Clarification to free-hit regulation in ODIs
The free hit in ODIs applies to all foot fault no balls and not just front foot no balls, the ICC today confirmed
Sami-ul-Hasan
02-Oct-2007
The free hit in ODIs applies to all foot fault no balls and not just front foot no balls, the ICC today confirmed.
A free hit will apply to the next delivery after a bowler either oversteps with his front foot or if his back foot cuts or does not land within the return crease.
The playing condition reads as follows:
24.2 Free Hit after a foot-fault no ball... the delivery following a no ball called for a foot fault (Law 24.5) shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of no ball or a wide ball) then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.
For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball.
Field changes are not permitted for free hit deliveries unless there is a change of striker (the provisions of clause 41.2 shall apply).
The umpires will signal a free hit by (after the normal No Ball signal) extending one arm straight upwards and moving it in a circular motion.
The change, first adopted in a ODI last Saturday in the abandoned match between India and Australia in Bangalore, has been adopted after approval by the ICC Chief Executives' Committee and ratification by the ICC Board following proposals made by the ICC Cricket Committee at its meeting in Dubai in May.
The ODI playing conditions can be found here
Sami-ul-Hasan is ICC Communications Officer