What Is A Side No-Ball In Cricket? Ravi Bishnoi's Blunder vs England Explained

Ravi Bishnoi for India performing a no-ball [Source: X]

England have registered a scintillating win over India in the second T20I at Manchester on July 4. As Harry Brook's men crossed the winning line with four wickets in hand, Ravi Bishnoi, India's spinner, became one of the most talked-about bowlers of the match.

He conceded a brutally expensive spell of 0/60 from his four overs. As he is facing all the heat amidst the blunders he made, there were two no-balls that were pretty unique in a cricket scenario and something that usually is not marked by the umpires. 

Those two no-balls from Ravi Bishnoi gave Jacob Bethell, England's batter, an opportunity to find two sixes from the two free hits, eventually further damaging India's winning chances in the crucial moments of the match.

What Is A Side No-Ball In Cricket?

A back-foot no-ball or an off-side/leg-side line infraction is usually referred to as a side no-ball in cricket rules. The MCC Laws of Cricket traditionally suggest that the bowler's back foot must land completely within and not touch the return crease. If a bowler gets his back foot touching or crossing the line during his stride, it is called a no-delivery or an illegal delivery. 

While this is the traditional no-ball measuring metric for umpires and cricket viewers, another off-side or leg-side crease-line breach can also result in a no-ball, which was the case for Ravi Bishnoi. 

According to the MCC, the bowler's front foot must land behind the popping crease and within the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps. 

If the stride is too wide, either on the left or the right side, and the bowler's front foot lands completely outside the imaginary line, the umpire will call it a no-ball. Bishnoi produced two of these side no-balls when he came to bowl the 17th over for India. 

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Ravi Bishnoi Commits Two Side No-Balls In IND vs ENG 2nd T20I

Coming in to defend a pretty comfortable 49 runs off 24 deliveries, Bishnoi's blunder handed England a chance to redeem themselves from the early tumbles, which later helped the chasing team require only 20 runs off 18 deliveries. 

The very first ball of Bishnoi was marked as a no-ball, where the TV umpire ruled that Ravi Bishnoi had cut the return crease with his back leg, resulting in a no-ball and a free hit for Bethell. 

Bethell used the opportunity to strike a massive six off the free hit, and on the very next delivery, Bishnoi cut the return crease once again with his back foot on the left side and was again marked for a no-ball.

Bishnoi's back foot landed on the wide bowling crease on the image's right-hand side, stepping over the white line [Source: X]

These two instances cost India the win, with Jacob Bethell proving to be the nightmare for India in a match that was destined to be in the Men in Blue's total control.

How India Lost A Set Piece Match Against England?

After India came in to bat first, Abhishek Sharma gave a blitzkrieg start with a 24-ball 43. Ishan Kishan added 49 runs alongside Shreyas Iyer's valuable 37. 

Tilak Varma, who was marred by a controversial umpiring decision, also helped with a quickfire 11-ball 24 that helped India post a total of 190 runs on the board. 

Defending 191, India started well, with Philip Salt and Jos Buttler gone inside the very first over. Harry Brook, the captain, was also dismissed in the fifth over, leaving England struggling at 51 for 3. 

However, Jacob Bethell's arrival changed the way England was progressing in the game. Alongside Jofra Archer and Tom Banton, Bethell managed to put up a total of 76 runs on the board to swing the momentum from India's end to the hosts' in a complete display of breathtaking batting power. 

With Brook & Co.'s four-wicket win over India, the remaining three matches will be as thrilling as this one. The first match having been washed out due to rain, India will have everything to prove in the next game as they take on the hosts on July 7 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

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