in a no-ball and dead ball under the Laws.
7. What is a Wide Ball?
A wide is a delivery that passes sufficiently far from the striker that it is not within reach for a normal cricket stroke, taking into account where the striker is standing or has moved during the delivery.
The umpire therefore does not simply use a fixed distance from the stumps for every wide decision. The batter’s position and movement can affect the decision. If the batter moves and causes the ball to pass beyond their reach, the umpire may decide that the delivery is not a wide.
A wide gives the batting side one penalty run and does not count as one of the six legal deliveries. Any additional runs completed or boundary allowance can be added to the score as applicable.
If a delivery qualifies as both a no-ball and a wide, the no-ball takes precedence.
8. Waist-High Full Toss or Beamer Rules
A full toss that passes or would have passed above the waist height of a striker standing upright at the popping crease is an unfair non-pitching delivery and is called a no-ball. Such a delivery is commonly called a beamer, particularly when it is bowled at high speed and presents a potential safety risk.
It is important, however, not to simplify the rule by saying that every first beamer automatically results in a warning and every second beamer automatically results in suspension. The warning and suspension procedures apply when the umpire considers the non-pitching delivery dangerous. A deliberately dangerous high full toss can result in the bowler being suspended immediately from bowling for the rest of the innings under the applicable rules.
9. Bouncer and Short-Pitched Bowling Rules
A bouncer is a short-pitched delivery that rises towards the batter after pitching. Bouncers are legal, but international playing conditions limit the number of fast short-pitched deliveries that a bowler can deliver in an over.
In Test cricket, a bowler is limited to two fast short-pitched deliveries per over. A fast short-pitched delivery is defined according to whether it passes or would have passed above the shoulder height of a striker standing upright at the popping crease.
The standard ODI playing conditions also allow a maximum of two fast short-pitched deliveries per over. If a bowler exceeds the limit, the additional delivery is called a no-ball and the relevant warning procedure applies.
In T20 Internationals, the limit is one fast short-pitched delivery per over. A second such delivery in the same over is called a no-ball, with further breaches leading to additional warnings and possible suspension from bowling for the innings.
These limits do not mean that every bouncer below the specified shoulder-height threshold is automatically safe. The umpire can still penalise short-pitched bowling if it is considered dangerous or unfair because of its speed, length, height or direction.
10. Ball Passing Over the Batter’s Head
A delivery that pitches and then passes or would have passed over the head height of a striker standing upright at the popping crease is called a no-ball under the Laws.
Under applicable international playing conditions, a short-pitched delivery passing above head height and preventing the batter from playing it with a normal cricket stroke can also be called a wide. Such a delivery can still count towards the applicable short-pitched delivery limit for the over.
11. Free Hit After a No-Ball
A free hit gives the batter an additional advantage after a no-ball in limited-overs international cricket. In current ODI and T20I playing conditions, the delivery following a no-ball is a free hit for the batter facing the next delivery. If the free-hit delivery is itself a no-ball or wide, the next delivery remains a free hit.
During a free hit, the striker generally cannot be dismissed in ways that would not have applied on the original no-ball delivery. This makes a no-ball particularly costly for the bowling side. The free-hit rule does not apply universally to every format of cricket. It is a feature of applicable limited-overs playing conditions and should not be presented as a standard Test-match rule.
12. Changing From Over the Wicket to Round the Wicket
A bowler can deliver from over the wicket or round the wicket, depending on their position relative to the stumps. However, the bowler must tell the umpire which mode of delivery they intend to use. If the bowler changes from over the wicket to round the wicket, or vice versa, without notifying the umpire, the delivery can be called a no-ball.
The requirement is to notify the umpire, not the batter. This distinction is important when explaining the official rule.
13. Underarm Bowling Rules
Underarm bowling is not permitted unless it has been specifically agreed before the match.
Therefore, a bowler cannot suddenly choose to deliver an underarm ball during a match simply as a tactical variation. The restriction exists under the Laws because underarm bowling is treated differently from the standard bowling method.
14. Deliberate Front-Foot No-Ball
A deliberate front-foot no-ball is treated more seriously than an ordinary accidental overstep.
If the umpire believes that the bowler has deliberately bowled a front-foot no-ball, the bowler can be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the innings. If the over needs to be completed, another eligible bowler takes over, subject to the relevant restrictions on who can complete that over.
This rule discourages bowlers from deliberately overstepping to exploit the benefits associated with a no-ball.
15. Unfair Movement by Fielders
Cricket laws regulate fielder movement while a delivery is in progress. Under Law 28.6, unfair movement by a fielder other than the wicketkeeper can result in the umpire calling Dead ball and awarding five penalty runs to the batting side. Certain minor adjustments and movements in response to the batter’s shot are permitted.
Deliberately distracting or deceiving the striker is separately covered under Law 41.4. If the umpire considers the movement deliberate and unfair, the ball can be called dead and the batting side awarded five penalty runs.
