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Cricket · Level 2: Elementary · Sub-level 2.1

Bowling Laws

6 tests · 60 facts · updated 6 September 2026 · markdown

This sub-level teaches what makes a delivery fair or a no-ball in practice — the front-foot and back-foot rules of the delivery stride, an illegal bowling action, the dangerous full toss and the height rule, and the limit on short-pitched bowling; how an over is finished when a bowler cannot; and what makes the ball dead.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The front foot and the back foot

  1. Part of the front foot, whether grounded or in the air, must be behind the popping-crease line.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  2. Some part of the foot behind the line, even a fraction, makes the delivery legal.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

  3. The front-foot rule looks only at where the front foot lands, whatever the back foot did on the way.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

  4. The delivery stride is the final stride, in which the back foot lands and then the front foot; the foot rules apply to it.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  5. The back foot has to land within the return crease and not cut the line; touching or outside it is a no-ball.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  6. Either foot fault is enough on its own, so the back foot cutting the return crease is a no-ball.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

  7. The standing umpire at the bowler's end judges the feet and makes the call as the ball is bowled.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  8. ICC playing conditions have the TV umpire check the front foot every delivery and pass a no-ball to the on-field umpire.

    Source: ICC Playing Conditions (front-foot no-ball technology) · applied

  9. A no-ball exists only once it is called; an unnoticed overstep counts as a legal delivery.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

  10. A loud, early call tells the striker the ball is effectively free, so he can attack it hard.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

Test 2An illegal action — the throw

  1. The elbow may bend, but it must not straighten in the delivery swing; straightening it is what makes a throw.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  2. A throw is an illegal delivery and is called and signalled as a no-ball.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

  3. Biomechanical studies found small amounts of straightening are near-universal and invisible, so 15 degrees is allowed.

    Source: ICC regulations on suspect bowling actions · recall

  4. A reported bowler has his action analysed in a lab; if it is over the limit he must correct it before bowling again.

    Source: ICC regulations on suspect bowling actions · applied

  5. From square leg the arm is seen side-on, which is the angle that shows an elbow straightening.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · applied

  6. Bowling with a bent arm is fine; it is straightening it in the delivery swing that makes a throw.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

  7. The doosra, an off-spinner's ball that turns like a leg-break, is hard to bowl without straightening the arm.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

  8. Muralitharan was called for throwing, then repeatedly tested; his action was found to be within the permitted range.

    Source: ESPNcricinfo · recall

  9. A clearance is not permanent; a bowler whose action changes can be reported and tested again.

    Source: ICC regulations on suspect bowling actions · applied

  10. Straightening the elbow acts as a second lever, generating speed or spin a genuinely bowled ball cannot produce.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 (rationale) · applied

Test 3The dangerous full toss

  1. For a slow bowler the limit is shoulder height; for anything quicker it is the lower waist height.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · recall

  2. Slow full tosses carry less danger, so they are only a no-ball above the shoulder, not the waist.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  3. The reference is the batter standing normally at the crease, not wherever he happened to end up.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · recall

  4. Because the batter advanced, the height is assessed against his normal crease position, where it may be below the waist.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  5. A deliberate dangerous high full toss brings instant removal from the bowling attack for that innings.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  6. A non-deliberate dangerous full toss is a no-ball and a warning; a further one means removal from the attack.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · recall

  7. It is still a no-ball for scoring, so runs off the bat are added to the one-run penalty.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  8. "Beamer" is the term for a dangerous fast high full toss, always a no-ball and often a warning.

    Source: General cricket usage · recall

  9. Umpires give the marginal fast waist-high full toss as a no-ball to keep the batter safe.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41; umpiring practice · applied

  10. A blow from a beamer is a safety matter, so the umpires make sure the batter is all right before play continues.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

Test 4Short-pitched bowling

  1. A bowler may send down two fast short-pitched balls above shoulder height per over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · recall

  2. The delivery that exceeds the two-per-over allowance is a no-ball.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  3. ICC raised the white-ball allowance to two per over, matching the number used in Test cricket.

    Source: ICC Playing Conditions (ODI and T20I) · recall

  4. A bouncer out of reach over the head is a wide, but it is still counted against the two-per-over allowance.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Laws 22 and 41 · applied

  5. Persistent dangerous short-pitched bowling is dealt with by warnings and, if it goes on, removal from the attack.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  6. The two-per-over allowance resets at the start of every over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · recall

  7. The second short ball of the over, if it is reachable, is a legal delivery.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  8. The counting rule is for fast short-pitched bowling; a slow bouncer is judged mainly on danger, not the count.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  9. A short ball above the shoulder is legal up to two an over, and ducking under it does not change that.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

  10. After the warning, a further over-limit bouncer means the bowler is removed from the attack for the innings.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41 · applied

Test 5The over in practice

  1. The part-over resumes with the same bowler from the same end once play restarts.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

  2. A team-mate completes the over from the same end, and he must not have bowled the previous over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

  3. Finishing a part-over counts against the consecutive-overs rule, so he cannot bowl the next one.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

  4. Deliveries bowled in good faith count; only the arrangement is corrected from that point on.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

  5. Balls already bowled stand; the error is put right by switching bowlers for the rest of the over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · applied

  6. Nothing about a wicket or a break lets a bowler send down two overs in succession.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · applied

  7. A bowler sits out exactly one over; then he may bowl again from either end.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

  8. Each bowler is credited only with the balls he sent down; the over is shared between them.

    Source: MCC scoring convention · applied

  9. Even a short attack has to be rotated so that no bowler delivers two overs back to back.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · applied

  10. When the innings ends, any incomplete over stops where it is.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 17 · recall

Test 6The dead ball

  1. The ball is dead once it settles with the keeper or bowler and the umpire judges the action is over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · recall

  2. A boundary, a completed dismissal, the ball lodging in kit and several other events all make the ball dead.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · recall

  3. No runs can be scored and no wicket can fall once the ball is dead.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · recall

  4. A ball lodged in a batter's or fielder's kit is dead, and no runs or wicket can follow.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · applied

  5. If the striker is distracted or not ready through no fault of his own, the umpire calls dead ball and the ball is re-bowled.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · applied

  6. Wrists crossed and uncrossed low in front of the body is the dead-ball signal.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

  7. A no-ball and a wide are live deliveries; the striker can hit a no-ball, and byes can be run off either.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · applied

  8. A completed dismissal is one of the events that makes the ball dead at once.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · applied

  9. The umpire calls dead ball for anything that stops fair play, such as an injury, and the ball is bowled again.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · applied

  10. Where there is doubt, the umpires judge when the ball finally settled and the action was over.

    Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · recall

Sources

MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022) for the Laws themselves; ICC Playing Conditions per format for the officiating and regulation detail that overrides the Laws in international cricket (DRS, powerplays, over rates, concussion replacements, the free hit); ESPNcricinfo for recent changes such as the soft-signal retirement. Questions are authored from these sources, not reproduced from them.

  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 4116
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2112
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 179
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 209
  • ICC regulations on suspect bowling actions3
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22
  • ESPNcricinfo2
  • ICC Playing Conditions (front-foot no-ball technology)1
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 (rationale)1
  • General cricket usage1
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 41; umpiring practice1
  • ICC Playing Conditions (ODI and T20I)1
  • MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Laws 22 and 411
  • MCC scoring convention1