In the sport of cricket a no ball is a penalty against the fielding team, usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler. The delivery of a no ball results in one run (or occasionally two, depending upon the competition) to be added to the batting team's score, and an additional ball must be bowled. In addition, the number of ways in which the batsman can be given out is reduced except for run out. In twenty20 and recently one-day cricket matches, a batsman receives a 'free hit' on the ball after any foot fault no balls (see below). This means the batsman can freely hit the ball with no danger of being out in certain ways. No balls are not uncommon, especially in short form cricket, and fast bowlers tend to bowl them more often than spin bowlers, due to their longer run-up.

A no ball may be called for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, it is the result of a bowler breaking one of the first two rules below (a front foot no ball or back foot no ball). Dangerous deliveries (beamers) are another common reason. If the front foot of a bowler lands inside the crease and slides outside of the crease, then it is not stated as a no ball. However, if foot lands outside the crease, it is given as a no ball automatically.

A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling. Balls made from hard-wearing materials are used in engineering applications to provide very low friction bearings, known as ball bearings. Black powder weapons use stone and metal balls as projectiles.

Although many types of balls are today made from rubber, this form was unknown outside the Americas until after the voyages of Columbus. The Spanish were the first Europeans to see bouncing rubber balls (albeit solid and not inflated) which were employed most notably in the Mesoamerican ballgame. Balls used in various sports in other parts of the world prior to Columbus were made from other materials such as animal bladders or skins, stuffed with various materials.

As balls are one of the most familiar spherical objects to humans, the word "ball" is used to refer to, or to describe, anything spherical or near-spherical.

Aakash Chopra  pronunciation (help·info) (born September 19, 1977, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh) is an Indian cricketer, who played for the Indian cricket team from late 2003 until late 2004 as a defensive opening batsman and close catcher in Test matches who evoked comparisons with Eknath Solkar. He was noted for his calm demeanour and jovial approach to cricket.

Anthony William Greig (born 6 October 1946) is a former English Test cricketer turned commentator. Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish parentage. He was a tall (6 feet 6 inches or 1.98 metres) batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of his national side from 1975 to 1977 and also captained Sussex. Greig's younger brother, Ian, also played Test cricket.

A leading all-rounder in the County-game, Greig is thought by some former players and pundits to be one of England's leading international all-rounders. He was also, however, a sometimes controversial figure. He helped Kerry Packer start World Series Cricket by signing up many of his English colleagues as well as West Indian and Pakistani cricketers, a move which cost him the England captaincy. He is also noted for a controversial run-out of Alvin Kallicharran in a Test Match against the West Indies in 1974, and often clashed with Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee on the 1974–75 Ashes Tour in Australia. His infamous "grovel" statement in the lead to a 1976 tour of England by the West Indies met with severe criticism.

The Ball brothers were the founders of the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Business which eventually became Ball Corporation. They greatly improved the quality of life of Muncie, Indiana through their philanthropy and business. They were instrumental in the creation of Ball State University, and Ball Memorial Hospital, and Minnetrista, a museum in Muncie. Included in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection are a large archival collection documenting the family and business, approximately 1,000 Ball fruit jars, and other Ball products.

The Ball family's legacy continues today through the Ball Brothers Foundation and the George and Frances Ball Foundation, both located in Muncie, Indiana.

From oldest to youngest, the Ball Brothers were:

Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company (Ball Corporation) was founded by Frank C. and Edmund B. Ball, who borrowed $200 from their uncle George Ball to buy the Wooden Jacket Can Company of Buffalo, New York. Within a few years, they added glass production to the business and, in 1884, produced their first fruit jar. To take advantage of the abundance of natural gas in East Central Indiana, the brothers built a factory in Muncie, Indiana in 1887. Over the course of the next ten years the brothers closed the factory in Buffalo and they all moved to Muncie, Indiana.