A no-ball in cricket is an illegal delivery bowled by the bowler. It is essentially a penalty against the bowling team for unfair or dangerous bowling. When a no-ball is called, the batting team is awarded one run (or two in some circumstances) and an additional ball is bowled. There are many different ways a bowler can bowl a no-ball, but some of the most common ones are:
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Overstepping the crease: This is when the bowler's front foot lands on or behind the popping crease when they deliver the ball. The popping crease is the white line in front of the stumps.
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Bowling a beamer:This is a fast, high-bouncing ball that is dangerous for the batsman to face.
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Throwing the ball:The bowler's arm must remain bent throughout their delivery swing. If they straighten their arm, it is called throwing and is a no-ball.
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Having more than seven fielders on the leg side: The fielding side is only allowed to have a maximum of seven fielders on the leg side of the wicket (the batsman on strike's side) when the ball is bowled. If there are eight or more fielders on the leg side, it is a no-ball.
No-balls can be a real advantage for the batting team, as they give them an extra run and a free hit (in limited-overs cricket). However, they can also be frustrating for the bowler, as they can disrupt their rhythm and make it more difficult to take wickets.
