Free hit

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Free hit is a cricket terminology, relevant in one day internationals and twenty20 matches. When a bowler bowls a front-foot no ball, in the immediate next ball, the batsman cannot be ruled out in any dismissal modes, other than run out, handling the ball, hitting the ball twice and obstructing the field. This freedom enables the batsman to play a powerful shot without the fear of getting out caught, bowled or leg before. For this reason, the delivery immediately after a front-foot no ball is called a free hit.

[edit] Front-foot no ball

If the bowler bowls without some part of the front-foot (either grounded or raised) behind the popping crease then that ball is treated as a front-foot no ball.

[edit] Fielding restrictions

The fielding team is not entitled to change the field on the free hit ball, if the same batsman (who received the original no ball) is in strike.

[edit] Other conditions

If the immediate next delivery following a front-foot no ball is another no ball (not necessarily a front foot no ball) or wide, then the free-hit carries over to the next ball also.