What is a no-ball?

In Stage 1, call "no ball" if:

• the ball lands off the pitch, rolls off it, or hits its edge (including a ball that starts off the pitch and rolls back on)
• the ball bounces three or more times, or rolls along the ground, before reaching the popping crease
• the ball passes, or would have passed, above the batter's waist on the full, with the batter standing upright
• more than two fielders are behind square leg, or a fielder (including slips) other than the keeper is within 15 metres of the striker
• the bowler knocks off a bail while bowling.

You may also call it if no part of the bowler's front foot lands behind the popping crease (1.22 metres in front of the stumps). Use judgement with young bowlers.

Call "no ball" and "dead ball" together if the ball stops in front of the striker's stumps without touching the bat or batter, or is so wide the batter has to leave the pitch to reach it.

Call "no ball" loudly as soon as you see it, then signal it to the scorers (one arm stretched out horizontally) when the ball is dead. No-balls aren't re-bowled in Stage 1. The square leg umpire is best placed to spot fielder problems; if they call it, back them up.