What Is Bouncer In Cricket

A bouncer in cricket is a short-pitched delivery, typically bowled by a fast bowler. This delivery causes the ball to bounce once and reach the batter at head height. The bouncer is an aggressive delivery, often used to push the batter back onto his back foot if he has been freely playing front foot scoring shots. It's usually directed more or less at the line of the batter's body.

The bouncer rule in cricket states that the umpire shall call and signal No ball for any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over the head height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease. The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a "one bouncer per batsman per over" rule in 1991 to discourage intimidation. This was later changed to two bouncers per over in 1994. In T20s, a fast bowler can only bowl a maximum of one bouncer per over.

Despite its potential danger, the bouncer can be a very productive ball for the batter if played attacking. The shot used to attack the bouncer is the hook shot. However, if misdirected by the bowler, the cut, uppercut, or late cut can be played. A batter may also play a bouncer defensively, aiming primarily to avoid getting out and secondarily to avoid being hit by the ball.

However, it's important to note that while rare, a bouncer's impact on the top part of the body can cause serious injuries or even death. For instance, in 1962, Indian captain Nari Contractor was critically injured by a bouncer, and in 2014, Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died from injuries sustained by a bouncer.