Underarm bowling is, under the laws of cricket, illegal unless "otherwise agreed before the match". Few games in the modern era have seen an underarm delivery, although on one infamous occasion, on February 1, 1981, when Australia were playing New Zealand in a One-day International, the Australian captain (Greg Chappell) ordered the bowler (his brother, Trevor) to bowl underarm, rolling the ball along the ground to avoid the possibility that the No. 10 New Zealand batsman (Brian McKechnie) would score a six, from the last ball, to tie the match.

In Grades cricket, it is entirely possible that underarm bowling could be seen again, most likely in Grade 4, to allow junior or recreational cricketers, to "have a go". It would be unlikely to appear in a higher grade, however, although some bowlers do, occasionally, flirt with the laws (because of their low actions).

Technically speaking, an underarm delivery is one in which the bowler's hand does not rise above the level of the waist. Some bowlers with, what is often referred to as, a sidearm delivery action, therefore, may be verging on no-balling. The Grades has seen a number of such bowlers, past and present, although their bowling styles are, in most cases, a result of the ravages of old age. Former Gordonians favourite, Ian Brown, for example, seemed to have a lower action with every passing season.