| Cricket is a sport that was created in England during | | | | The idea is for the batting team to score as many |
| the eighteenth century. At that time it was primarily | | | | runs as possible and then bowl out the opposing |
| played by the English aristocrats. | | | | teams for less runs than they scored. |
| With the expansion of the British Empire, the game | | | | The batting team enters the field with two batsmen, |
| was taken to the British colonies – Australia, | | | | who take up a position at each of the two wickets. |
| India, Pakistan and West Indies. In fact these | | | | The fielding captain assigns one of his bowlers to |
| countries together with England are still the major | | | | bowl the cricket ball from one wicket towards the |
| cricket playing nations in the world today. | | | | batsman at the other wicket. Each bowler bowls six |
| How is cricket played? | | | | balls in succession, known as an "over." |
| 1. The playing area | | | | A batsman can be given out after each ball bowled if |
| Cricket is played on an oval area of grass which is | | | | he or she: |
| known as the cricket field. At the centre of the field | | | | A) Hit the ball to an opposing fielder without the ball |
| is a rectangular area known as the pitch. At either | | | | touching the ground. |
| end of the pitch an area is marked out by three | | | | B) If they do not attempt to play a shot in front of |
| wooden sticks or stumps. The distance between | | | | the wicket and the ball hits their gloves before being |
| each stump cannot be greater than the diameter of | | | | caught by a fieldsman. |
| the cricket ball. Between each stump, two further | | | | C) If the bowler bowls a ball at the wicket and it hits |
| pieces of wood are place on top – these are | | | | the batsman on the leg in front of the wicket |
| known as the "bails". The Bails together with the | | | | without the batsman playing a shot – this is |
| stumps form the wicket. | | | | known as "leg before wicket" or "lbw." |
| Adjacent to either side of the wicket, horizontal lines | | | | The batsman can score by hitting the ball into a |
| are marked on the pitch with chalk to create what is | | | | space that is not occupied by a fielder and than |
| known as the "popping crease" which completes the | | | | running to the opposite wicket. The other batsman |
| pitch. | | | | runs in the opposite direction and one run is then |
| A rope is placed around the entire perimeter of the | | | | scored. The other batsman will now receive the next |
| cricket field which plays a role in scoring the game | | | | ball from the bowler. |
| which will be explained in a moment. | | | | If a batsman hits a ball and it runs all the way to the |
| 2. The Teams | | | | boundary of the field and crosses the rope, then four |
| The game is played between two teams made up of | | | | runs are scored. |
| eleven players. These players themselves are made | | | | If the batsman hits the ball over the boundary rope |
| up of specialist batsman and bowlers – | | | | without the ball touching the rope, then six runs are |
| although, some players such as the English cricketer | | | | scored automatically. |
| Andrew Flintoff is what is known as an "all rounder" | | | | When the fielding team dismisses the whole of the |
| as he specializes in both batting and bowling. | | | | batting team, then it is their turn to bat. They will be |
| All players in a team are required to field and each | | | | trying to score more runs then the batting team to |
| player takes up a position in the field as dictated by | | | | win the game. |
| the captain. The captain will tend to alter his field | | | | A cricket match can either be a 'one day' game |
| according to who is bowling from his team and who | | | | – meaning that each team bats and fields only |
| is batting on the opposing team. | | | | once to win the game. A game can also last five |
| The positions that players field in on the pitch tend | | | | days; this is known as a 'test match' in which each |
| to have quirky names such as "silly point" and "long | | | | team bats and field twice throughout the game. |
| on". As you watch the game one starts to become | | | | The team that scores the most runs after the |
| familiar with these different fielding positions. | | | | second round of batting is declared the winner. |
| 3. How to play the game | | | | Cricket is viewed as a complicated game to play and |
| At the beginning of each game, the two opposing | | | | understand, however, it is also an exciting game so if |
| captains meet at the wicket together with the | | | | you have not yet caught the cricket bug then what |
| 'umpire' who referees the match. One captain tosses | | | | are you waiting for? Go and watch a game!!!! |
| a coin to decide which team will bat first. | | | | |