Decline in no-balls

By Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan

Since the free-hit was introduced, the number of no-balls bowled has steadily fallen across both Twenty-20 and ODI formats. Nowhere is this more evident than in the IPL. In the first season (2008), bowlers were less disciplined conceding 82 no-balls in 58 games (1.41 per match). In 2009, the no-balls per match figure dropped slightly to 1.36 with bowlers conceding 78 no-balls in 57 games. However, in 2010, there was a sharp decline in the number of no-balls. With bowlers conceding just 60 no-balls in 74 matches, the no-balls per game figure fell to 0.81. The pattern failed to continue in the next year though with the number of no-balls increasing once again to 86 (no-balls per match of 1.17). This figure, however, is lower than the average across the first four seasons (1.29). Bowlers have been at their most disciplined so far in 2012 conceding just 20 no-balls in 25 games (0.80 per game). This figure is the lowest across the five seasons and given the extra care bowlers take to avoid giving away a free-hit, it is likely to remain the lowest.

Among teams that have played in each of the five seasons, Delhi Daredevils have been by far the least disciplined, conceding 56 no-balls in 62 matches (0.90 per game). Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers have been extravagant too but have a much lower figure of no-balls per game than Daredevils. At the other end are Kolkata Knight Riders, who have been extremely disciplined conceding just 30 no-balls in 61 games (0.49 per game). Mumbai Indians are next, having conceded 33 in 64 (0.51 per match).

The Chennai Super Kings-Chargers game in Durban in 2009 had eight no-balls, the highest in a single game in the IPL. In contrast, the highest number of no-balls in a single game this season is three, in the match between Pune Warriors and Kings XI.