Front Foot‪!‬

In 1963, cricket’s no-ball law changed from a back-foot determination to the front-foot rule which is the subject of so much controversy. Batsmen are recalled after video replays show that blatant no-balls have been missed by umpires more concerned to get lbw and caught behind decisions right.

But, the law change also altered bowling actions, resulting in back and foot stress fractures that blight the modern game.

This is the story of the front-foot no-ball law - why it came about in the first place, and unsuccessful attempts by some of cricket’s greatest names to have it revert to the back foot. They may yet be vindicated as the game’s administrators grapple with an embarrassing protocol that may even have legal implications.