Judgement of Front Foot No Balls

Module 4.2: Judgement of Front Foot No Balls

Knowledge of how the ICC playing condition is different to the MCC Laws:

The ICC Playing Conditions relating to ‘Fair Delivery - the feet’ is different to the MCC Law. The Playing Condition says, ‘If the bowler’s end umpire is satisfied that any of these conditions have not been met, he shall call and signal No ball.’

This means that if the bowler’s end umpire or 3rd Umpire cannot be satisfied that the placement of feet has breached the Law, then the umpire gives the benefit of doubt to the bowler. There must be clear and conclusive evidence that...

• No part of the front foot is grounded or raised behind the popping crease on landing (firstcontact)

• The back foot did not land within and not touching the return crease

• The front foot did not land with some part on the same side as the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps

In order, to rule and signal a No ball.

Knowledge and application of the definition of ‘landing’:

Foot Fault No Ball (Definition of ‘Landing’)

• For front foot No ball: ask the broadcaster in pre-­­match meetings to stop/freeze the image at the point of where back heel lands, not where it ends up or its finishing point.

• Front foot - first contact for grounding only for any part of the foot and not applicable to any raised part of foot. THIS WHERE WE WANT THE BROADCASTER TO FREEZE THE IMAGE. For a fast bowler this is generally the moment when the heel touches the ground.

• Look at the landing for Back foot - FIRST CONTACT - this is the MCC interpretation - this is not the finishing position.

• Back foot - where part of the foot touches the ground. The delivery is fair even if part of the foot is in the air and subsequently touches or slides across the return crease.