SIGNALLING A NO-BALL

A no-ball is called if a bowler has over-stepped the popping crease and this is signalled by an arm raised at shoulder height.

There are several types of no-ball. The most common one is the foot-fault I have described, though having the back foot wider than the return crease would also result in a no-ball.

If a bowler bowls too many short-pitched, intimidating deliveries in one over, he can also be no-balled.

The eye co-ordination required for spotting the foot-fault is quite tricky.

Having to check the front foot gives us slightly less time to raise our eyes in time to make a decision about something that happens at the other end.

Some bowlers do live on the line, so to speak, though others do give you quite a bit of room.

We try to work with bowlers, not that we have to, but we are in the game together and we would have a word if he was getting too close.

If he does something about it, fair enough. If he doesn't, he can expect the no-ball call.

A lot of the penalties for no-balls these days cost two runs and if a batsman still hits a four off the delivery, it counts as six to the score.

I think this makes bowlers much more conscious of no-balls now than they were years ago.

Again, the penalty is one run, with another delivery added to that over.