| This article will introduce to you the basic facts and | | | | 6 runs, if it does bounce then they get 4 runs. The |
| rules of cricket to help you understand it better. | | | | team that gets the most runs is the winner. If they |
| The game of cricket is played between two teams | | | | both get the same amount of runs it is a draw. Each |
| and each team has eleven players. The team may | | | | over is 6 bowls long and then the next over is from |
| use a substitute if a player is injured and if he | | | | the other end of the wicket. |
| recovers he may come back on to the pitch. Cricket | | | | If the batsman is not able to hit the ball from where |
| has two umpires that enforce the rules, make and | | | | he stands then the ball is wide This means that the |
| judge decisions. There are also two scorers that | | | | batting team gets an extra run. There is also a no ball |
| keep the score for both teams. | | | | when the ball bounces more than one time on the |
| In cricket the ball is 22.4 to 22.9cm in diameter and | | | | way to the wicket when it has been bowled or the |
| weights between 155 to 163 grams. The cricket bat | | | | bowler does not bowl correctly. That gives the |
| is 96.5 long and 10.8 wide. The cricket wicket/pitch is | | | | batting team an extra run. When the bowler bowls |
| 22 yards long and 10ft wide. The wickets themselves | | | | he may not put his foot over the crease and his arm |
| are composed of three stumps, which are 28 inches | | | | must go over his shoulder and not bend. |
| tall and 9 inches wide with three bails on top. The | | | | If the ball is not hit when bowled, but the batsmen |
| bowling crease is 8.8ft long and as wide as the | | | | scores a run it is called a bye, but the batsman must |
| wicket, it is centred on the stumps. The condition of | | | | play a shot. If the batsman makes a run when he |
| the pitch should be good and ideally should give an | | | | has tried to hit the ball but it has bounced off of his |
| even bounce. | | | | pad then it is called a leg bye. The batsman is out if |
| Cricket is played for one or two innings depending on | | | | the ball is caught before it has hit the ground when |
| the type of match. The innings is over when all of | | | | he has hit it. He is out if the bowler knocks off the |
| the batsmen are out, or the innings is forfeit, or if | | | | bails when the ball is bowled. The batsman is out if |
| the limit of overs or time is reached as agreed by | | | | the bails are knocked off when he is out of the |
| the two captains. | | | | crease and the ball is in play. The batsman is out if he |
| A 'follow-on' occurs in a two innings match when a | | | | is not ready to face the ball in three minutes from |
| team that is batting does not reach the limit for runs | | | | the last batsman being out. |
| to allow them to play on. This is when they are | | | | The batsman is out if he, hits the ball twice or gets |
| behind the fielding team by 200 runs for a test | | | | hit by the ball after it is bowled and when it would |
| match, 150 for a three day match and 75 runs for a | | | | have hit the wicket if he did not get in the way of it. |
| one day match. The batting team then has to bat | | | | The batsman is out when he purposely obstructs the |
| again at the discretion of the other team. The | | | | fielding team when the ball is in play. The batsman is |
| captain of the batting team may end the innings | | | | out when he is run out when the ball hits the wicket |
| whenever the ball is not in play. | | | | when he is not in the crease when he is running |
| There should be a 10 minute break between each | | | | between the wickets. The wicket keeper stands |
| innings, and there are also breaks for lunch, tea and | | | | behind the wicket and is able to wear gloves and |
| drinks as agreed by the captains, after which the | | | | pads. He can stump the batsman through knocking |
| play is started again by the umpires. In the final hour | | | | off the bails when the batsman is not in the crease. |
| the fielding team must bowl at least 20 overs. The | | | | When 10 out the 11 batsmen are out, or the amount |
| teams may practice before or after the game at the | | | | of agreed overs or hours are completed, the innings |
| umpire's discretion. | | | | is finished. The team that has the most runs at the |
| The batting team scores a run when both batsman | | | | end of the one or two innings are the winners. The |
| cross and reach the opposite ends of the wicket | | | | amount of overs and innings is agreed between the |
| without getting out. If the ball goes over the | | | | two teams at the start of the game. |
| boundary and does not bounce the batting team get | | | | |