Free hit

Free hit is a cricket term, relevant in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches. When a bowler bowls a no ball (overstepping with front foot or back foot), in the immediate next ball, the batsman cannot be ruled out in any dismissal modes other than those applicable for a no-ball: run out, handled the ball, hit the ball twice and obstructing the field. Also recently if ball is delivered full toss (above the waist) batsman gets a free hit. This freedom enables the batsman to play a powerful shot without the fear of getting out caught, or leg before. For this reason, the delivery immediately after a foot-fault no ball is called a free hit. It came into international cricket in October 2007

No ball

If the bowler delivers the ball without some part of his front foot (either grounded or raised) behind the popping crease, or if his back foot does not 'land within and not touching the return crease', this delivery is ruled a no ball (Law 24.5 of The Laws of Cricket).

Fielding restrictions

The fielding team is not allowed to change the field on the free hit ball, if the same batsman (who received the original no ball) is on strike. However if the wicketkeeper is standing up at the stumps he is allowed to move back to a more traditional position for safety reasons.

Other conditions

If the immediate next delivery following a foot-fault no ball is any kind of no ball or a wide ball, then the free hit carries over to the next ball also. Even if the free hit ball is judged as a wide ball, the striker can only be out 'under the circumstances that can apply for a no ball'.

Signal

The umpire at the bowler's end signals that the next ball is a free hit by making circular movements in the air by extending one raised hand. As the free hit is carried over to the next ball if the original free hit ball was a wide or a no-ball, the umpire is required to signal the free hit again.