Simple Rules for Cricket

A cricket match typically last only one inning, with an absolute maximum of two innings, due to all 11 members of a cricket team having to bat. The team that usually is up first will take almost the entire day to rotate and finish the first inning, therefore a second day is added for the completion of the game. Although cricket is similar to baseball there are many differences in the way the game is played. A cricket player may swing at a ball as many times as he needs without being penalized with a ball or strike, along with a ball staying inbounds when it is hit sideways or backwards.

  1. The Cricket Field

    • The game of cricket, which is often called "meadow of dreams," uses three short, wooden poles known as wickets that stand 22 yards apart facing each other in an upright position. The popping or batting crease, which is a 12-foot chalk line, runs parallel to each wicket as the batters safe line. The return creases, which are 8 feet 8 inches apart, are located at right angles towards the wickets popping crease for the pitcher's operating area.

    How Cricket Begins

    • Before a game of cricket begins, the captain of the two teams tosses a coin to see if the batting or fielding team starts the game. Once that is decided, 15 men are on the field at one given time, which includes 11 players on the fielding team, two players are the batsmen and two umpires.

    Equipment

    • The blood red ball that is used for cricket cannot weigh any heavier than 5 1/2 oz. and no larger in circumference than 8 13/16 inches. The large, willow made paddle-shaped bat cannot be any longer than 38 inches or wider than 4 1/4 inches. The good bat is outfitted with a good cane, steel-spring handle for the long periods of time a batter may be on the field. The batter wears leg guards to protect the lower legs, batting gloves to protect his hands from pitches and a helmet to protect his entire head.

    Mechanics of Crickets

    • A cricket player can swing and miss as many times as he needs during a game due to his never striking out because there are no balls or strikes as there are in baseball. When a ball is hit sideways or backwards it is still considered a fair ball. Although there are two batsmen playing together only one has the opportunity to hit the ball. When a cricket batter runs, he must carry his bat in his hands while running, which can work to his advantage when he need to cross the line to make a run.

    Scoring Runs

    • A batsman can score one run by hitting the ball and running to the other end of the pitch, which is known as the non-strikers end. If he can run to the other end and back again he earns two runs. When a batter hits a fly ball over the boundary line, the team automatically receives six runs. The team also receives four automatic runs when a ground ball is hit over the boundary line.

    Making Outs

    • The batter can take as much time as he needs to hit the ball.

      If the bowler (pitcher) can get the ball past the batter and hit his wicket and knock off at least one ball the batter is automatically out. The batter is also out if he hits a fly ball, along with his hitting his own wicket and knocking off at least one ball while hitting or by accident. If the batter blocks a pitch from hitting a wicket with his body he is also considered out. The fielding team can also get a batter out by throwing the ball while he is running and hitting one of the wickets the batter is running towards and knocking off a ball before crossing the popping crease. If the batter steps over the popping crease at any time he is also out.

    The Bowler

    • The bowler must follow certain rules while he is on the mound. He must have at least some part of his foot behind the popping crease, along with some of his foot inside the return ceases when he releases the ball. The pitch must always be bowled with a straight arm that is locked at the elbow within reach of the batter.