CRICKET
 


                     Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a field at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch. The game is played by 120 million players in many countries, making it the world's second most popular sport. Each team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, while the other team fields. Each turn is known as an innings (used for both singular and plural).

The bowler delivers the ball to the batsman who attempts to hit the ball with his bat away from the fielders so he can run to the other end of the pitch and score a run. Each batsman continues batting until he is out. The batting team continues batting until ten batsmen are out, or a specified number of overs of six balls have been bowled, at which point the teams switch roles and the fielding team comes in to bat.

In professional cricket, the length of a game ranges from 20 overs per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals

Cricket was first played in southern England in or before the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had developed to be the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international match was held. ICC, the game's governing body, has 10 full members.^[5] The game is most popular in Australasia, England, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies and Southern Africa.                     These are the rules.There are two teams: the team bowling has 11 players on the field. The team batting always has two players on the field.

The captain of the bowling team chooses a bowler from his team; the other 10 players are called fielders. The bowler is trying to aim the ball at a wicket, which is made up of three sticks (called stumps) stuck into the earth, with two small sticks (called bails) balanced on them. One of the fielders, called the wicket keeper, stands behind the wicket to catch the ball if the bowler misses the wicket. The other fielders chase the ball after the batsman has hit it.

The bowler runs towards his wicket, and bowls towards the batsman at the other wicket. He does not throw the ball. He bowls the ball overarm with a straight arm. An 'over' is six balls meaning he bowls six times. Then another player becomes the bowler for the next over, and bowls from the other end, and so on. The same bowler cannot bowl two overs one after the other.

The batsman is trying to defend the wicket from getting hit with the ball. He does this with a bat. When he hits the ball with his bat, he may run toward the other wicket. To score a run, the two batsmen must both run from their wicket to the other wicket, as many times as they can. If the ball leaves the field after being hit without bouncing, six runs are scored. If the ball rolls or bounces out, whether or not the batter hit it, it counts as four runs.

There are different ways that a batsman can get out. The most common ways are:

• The batsman misses the ball and it hits the wicket: called bowled.
• The ball hits the batsman's body when it would have hit the wicket otherwise. Called LBW (leg before wicket). The way this rule is applied is complicated; this is just the general idea.
• A fielder catches the ball after the batsman hits it, and before it bounces or leaves the field: called caught.
• While the batsmen are running, a fielder can throw the ball at the wicket. If the batsmen cannot finish the run, the batsman nearer to the wicket that is hit is out: called run out.

When a batsman is out, another comes onto the field to take his place. The innings is over when ten wickets are taken (i.e. ten of the eleven batsmen are out).

In a one-day game, each side has one innings, and innings are limited to a certain number of overs. In longer formats each side has two innings, and there is no specific limit to the number of overs in an innings. 

Where cricket is played

Cricket is popular in many countries, mostly in Commonwealth countries.

The countries where cricket is most popular compete in international matches (games between countries) that last up to 5 days, which are called test matches. Those countries are England, Australia, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The West Indies are a group of Caribbean countries that play together as a team. Several other countries have more junior status. The test match idea was invented by teams from England and Australia in the 19th century.

Cricket is also played in Kenya, Canada, Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland, Holland, Namibia and Afghanistan; the national teams of those countries can play one-day international matches, but do not play test matches. Pakistan is not able to play international cricket at home at present (for security reasons). Afghanistan is a new entrant in the cricket world.

The field

A cricket field is where cricket is played. It is circular or oval-shaped grassy ground. There are no fixed dimensions for the field. Its diameter usually varies between 450 feet (137 m) to 500 feet (150 m).

Different forms of cricket

Test matches

Test matches are the top international matches played between countries. The countries permitted to play test matches are accredited by the ICC: the International Cricket Council. The nine countries are listed above, with 'West Indies' counting for this purpose as a country. Tests last for up to five days: it is the longest format of cricket.

