Dangerous bowling and deliberate no balls
MCC · 2017 Code · 4th edition · 2026Short balls, high full tosses and the different warnings or bowling suspensions they trigger.
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Law 41.6 — Short deliveriesLaw 41.7 — Non-landing deliveriesLaws 41.7–41.8 — Deliberate offencesLaw 41.6 — Short deliveries
A short delivery is dangerous when, considering the striker’s skill, its speed, length, height and direction make injury likely. Protective equipment must be ignored in that assessment. Repeated short balls above the head of a striker standing upright at the crease can be unfair even if not dangerous.
Once the umpire decides the bowling is dangerous or unfair, no ball is called and the bowler receives a first and final warning for that innings. Another such delivery by that bowler brings another no ball and suspension from bowling for the rest of the innings. This sequence is separate from the high-full-toss sequence.
Law 41.7 — Non-landing deliveries
Any full toss that passes, or would pass, above the waist of a striker standing upright at the popping crease is unfair and a no ball. It is additionally dangerous if the umpire considers there is an injury risk, considering speed, height, direction, repetition and the striker’s skill, but disregarding protection.
A dangerous full toss or dangerous series brings a first and final warning. A further dangerous such delivery by that bowler in the innings brings suspension for the innings. Thus every high full toss is a no ball, but not every one automatically triggers a dangerous-bowling warning.
Laws 41.7–41.8 — Deliberate offences
A deliberately bowled unfair high full toss bypasses the warning and bars the bowler from bowling for the rest of the match. A deliberate front-foot no ball has the same match-long bowling consequence. Both are called no ball.
When a suspended bowler must be replaced mid-over, the replacement may not have bowled any of the previous over and may not bowl any of the next. The umpires inform the relevant players and captains and report these offences.
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