📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Dharam2016
Sports
India Coach Proposes Free Hits in Tests to Curb No‑Ball Problem
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 10:48 AM
👁 4
India's national cricket coach has suggested that introducing free hits in Test matches could help reduce the frequency of no‑balls.
India’s national cricket coach has floated the idea of incorporating free hits into Test cricket as a means to tackle the persistent no‑ball problem.
The suggestion comes amid growing concerns over the high number of no‑balls bowled in Test matches, which critics say disrupts the flow of the game and can influence match outcomes.
A free hit, currently used in limited‑overs formats, allows the batsman to face a delivery without the risk of dismissal. Applying this rule in Tests would add a deterrent for bowlers who are prone to overstepping.
The proposal has sparked debate among players, officials and fans, but no official decision has been taken by the International Cricket Council yet.
If adopted, the rule could change the strategic dynamics of Test cricket, prompting bowlers to tighten their lines and encouraging a more disciplined bowling attack.
The suggestion comes amid growing concerns over the high number of no‑balls bowled in Test matches, which critics say disrupts the flow of the game and can influence match outcomes.
A free hit, currently used in limited‑overs formats, allows the batsman to face a delivery without the risk of dismissal. Applying this rule in Tests would add a deterrent for bowlers who are prone to overstepping.
The proposal has sparked debate among players, officials and fans, but no official decision has been taken by the International Cricket Council yet.
If adopted, the rule could change the strategic dynamics of Test cricket, prompting bowlers to tighten their lines and encouraging a more disciplined bowling attack.