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The Basics of Cricket

Looking for the basic rules of cricket that will ensure your enjoyment of this popular sport, you have come to the right place.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played in a large field between two teams of eleven players. The objective of the game is for one team to score more runs than the other team. The team that scores the most runs is the winner. Simples!

History of Cricket

Cricket is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It is believed that cricket originated in England in the 16th century. The game has since spread across the world, including India, Australia, and South Africa. Cricket is considered one of the most popular sports in these countries.

Cricket is known for its rich history, thrilling matches and its passionate fans. It is truly a sport that brings people together and creates unforgettable memories.

Fans can enjoy cricket in many forms, whether it be playing the sport at a local park, watching live matches, or following their favourite teams and players online. Cricket has a massive following and if you’re looking for a sport with rich history, thrilling matches and passionate fans, then cricket is the sport for you.

Cricket is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC) The ICC represents 108 members and supports the games development and regulates the rules of cricket.

What do you need to play cricket?

Cricket is a bat and ball game, played with a hard, leather ball that is slightly smaller than a baseball. A good example is the Mozi Sports leather ball. The bat is made of willow wood and known as the willow. Kookaburra cricket bats are recognised for their quality and strenght, perfect for the beginner or pro shot maker.

Rounding off the required equipment is the wicket, we would recommend Fortress spring back cricket stumps. The 3 stumps are 28 inches high and free-standing. The top of the stumps have groves into which 2 wooden bails are placed. When the ball hits the wicket the batter is out. This is one meaning for wicket in the game of cricket!

Clothes
Cricket players wear protective gear, particularly when batting. This is due to the hardness of the ball and the speed that it is bowled at. Protective gear consists of gloves, thigh, arm, chest and elbow guards. Batters also wear a helmet to protect their head and face.

The Set Up for Cricket

Cricket is played in an oval field with a rectangular field in the middle that is 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The pitch is where the bowler bowls the ball to the hitter. There are wickets (sets of three stumps) at each end of the pitch. The grass between the two wickets, is also known as the wicket (2nd meaning)

Players and Positions in Cricket

Each team consists of eleven players, one of whom is the bowler (pitcher), one is the wicketkeeper (catcher), and the others are known as fielders. When one team is bowling the opposite team take turns at batting.

Batting
Batting is the act of hitting the ball with the bat. The batsman tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets. The other team tries to get the batsman out by getting the ball to hit the wicket, or by catching the ball after it is hit. When a batter is dismissed this is known as taking of a wicket.

Bowling
Bowling is the act of delivering the ball to the batsman. The bowler tries to get the batsman out by getting the ball to hit the wicket, or by getting the batsman to hit the ball in the air and having it caught by a fielder.

Fielder
The fielder toys to limit the number of runs a batter achieves after hitting a ball. The fielder does this in several ways. If a fielder catches the ball without it bouncing on the ground the batter is dismissed alternatively if the ball bounces the fielder can throw the ball a the wickets to try and run out a batter. The fielder also has a roll to reduce the runs scored by preventing the ball  touching or leaving the boundary of play.

A game of cricket consists of two innings, one for each team. An innings is a period during the match when one team takes its turn to bat. An innings is over when all of the team’s batsmen (hitters) are out, or when the team has batted for a predetermined number of overs (sets of six balls).

Scoring in Cricket

Runs are scored in cricket by hitting the ball and running between the wickets. The batsman can also score runs by hitting the ball to the boundary of the field, which is marked by a line. Four runs are scored if the ball is hits or crosses the boundary after bouncing, and six runs are scored if the ball is hit over the boundary on the full (without bouncing).

Over: An over is a set of six balls. The bowler delivers the balls from one end of the pitch to the batsman at the other end.

Wickets and Dismissals

The bowler attempts to get the batsman out in several ways. The main modes of dismissal include:

a) Bowled; This is when the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails.

b) Caught; This is when a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground.

c) LBW (Leg Before Wicket); This is when the ball strikes the batsman’s leg before hitting the stumps, and the umpire rules it out.

d) Run-out; when a fielder throws the ball to hit the stumps while the batsman is running between the wickets.

e) Stumped; This is when the wicketkeeper removes the bails while the batsman is outside the crease and not attempting a run

f) Hit wicket; when the batsman accidentally dislodges the bails with their body or bat.

Winning
The team that scores the most runs in their innings is the winner. If the scores are tied, the game is a draw.

Cricket is a popular sport that is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Understanding the basic rules of cricket is essential for anyone looking to play or follow the sport. We hope that this blog has provided you with a solid foundation of knowledge about the game, including information about the field, scoring, and what to takes to win. Whether you’re new to cricket or a seasoned player, understanding the rules of cricket will enhance your enjoyment of the sport. Remember to keep practicing and following the game to improve your skills and knowledge. And don’t forget to cheer for your favourite team.

If you enjoyed learning about the rules of cricket have a read of another classic English sport like Football (Soccer). Or, stay up to date with live scores here!