The game of cricket sees a bowler bounce the hard cork ball on a pitch which reaches the batter at varying heights depending on where the ball pitched. The batter then chooses a shot to score runs and avoid dismissal. A full toss in a term used to refer a delivery that does not pitch before reaching the batter.
A full toss is often unintentional and rarely strategic. When bowlers attempt to pitch the ball near the batter’s legs (yorker), it becomes difficult for the batter to produce runs off it. However, if miscued, the ball may not pitch as expected, resulting in the ball directly reaching the batter; a full toss.
Full toss are a gift for the batters as it becomes easier for them to predict the ball’s trajectory and utilise its pace to hit it at the desired area. It becomes worse for the batter if the full toss reaches the batter above the waist height. Such a delivery deemed illegal and called a no ball. On top of it, the no ball leads to the immediate next ball become a free hit. A batter can never be out on a free hit except a run out. Thus, apart from the one extra run awarded due to the no ball, additional runs can be added based on the outcome of the free hit.
While it can be tempting to score runs off it, a full toss may become lethal if it reaches the batter at a high pace who would have missed the ball. It can result in fatal career-threatening injuries.
A full toss can be used strategically in the final overs of an innings. However, it needs to be below the batter’s waist height and must pitch near the wide lines beyond the stumps. Such a delivery is difficult to reach by the batter, thus making scoring difficult.
A full toss is thus a delivery that is rarely intentionally opted for and is more often then not a present for the strike batter.
