Wides and No-Balls
The Wide Rule
A wide in junior cricket is also worth two runs to the opposition.
A wide ball will be called when the batsman, playing a normal stroke, is unable to reach the ball. This can apply to a ball bowled above head height.
However a ball cannot be called wide if:
- It is out of the batsman’s reach as a result of him moving away from it.
- The batsman can bring the ball within reach by playing a normal stroke.
- The ball touches the batsman’s bat or any part of his body.
The coaches will work with you to practise bowling good line and length.
Bowling wide in matches is often caused by trying to bowl too fast. Always look at and aim at the target area and don’t try and bowl faster than your normal pace.
The ‘No Ball’ Rule
Quite a few runs are scored in junior cricket because of ‘no balls.’ In junior cricket a no ball adds two runs to the score so it is worth knowing what they are and how to avoid them.
Here are some of the main reasons:
The first thing to understand is that a batsman cannot be given out off a no ball – unless he is run out. This increases the chance that the batsman will play a riskier scoring shot if a no ball is called.
The bowler’s feet must be inside the return crease at the point of delivery and the heel of front foot must not ground past the popping crease as shown in the diagram:
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No balls can be expensive – practice to avoid conceding too many
A ball bowled from a seam bowler without bouncing, reaching the batsman above waist height, is called a full toss and will be called a no ball.
- A slower bowler can bowl a full toss up to shoulder height before being called a no ball.
- An illegal action or throw will be called a no ball.
- If the ball bounces more than twice before reaching the popping crease, rolls along the ground or stops before reaching the batsman, it will be called a no ball.
- If the bowler is bowling dangerously or unfairly (lots of short pitched fast deliveries) a no ball can be called.
This rule can be difficult to understand so ask your coaches to explain it to you if you are not sure.
