Free hit

Free hit is a cricket term, relevant in One Day Internationals and Twenty20 matches. When a bowler bowls a no ball (overstepping with front foot or back foot), in the immediate next ball, the batsman cannot be ruled out in any dismissal modes other than those applicable for a no-ball: run out, handled the ball, hit the ball twice and obstructing the field. Also recently if ball is delivered full toss (above the waist) batsman gets a free hit. This freedom enables the batsman to play a powerful shot without the fear of getting out caught, or leg before. For this reason, the delivery immediately after a foot-fault no ball is called a free hit. It came into international cricket in October 2007