The term ‘free hit’ refers to when a batsmen in the cricket has been awarded a free hit that he takes immediately. In cricket, as in many other sports, there are certain situations where only one player from each team can be awarded a free hit. In simple words, a free hit is a chance for the batsmen to score runs.
If you are a cricket fan and an enthusiast to know all about it, then don’t worry; it is covered in the given topics below. You will learn about what is free hit in cricket, what the rules are and how it works.
What Exactly Is Free Hit?
If a bowler throws the no-ball, the batsman is awarded the free hit on the next ball. It is a risk-free opportunity for the batsmen to score more runs for the team. There are several rules and regulations for the free hit. The free hit was first introduced in cricket in the T20 world cup in South Africa. It was a new and exciting rule introduced in cricket, and people liked it from the beginning.
Due to the free hit, cricket became more interesting to watch. People would see many interesting and funny moments because of the free hit, like continuous throws of no ball or taking a catch on free hit and many more instances. The free hit played an important part in the limited over cricket because the runs scored on the free hit would often be the difference between the winning and losing team. Overall the free hit was an interesting and great rule established by ICC into cricket.
What Are The Rules Of Free Hit?
What are its rules? Many cricket enthusiasts have asked this question. But unless you have the same kind of love and enthusiasm for the game of cricket as they do, it is almost impossible to provide an answer. So instead, let take a brief look at the rules of Free Hit Rules in Cricket. To understand these rules and their complexities, you must know what “free hit” means in this context. Since the introduction of the free hit, the rules have changed a lot now in the current cricket times. However, the common rules of the free hit are:
- First of all, the free hit is given in only limited over cricket that it’s ODIs and T20s.
- As per law by the ICC, every kind of no ball is rewarded with a free hit. Earlier, in the beginning, only a few types of no-ball were part of a free hit. But now, all kinds of no-balls such as front and back foot no balls, above waist height, and changing the side of bowling without telling umpires are considered to be penalized by free hit.
- The free hit is continued to till the bowler throws the legit bowl. So, for example, if the bowler throws the wide bowl in the free hit bowl, the next bowl is also a free hit.
- You can out the batsmen in certain ways on the free hit bowl. The batsmen can be out only if you run out him. Taking catch and bowling him out won’t dismiss him, as stated by the ICC.
These are some of the free hit rules that make cricket more interesting to play and watch.
Fielding Restrictions For The Free Hit
The ICC also has another rule regarding field placement on the free hit bowl. And according to the rule, the fielding team captain cannot change the field placement before the free hit bowl. This means the fielders should stay at the same place they were standing during the no-ball. But if you talk about the wicketkeeper, he can be up or down according to the need.
As you know, the free hit is the penalty for throwing the no-ball, but fielding placement can be changed if the free hit is given for the fielding transgression. According to the rule, this no-ball means an error in the fielding placement, such as too many players outside the circle than the allowed ones. In such a case, change in the field is permitted.
The free hit is a great advantage for the batsmen and is very unlucky for the bowlers. The free hit is given to the bowlers, whether it is their fault. But overall, the free hit is an exciting rule that the bowlers do not appreciate much, but the fans love to watch it.