National league systems

Called counties in England, and states in Australia and islands in the West Indies. These are three or four day matches.

Limited overs cricket

A perspective view of the cricket pitch from the bowler's end. The bowler runs in past one side of the wicket at the bowler's end, either 'over' the wicket or 'round' the wicket.

In these games, the length is determined by the number of overs, and each side has one innings only. A special formula, known as the 'Duckworth–Lewis method' is applied if rain reduces the time for play. It calculates the target score for the team batting second in a limited overs match interrupted by weather or other circumstance.

One day internationals

Usually restricted to 50 overs batting for each side

Twenty20 cricket

With 20 overs for each side the T20 format is a dazzling encounter between two teams.Cricket is a very popular game in Australia that is played mostly in summer on a large grassy field.

There are 2 teams of 11 players
The teams are made up of people that are skilled in…

• Batting
• Bowling
• Fielding

Wickets-

3 sticks with 2 smaller sticks (bails) resting on top the centre of the oval is called the pitch. At each end of the pitch are three sticks in the ground called the wickets (or stumps). The wickets are a very important target. The batting team are trying to stop the wickets from getting knocked over by the bowling/fielding team.

Batting-
The batting team have 2 people playing at a time (one at each end of the pitch) protecting the wickets. There is a small white line drawn around the wickets that is called the crease. The batters need to score as many points (called ‘runs’) as possible by running between the 2 creases/wickets.

Equipments:

• Bat
• Ball
• Batting Gloves
• Leg Pads

 

 

 

Scoring:

Runs can be scored in a number of ways:

• Each time the batting pair run between the wickets (after the ball has been hit) a run is scored.
• If the ball is hit outside the boundary line extra points are scored.
  - 4 runs = If the ball touches the ground before going outside the boundary.
  - 6 runs = If the ball does not touch the ground.
• Runs can also be scored if the bowler delivers the ball incorrectly…
  - ‘No-ball’ = an incorrect bowling action, (= 1 bonus run).
  - ‘Wide’ = bowling the ball so wide the batter can’t hit it (= 1 bonus run).

Fielding:

Cricket Ball

The fielding (or bowling) team try to get the batting team out (‘dismissed’) without them scoring too many ‘runs’.
The 11 players in the fielding team spread themselves out around the ground.

The person bowling must change after they have bowled 6 balls (6 balls = an ‘over’)

Dismissals:

The batter can go out (be dismissed) in a number of ways.

Bowled = the bowler hits the wickets (stumps) with the ball.

Caught = the hit ball is caught on the full by the fielding team (does not touch the ground)

Stumped = the wicket-keeper (player who stands behind the batter – like a catcher in softball/baseball) knocks over the wickets when the batter is not in their crease (safe zone).

LBW (leg before wicket) = the batter is using their leg to stop the ball from hitting the wicket. Ball hits the batters leg (or leg-protector pad) and would have hit the wicket if their leg was not blocking it. (more details in picture)

Run-out = the fielding/bowling team hit the wicket, with the ball, when the batter is out of their crease.

Umpiring:

There are 2 umpires who stand on the ground & ensure the rules are followed.

Game length:
There are 3 different styles of cricket games….

• Twenty20 match
  • One day match
    • Test Match

Twenty20 Match

• Players wear colored team uniform.
• Ball is white.
• Faster format of the game
• More explosive with bigger hitting
• Most matches are played in the evening.
• Play lasts 3 hours

One Day Match

One-Day Cricket Action

• Players wear colored team uniform.
• Ball is white
• Match is often played partly under lights.
• Most matches start early afternoon.
• Playing day lasts about 8 hours

Test Match

• All players wear white clothes.
• Ball is red. 
• Match is played in daylight.
• Lasts up to 5 days.
• Playing days are at least 7 hours long

 The major international test teams are…

• England
• Australia
• India
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Bangladesh
• South Africa
• New Zealand
• Zimbabwe
• The West Indies

We look forward to seeing you at the cricket!