The no ball

With all this controversy surrounding the wicket of Alastair Cook, falling lbw to Morne Morkel for 21 in Englands first inning in the fourth and final Castle Test match got me thinking, so I dusted off the old Test cricket law book.

This is what the law states:

Law 24: No Ball

24.3. Fair Delivery – The Feet

The Umpire at the bowler’s wicket shall call and signal “no ball” if he is not satisfied that in the delivery stride:-

(a) the Bowler’s back foot has landed within and not touching the return crease or its forward extension

or

(b) some part of the front foot whether grounded or raised was behind the popping crease.

When Cook was given out he requested the referral probably based on height, I doubt a batsmen can ‘see’ a no ball being bowled. When referred, third umpire Daryl Harper adjudged that the on field umpire was correct and the original decision was upheld. The England dressing room was pretty animated in their disappointment as there was some controversy with regards to a potential no ball having been bowled.

The law is pretty clear and simple: “some part of the front foot whether grounded or raised was behind the popping crease”. Having seen the replay I’d say it was a legal ball, as part of Morkel’s foot was in the air but behind the crease. Having said that there must have been some doubt in the umpires mind, the decision usually goes in the favor of the batsman when there is doubt.