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The Basic Rules of Cricket

Cricket is played with two teams of eleven, with two umpires (referees) on an oval shaped field. The size of the field varies, but generally has a diameter of around 200 metres. A cricket bat is oblong shaped with a narrow handle. A full-sized bat is around 90 centimetres in length. A cricket ball is made of cork and covered with leather, and is then stitched up. A ball weighs around 10 ounces.

In the middle of the field is what is known as a pitch. A pitch is a hard, flat strip of dry ground around 18 metres long. Two batsman are at the pitch at a time, both at different ends, with one facing the delivery of the ball from the bowler. The bowler runs up to the pitch where he bowls the ball overarm with a straight arm. Further details on the correct bowling action can be found here.

Teams score by getting runs. A run is completed when a batsman hits the ball and then runs to the other end of the cricket pitch, getting past the crease. The non striking batsman has to run to the opposite end as well. The batsman can run as many times as they like, but the batsmen can get out if their stumps are hit with the ball by a fielder before the batsman reaches the crease. The stumps are three sticks of equal size measuring around 90 centimetres tall with 5 centimetres separating them. Bails (small pieces of wood) are balanced on top of the stumps.

Other ways runs can be scored are by hitting boundaries. Boundaries are scored when the ball is hit and touches or goes past the outer edge of the field. Four runs are scored when the batsmen hits the ball and the ball hits the ground before reaching the outer edge of the boundary, and six runs are scored when the ball is hit and goes over the boundary without touching the ground. Runs can also be scored in the following ways: No balls, when the bowler oversteps the crease, bowls in a dangerous manner or incorrectly. A no ball is worth one run. A wide is scored when the ball goes outside the line of the pitch before coming in line with the batsman. This is also worth one run. A leg bye is scored when the ball hits the batsman but doesnt contact his bat and then proceeds to run. A bye is scored when the batsman runs without the ball coming into into contact with the batsman or his bat, and then runs.

The fielding team can get the batsman out in several ways, by 1) catching him out. This is done when the batsman hits the ball with his bat and a fielder catches the ball on the full (without bouncing). By 2) bowling him out. This happens when the bowler bowls the ball and the ball strikes the batsmans stumps or bails. By 3) leg before wicket, or LBW. This happens when the bowler bowls it and the stumps being hit by the ball are prevented when the batsmans leg gets in the way. By 4) stumped, when the batsman comes forward to hit the hit but steps out of his crease, misses the ball and the fielder behind the stumps collects the ball hits the stumps before the batsman gets back behind his crease. By 5) run out, when the batsman attempts to score a run but has his stumps hit by the ball before he reaches the other crease. By 6) Hit wicket, when the batsman hits his own stumps while trying to hit the ball. By 7) retired, when the batsman voluntarily decides to finish his innings, and 8) timed out, when the next batsman doesn't appear on the pitch within two minutes of the last batsman getting out.

Each team has one innings. This innings can last anything from 20 overs (a series of 6 bowls by a bowler) to an unlimited over match. Most one day matches are played with each side having 50 overs (or 300 balls). If 10 of a team's batsman are out, the innings ends there regardless of how many balls are left to be bowled. The team that scores the most runs in their innings is the team that wins.

Introduction to Cricket for Beginners

The encyclopedia defines cricket as "a bat and ball, team game played during the summer in the British Isles and in several countries influenced by the British, such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indian nations".

What though accounts for its popularity (especially since many find it to be an over-long sport full of unintelligable terms)? Having 800 million plus playing it on the Indian sub-continent helps. Also, being able to beat so frequently the country that invented the game must lend some satisfaction to those who play it outside of the British Isles. Let us look at some of the elements to the sport.

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players on a grassy field, in the center of which are two wickets - the equivalent of baseball's 'bases'. When a team is 'in', the other team attempts to get each of them 'out'. Then the team that was 'in' is 'all out', and takes its place in the 'out field'. The team that was in the out field in turn goes 'in' until they too are 'all out'. This process (an innings) may be repeated once more (a match can last one day or take as many as five).

The team with the highest number of 'runs' (points scored primarily by running between wickets after hitting the ball) wins the match, after which the players and spectators recover from the confusion over a beer in the pavilion, crickets equivalent of golf's nineteenth hole.

Cricket afficionados will tell you that one subtle difference between their sport and baseball is that the ball can bounce before the batsman hits it. This bouncing is called a 'pitch', but the player bouncing it is not called a 'pitcher' like his baseball equivalent. He is the 'bowler', and must keep his arm straight when releasing the ball, which he aims at the batsman's wicket (or base). The wicket consists of three upright wooden sticks so placed that that the ball cannot pass between them. Wooden 'bails' lie in grooves on top of them. When hit by the ball the whole arrangement collapses, indicating the batsman is 'out'. At this point, all watching sagely murmur 'bowled him', and the next team member comes in to bat.

The act of bouncing the ball on its way to the batsman allows the bowler to impart 'movement' to the ball, with the intention of catching the batsman unaware. This movement, or spin, may cause the batsman to missjudge the flight of the ball, resulting him to mis-hit into the waiting hands of a player from the opposite team, or even to miss it all together. A collection of six balls ('deliveries') is called an over; one delivery in an over can be aimed at the batsman's head. This may cause the watching public to mutter 'that's just not cricket'. Which, of course, it is.

According to the speed ('pace') and movement of a ball, the batsman has various options. He may drive it along the ground, lift it into air, or flick it to the side or behind himself. Alternatively, he may use the safety pads on his legs (or arms) to stop or deflect the ball. This is risky because it will invariably prompt the bowler and his team to shout 'Howwizzzahhtt!'. This means something like 'How does that look to you Umpire - is he out?' and is usually ignored by the umpire (referee) unless he judges that the ball would have continued on to hit the wicket. Then the batsman is given 'out' and the bowler's teammates smugly feel that their banshee scream was justified. If the batsman is out without having scored a run, this is a 'duck' and his embarrassment is compounded.

On the edge of the field is the boundary. If a batsman hits the ball to this boundary he is awarded four runs. If it does not bounce before doing so it is six runs (and stands a good chance of hitting a spectator).

The field itself is divided into two halves, the on side and the off side. 'On' is synonymous with 'Leg', and represents the side of the field to the left of the batsman as he faces the bowler or opposite wicket. Presuming of course he is righthanded; if not, everything I've just said is reversed.

Fielders are placed at strategic positions (in order to both stop runs and to catch a batsman out if possible) and these positions have distinct names. For example, the long off position is near the boundary, far away from the batsman to his front and right, while silly mid-on represents a position of extreme danger, as the name might suggest, being as it is immediately to a batsman's left. A square leg says more about where one umpire stands rather than how he is standing, while backward point or deep fine leg says nothing about any mental or physical ability at all.

Indeed. It has been said that the amount you know about cricket is inversely proportional to a greater understanding of how to play. The popular American entertainer Andy Williams, on seeing his first cricket match, was completely intrigued by the bowlers, who spend a great deal of time rubbing the ball up and down on their groin. Other neutral observers would be advised to follow his example and worry not about the rules, teams or results but instead treat the whole experience as a strange and fascinating ceremonial ritual.