5 infamous no-balls of the 21st century

No-balls have the potential to turn a game upside down. They are like the proverbial ant in an elephant's ear: too small to be paid any attention to, yet can wreak havoc.

Pakistan's Wahab Riaz gave away 58 runs off no-balls in 2016 Tests, the most by any bowler that year. This year, Pollard found himself in hot water after bowling a no-ball that prevented Lewis from scoring a century.

Let's look at some of the no-balls that turned into headlines.

#5 Jasprit Bumrah - ICC Champions Trophy Finals, 2017

This no-ball broke the hearts of millions of Indian cricket fans. It will go down in history as one of the most expensive no-balls ever bowled by an Indian.

Bumrah thought that he had got the better of Fakhar Zaman, who edged a ball to Dhoni. The Pakistan opener was headed back to the pavilion but the umpire stopped him. Unfortunately for the Indian team, Bumrah had bowled a no-ball by a hair's breadth.

The opener made use of his reprieve and scored a match-winning 114 off just 106 balls. His century helped Pakistan beat India by a mammoth margin of 180 runs.

#4 R. Ashwin & Hardik Pandya - World T20 Semifinals, 2016

The umpire signalling a no-ball in the 2016 World T20 Semifinals

On 31 March 2016, tragedy struck the Indian Cricket team twice in one hour in the form of twin no-balls.

Kohli's 82 set a mammoth target of 193 for West Indies. Chasing a daunting score, the Windies lost both Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels quickly. When it looked like the game was all but over, two stray no-balls ruined the party.

Ashwin's no-ball saved Lendl Simmons when he was at 18. The Carribean batsman had another lucky escape again at 50, this time courtesy Hardik Pandya.

Simmons scored an unbeaten 82 off 51 balls with five huge sixes, and eliminated India from the T20I World Cup.

#3 Rubel Hossain - ODI World Cup Quarterfinals, 2015

A touch-and-go no-ball decision in favour of Rohit helped India score more than 300 runs

Bangladesh had just qualified for the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in history.

Rohit Sharma, who had been the backbone of the Indian innings until then, hit a full toss to deep-square-leg in the 40th over. The square leg umpire quickly indicated that the ball was above waist-height and adjudged it a no-ball. However, TV replays showed that it was very close and could have gone either way.

Rohit Sharma got a second chance and went on to score a match-winning 100, shattering Bangladesh's semifinal hopes.

There was outrage in Bangladesh following this incident. The ICC, however, dismissed the matter, saying that it was a tight call and the umpire's decision must be respected.

#2 Suraj Randiv Vs India - Dambulla, 2010

Sehwag prematurely celebrating his hundred which was denied by Randiv's no-ball

In the third ODI of a triangular series against Sri Lanka, India was cruising to victory, chasing a paltry target of 171. India needed five runs to win, and Virender Sehwag was at 95. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv came on to bowl the 35th over. Four byes levelled the score, and India needed just one run to win.

Randiv bowled a clear no-ball, and the umpires declared India's win. Sehwag was left stranded at 95 despite scoring a six on that ball!

The Indian team was furious with the Sri Lankan team and Randiv for their unsportsmanlike behaviour. Randiv later apologised to Sehwag, and the match referee slapped a one-match ban on him.

#1 M. Amir & M. Asif Vs England - Lords, 2010

This no-ball from Amir shocked the cricketing world

A series of three no-balls from the then Pakistan fast-bowling duo M. Amir and M. Asif paved the way for one of the biggest scandals that the game has ever seen. The world was stunned when the spot-fixing was revealed.

In the match against England in 2010, Amir bowled a couple of big no-balls and Asif bowled one. The irony is that Amir was adjudged Man of the Tournament for his splendid bowling in the series!

Amir and Asif were slapped with five-year and seven-year bans respectively. Amir made a comeback to the international cricket scene last year.