By Karen Knott

How nice to was to have some sunshine at long last and for games to be completed without the use of any Duckworth Lewis calculations to get a target score. Let us hope the fine weather continues as it’s so much nicer to umpire and play in the warm and being able to discard heavy sweaters.

A talking point this weekend was a ball bouncing more than once. The law says an umpire shall call and signal NO Ball if a ball he considers has been delivered without having previously touched bat or person of the striker, bounces more than once before it reaches the popping crease. I know of two occasions this weekend where that happened. I remember when it happened in a game I was umpiring in and was very surprised when it occurred as the bowler was the professional. It took everyone by surprise. There was a lot of bewildered faces from the fielders but after consultation with my colleague we got the decision correct and called No Ball.

A ball such as this is classed as being unfair. Just like a ball that rolls along the ground. That is also unfair and called a NO Ball

There is always some confusion as to a ball passing over head height of a striker standing upright in his normal guard position. MCC law, which most leagues follow, states that is a NO ball but if you are watching TV you will see the umpires call and signal wide. That is for county and test matches although some overseas leagues play to that rule as well. Here in the North West Cricket League, we say that ball is a NO ball. An umpire will find some way of judging head height of the batter standing up right in his crease as soon as he appears. Could be markings on the sight screen or building or fence etc which will act as a guideline as for most of the time the batter is crouched over his bat in facing a ball.

If a ball meets the criteria of both No ball and wide, its No ball that takes precedence according to MCC law. A ball may well meet some of the criteria for a wide. E.g. it is not sufficiently within reach of the batter to hit it with a normal cricket stroke. It is to becalled a No Ball as this offers the batter more protection and allows him to hit the ball while still being protected from most forms of dismissal