What is a legal bowling action, and what is chucking?
A · Advanced · What is a fair ball, and what does a foul ball cost? · 12 of 20A bowler must bowl the ball, not throw it. Once the bowling arm reaches shoulder height, the elbow must not straighten before the ball is released; bending the wrist is fine. In international cricket, the elbow may straighten by up to 15 degrees. A ball the umpire judges thrown is a no-ball.
How it works
- The test starts when the arm reaches shoulder level and ends when the ball leaves the hand.
- An umpire who judges a ball thrown calls no-ball. Under the Laws, the first time is a first and final warning; the second time, the bowler is taken off for the rest of the innings.
- In international cricket, the 15-degree limit is measured by testing outside the match. Umpires who suspect an action report it after the match; the bowler is then tested under the ICC's own regulations. On the field, umpires call no-ball for a throw that does not match the bowler's normal action.
- The bowler must tell the umpire whether they bowl right- or left-arm, over or round the wicket. Changing without telling the umpire is a no-ball.
- Underarm bowling is not allowed unless agreed before the match.
Tricky cases
What is the 15-degree rule?
In international cricket, a bowler's elbow may straighten by up to 15 degrees between shoulder height and release. More than that is an illegal action. It is measured by testing outside the match, not judged by eye.
Can a bowler bend their wrist?
Yes. Flexing or turning the wrist is allowed.
Is underarm bowling allowed?
No, unless both sides agreed before the match.
Is it a no-ball if the bowler throws the ball at the batter before starting the delivery stride?
No. The umpire calls dead ball instead.
Is it a no-ball if the bowler switches from over to round the wicket?
Only if they did not tell the umpire first.
Why the rule exists
A thrown ball can be much faster and harder to read than a bowled one. The arm rule keeps bowling a test of skill within a fixed action.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The Laws | Any straightening of the elbow after shoulder height is a throw | L21.2 |
| ICC men's internationals | Up to 15 degrees of elbow extension allowed; suspect actions reported after the match and tested under the ICC's regulations | PC-T, PC-O, PC-I 21.2 |
| ICC men's internationals | On the field, no-ball for a throw that differs from the bowler's normal action | PC-T, PC-O, PC-I 21.3.1 |
The ICC's Illegal Bowling Regulations, which set out the testing, are not in our sources and are not covered here.
From the rule book
MCC Laws of Cricket, Laws 21.1 to 21.4, 4th Edition, in force from 1 October 2026. ICC men's playing conditions, clauses 21.2 and 21.3, October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official documents: MCC Laws of Cricket (PDF); ICC playing conditions (PDF).