Free-hits in Tests?

[silentstriker]

That's just stupid. Leave Tests alone.

 

[silentstriker]

Why do people care that much about no balls anyway? What's the big deal?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Why do people care that much about no balls anyway? What's the big deal?

You can't take wickets off them and you give away free runs. Aside from that, it's no big deal.

You'd never cut it at international level.

 

[Mister Wright]

Yeah, me too, that was when he was bowling abnormally.

With foot in normal position, he never oversteps or comes close.

You could use that argument for any bowler.

 

[Richard]

Nah, the vast majority of bowlers are always in with a definite prospect of bowling no-balls.

 

[Richard]

Why do people care that much about no balls anyway? What's the big deal?

They're a waste of effort, they can cost wickets, they concede runs, they force you to bowl extra deliveries, and they're easily, easily eradicable.

I've never bowled one in my career and I bowl off a decent run-up.

 

[Goughy]

Adding a free hit makes the penalty far outweigh the crime. And in what way does the batting team deserve a free hit for such an indiscretion ?

Its hardly a great sin. The current rule of all pro-bowling team benefits of the ball being voided and the batting team getting a bonus run and the opportunity to score chance free runs.

More than adequate.

As for bowlers bowling no-balls. Ive never really understood it (but obviously happens). Ive bowled rapid off (at my peak) 21 steps and can probably count the number of no-balls Ive bowled on 1 hand. Maybe I was helped as I was a triple-jumper but I dont buy the excuse that all bowlers bowl no-balls. Some of it is laziness. However, Im not concerned if they do occasionally. It is annoying but isnt that great a sin.

 

[Matteh]

I've never been noballed for overstepping, there's been the occaisional one that hasn't bounced and interestingly a couple in one match for missing the box from the side when i was running in from a wide angle trying to get it to go across a lefthander.

Best off leaving it as is in Tests, not like time is a factor as it is in the quicker forms.

 

[cover drive man]

No. There would be about four hundred free hits every time the aus play.

 

[roseboy64]

NO need to IMO.

 

[BoyBrumby]

As others have alluded to I think that the fact wickets "taken" off no-balls aren't wickets is probably punishment enough. We've seen three in the last two days; Steyn & Johnson have no-one to blame but themselves, but one can't help but sympathise with Nel as Amla boneheadedly standing behind square whilst fielding at short-leg made a third fielder behind the stumps on the on-side, so Nel was duly no-balled. Ouch.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Was the captains fault. Not Amla's. It's not Amla's job to consider field settings.

 

[crickhowell]

It's a terribly stupid idea, and we shouldn't even have them in ODI's, the punishments in place are adequate enough IMO. They add something to T20 however where they add to the tension and the entertainment of the whole thing which is what that form of the game is all about.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Was the captains fault. Not Amla's. It's not Amla's job to consider field settings.

Much as I'd love to blame Fat Gray, I don't think you can here. Amla was fielding at short leg in front of square before the wicket-flattening delivery, but inexplicably stepped back before Nel bowled. Brain-freeze.

 

[Richard]

As others have alluded to I think that the fact wickets "taken" off no-balls aren't wickets is probably punishment enough. We've seen three in the last two days; Steyn & Johnson have no-one to blame but themselves, but one can't help but sympathise with Nel as Amla boneheadedly standing behind square whilst fielding at short-leg made a third fielder behind the stumps on the on-side, so Nel was duly no-balled. Ouch.

Fortunately, said mistake cost nothing, as the same bowler got the same batsman out 2 balls later.

I wonder... has ever 3 "wickets fallen" to no-balls on the same day in Test-cricket before now? It has always seemed an exceedingly rare occurrance, and certainly not sufficient to defer bowlers (regardless of whether it should be).

 

[Athlai]

Free-hits should only come if they bring the dancers too IMO.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I wonder... has ever 3 "wickets fallen" to no-balls on the same day in Test-cricket before now? It has always seemed an exceedingly rare occurrance, and certainly not sufficient to defer bowlers (regardless of whether it should be).

Steyn's was yesterday, IIRC. But anyway, they jolly well should be a deterrent. If they aren't, well bowlers aren't renowned for their brains, are they?

 

[silentstriker]

You can't take wickets off them and you give away free runs. Aside from that, it's no big deal.

You'd never cut it at international level.

I realize its not the perfect delivery, but its a pretty small crime. And they get rightly punished for it. I don't see the need to increase punishment.

 

[Chemosit]

Bad idea in ODIs, worse in Tests. Why not stop the bowler running an and get him to serve up dolly underarm balls and see who can hit it the furthest!

I'm fed up of seeing constant rule changes to favour batsmen. One of the great things about Tests is it is still a format where there is a genuine contest between bat and ball.

 

[Craig]

I'm pleased by the response from the people on here. It is also not surprising either.