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Indian Premier League 2023

‘If the path of the ball is above bail height it’s deemed a No Ball’- Tom Moody suggests no ball law change after inconsistent calls

by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

Former Australian cricketer and coach Tom Moody has suggested a change to full toss no ball regulations after complaints of inconsistency in this year’s IPL.

The tournament’s 2023 edition is the first where players have had the power to challenge umpiring decisions on wides and no balls, but some decisions have still been controversial.

In Sunrisers Hyderabad’s clash with Lucknow Super Giants earlier this week, a no ball was called on field after Avesh Khan bowled a high full toss to Abdul Samad.

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LSG captain Krunal Pandya opted to review the call, and TV umpire Yeshwant Barde used ball-tracking to see where the delivery would have passed Samad had he not hit it. This showed the ball passing above the stumps, but Barde told the on-field umpire to reverse his decision, with the crouched position of the batter proving key in the decision.

Commentators could be heard gasping after the decision was made, while Heinrich Klaasen also questioned the decision with the on-field umpire.

Moody, who coached the Sunrisers from 2013 to 2019, has offered a solution to the confusion.

“The interpretation of the full pitch no ball is becoming increasingly inconsistent,” he tweeted.

“It needs simplifying, possible solution – If the projected path of the ball is above bail height it’s deemed a No Ball. Thoughts?

“I do understand batters are all different heights but so is the position they’re in at point of contact, just simplify to eliminate subjectivity.”

The current law specifies that the ball must pass above the batters waist height in a standing position to be given as a no ball, which has led to some confusion when players are crouched when the ball passes.

Moody’s change would eliminate confusion, although it may give taller batters an advantage as no balls could be given for deliveries that ware easier to hit and less dangerous for them compared to shorter players.

There was another potentially pivotal no ball call in Punjab Kings clash with Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.

Punjab required 23 to win from the final three balls of their innings and were seemingly out of the game before Ishant Sharma bowled a high full toss, which Liam Livingstone dispatched for six.

Delhi protested and reviewed the decision but it was upheld, meaning the equation for Punjab became more realistic with 16 needed off three balls. Livingstone ultimately failed to score another run and the Kings lost by 15.

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