Cricketing Rules

Millions of people in the British Commonwealth and elsewhere play and watch cricket. A batter attempts to score runs by hitting a ball thrown by a bowler, who aims for a set of sticks, called a wicket. If the bowler can hit the wicket, the batter is out.

  1. Fielding

    • If the ball is hit, a fielder can still get the batter out by catching the ball or hitting the wicket when the batter is outside of the area near the wickets.

      The batter is also out if he obstructs the wicket with any part of his body when the ball is thrown.

    Batting

    • Batters can score runs by running from one wicket to the other after hitting the ball or if the ball gets past the wicket and the other fielders.

      If the ball rolls outside the field, four runs are awarded. Six runs are awarded if it lands out of the field without hitting the ground.

      Runs are also awarded if the bowler gets too close to the wicket or bowls the ball too wide.

    Appeals

    • If fielders believe a batter is out, they yell to the umpire, "Howzat!"

    Outs and Overs

    • The batters continue until the fielders get 10 outs or finish anywhere from 20 to 50 "overs" (a set of six bowls).

    Fielders

    • Once the batters are eliminated, the fielders bat and try to score more runs before the first team before they run out of outs or overs.