| There are a number of different types or formats of | | | | also known as limited overs. One day cricket was |
| cricket currently being played around the world. | | | | first played in the early nineteen sixties. It was |
| Although they are different they are all similar in their | | | | introduced in response to public opinion that there |
| aims. This article will give you a brief overview of the | | | | was a need for a shorter type of cricket where the |
| different formats you may come across: | | | | result could be seen in one day. Although these were |
| Test Cricket | | | | not the first one day matches, it was really the |
| The most common form and one of the best known | | | | limiting of the overs that was the real innovation. This |
| is test cricket. This is one format played when the | | | | meant that the crowd knew when the game was |
| teams that are playing are international teams (such | | | | going to be finished by and that they would see a |
| as England and Pakistan) and it was first played in the | | | | result. This made it much easier to watch as they |
| late nineteenth century. The test match is played | | | | would actually see the end of the game. There are |
| over two innings for each of the teams and is played | | | | also floodlit games that are played in the evening |
| for five days or until each side has been bowled out | | | | called day-night matches. One day matches in England |
| twice. This gives more time for the top players to | | | | are usually played for 40, 45 or 50 overs depending |
| play the game to the best of their abilities and gives | | | | on the league or competition. |
| them a chance to put on more of a show than the | | | | Twenty20 Cricket |
| traditional four day game usually played in first class | | | | This is the newest format of cricket and has grown |
| county cricket. | | | | massively since its first introduction. Twenty20 was |
| 4 Day Cricket | | | | originally brought in 2003 to make the game more |
| The more usual four day, or first class game is also | | | | popular and primarily to encourage more people to |
| played over two innings and is one of the most | | | | play the game. The reason for the name is simple in |
| popular types of cricket that is being played on a | | | | that each team gets one twenty over innings each |
| regular basis week in and week out. The main league | | | | to bat/bowl. This means that the game is finished |
| in England is the county championship and each match | | | | much more quickly, plus there are also unique new |
| is played over four days. This gives the domestic | | | | rules which encourage faster play. One key change |
| league players a lot more scope than the shorter | | | | to the game is that if a no ball is bowled then there |
| types of cricket and allows them to show off their | | | | is a free hit for the batsman. The fact that it is |
| abilities (such as patience, consistency, will-to-win, | | | | limited to such few overs makes the teams much |
| perseverance and so on) over longer periods of time | | | | more likely to play positive shots to score runs |
| as required by the best players in the test arena. | | | | quickly, creating more of an exciting spectacle of the |
| The best players from the domestic leagues form | | | | crowd. |
| the basis for the teams selected to play in the | | | | There are many different types of cricket and it is |
| international team and test matches. | | | | likely to keep on changing to keep up with the times |
| One Day Cricket | | | | as well. |
| One day cricket is the short form of cricket that is | | | | |