16. Non-Striker Leaving the Crease Early
The bowler is permitted to attempt to run out the non-striker if the non-striker leaves their ground early before the point at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball.
This is sometimes called a Mankad, although the Laws treat it as a run-out dismissal rather than creating a separate type of dismissal. The relevant Law permits the bowler to attempt the run-out, and the ball does not count as part of the over if the attempt is unsuccessful and the umpire calls dead ball as required.
17. Fielding Restrictions That Affect Bowling
Fielding restrictions are not technically bowling rules, but they have a major effect on bowling strategy in limited-overs cricket.
In T20 cricket, the first six overs form the Powerplay in a standard 20-over innings, during which only two fielders can be outside the fielding restriction area at the instant of delivery. During the non-Powerplay overs, no more than five fielders can normally be outside the restriction area.
In ODIs, the Powerplay and fielding restrictions also limit the number of fielders who can be positioned outside the fielding restriction area. These restrictions influence how bowlers use swing, seam, yorkers, slower balls and short-pitched deliveries because the captain has fewer defensive fielding options during restricted overs.
18. Can a Bowler Bowl Two Overs in a Row?
No. A bowler cannot normally bowl consecutive overs. After one over is completed, another bowler must deliver the next over from the opposite end. This rotation lets teams use different bowlers and prevents one player from bowling continuously without a change of ends.
The captain decides which eligible bowler bowls each over, subject to format-specific restrictions on the maximum number of overs an individual bowler can deliver.
Quick Summary of Cricket Bowling Rules
| Bowling Rule | What Happens? |
| Six legal deliveries | Completes an over |
| Front foot completely beyond popping crease | No-ball |
| Back foot touches/crosses return crease | No-ball |
| Illegal bowling action | Subject to ICC illegal-action procedures |
| Underarm delivery without prior agreement | No-ball |
| No-ball | One penalty run and delivery does not count |
| Wide | One penalty run and delivery does not count |
| No-ball in ODI/T20I | Free hit on next delivery |
| More than 2 fast short-pitched deliveries in a Test/ODI over | Additional delivery is a no-ball |
| More than 1 fast short-pitched delivery in a T20I over | Additional delivery is a no-ball |
| Waist-high or higher non-pitching delivery | No-ball |
| Ball bounces more than once before the popping crease | No-ball |
| Ball rolls along the ground before the popping crease | No-ball |
| Ball pitches off the pitch before the striker’s wicket | No-ball |
| Bowler breaks wicket during delivery | No-ball in applicable circumstances |
| Deliberate front-foot no-ball | Bowler can be suspended from bowling for the innings |
| Deliberately unfair fielder movement | Dead ball and possible 5-run penalty |
Conclusion
Understanding cricket bowling rules is essential for players, coaches, umpires and fans because even a small infringement can change the outcome of a delivery. A bowler has to control not only the line, length, speed and movement of the ball but also their foot position, bowling action and delivery technique.
The most important rules to remember are that an over contains six legal deliveries, the front foot must land legally behind the popping crease, the back foot must remain within the applicable return crease, and wides and no-balls do not count towards the six-ball total. Bowlers must also follow restrictions on short-pitched deliveries and dangerous high full tosses.
The exact regulations can vary between Test cricket, ODIs, T20Is and domestic competitions, so players should always check the playing conditions applicable to their particular match. The MCC Laws provide the foundation of cricket, while the ICC and individual governing bodies can introduce additional playing conditions for specific formats and competitions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A legal over consists of six valid deliveries. Wides and no-balls do not count towards the six-ball requirement, so additional deliveries must be bowled whenever either occurs.
The 15-degree rule is part of the ICC’s regulations for assessing illegal bowling actions. A bowling action is considered illegal when the bowler’s elbow extension exceeds 15 degrees between the arm reaching the horizontal and the release of the ball.
In international cricket, the limit depends on the format. Test and ODI cricket allow two fast short-pitched deliveries per over, while T20 Internationals allow one. Dangerous or unfair short-pitched bowling can also be penalised independently of these numerical limits.
Yes. A non-pitching delivery that passes or would have passed above the waist height of a striker standing upright at the popping crease is called a no-ball. If the umpire considers the delivery dangerous, additional warning or suspension procedures can apply.
No. A no-ball does not count towards the six legal deliveries required to complete an over. The bowler must deliver another legal ball.
In current ODI and T20I playing conditions, the delivery following a no-ball is a free hit. The free-hit rule does not apply universally to all forms of cricket, so it should not be treated as a standard Test-match rule.
No. A bowler normally cannot deliver consecutive overs. After completing an over, another bowler delivers the next over from the opposite end.
Yes. A bowler can change their mode of delivery, but they must notify the umpire. Failing to do so can result in a no-ball.
