Cricket is a sport where the bowler releases a ball that travels 22 yards after pitching. For the ball to travel such a distance, the bowler usually has a preparatory routine which allows them to bowl a legal delivery.
In the sport of cricket a legal delivery by a bowler is one where they release the ball behind the popping crease of the non-striker’s end. Additionally, the bowler’s release must be in front of the umpire.
If a bowler releases the ball behind the umpire, the umpire can exercise their right of calling it an illegal or unfair delivery. According to Law 2.9 of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s laws of cricket,
“The umpires shall stand where they can best see any act upon which their decision may be required.”
Since the umpire cannot assess the release of the bowler’s arm, their bowling action, and further aspects of the legality of a delivery, the umpire can call a no ball or a dead ball. If the latter is called, the ball does not count and the ball has to be re-bowled. The batting side does not get any penalty runs.
In case of a no ball, the batting side gets one extra run and the umpire also calls for the next delivery to be a free hit. On this delivery, the batter cannot be out except a free hit.
The occurrence of a bowler releasing ball from behind the umpire in professional cricket is very rare. It is especially an uncommon sighting in international cricket.
Thus, within the laws of the game, the bowler can release the ball behind the stumps but cannot release it behind the umpire.
