| When looking at a cricket player's profile, you may | | | | One Dayers |
| notice that statisticians categorize player statistics | | | | One-dayers are limited overs matches that cricket |
| according to the type of matches played. For | | | | teams play over the course of one day. One-dayers |
| example, international fixtures are recorded | | | | normally require 50-overs but can be played over 40 |
| separately from games played on domestic circuits. | | | | overs as well. However, one day matches require a |
| Currently, there are a maximum of six match types | | | | minimum number of overs (20) in each innings to |
| on a player profile. However, there are only three | | | | constitute a match. Matches of this type normally last |
| primary forms of cricket:a) First Classb) One dayc) | | | | no longer than 8 hours. |
| Twenty 20 (T20) | | | | One-Day Internationals |
| Cricket statisticians extrapolate international records | | | | ODIs are one-dayers, which teams that have ODI |
| from these three basic forms of cricket to provide | | | | status play. Teams that have ODI status are all |
| additional player statistics. Therefore, there are | | | | Test-playing countries and some Affiliate nations who |
| virtually six forms of cricket:i) Testsii) First class | | | | have earned that status. The International Cricket |
| fixturesiii) One Day Internationalsiv) One-dayersv) | | | | Council (ICC) also accords ODI status to ODIs played |
| Twenty 20 Internationalsvi) Twenty 20 | | | | between teams at the ICC Cricket World Cup |
| To avoid confusion, cricket fans must consider that | | | | (regardless of ODI status) and in special |
| while internationals are specific types of cricket | | | | circumstances as well (Like the Super Series). When |
| matches, they fall under the three basic forms of | | | | ODIs began in the early 1970s, 60-overs per side |
| cricket. | | | | constituted an ODI. That later changed to 50-overs |
| Tests | | | | per innings. |
| Cricket pundits consider Tests as the pinnacle of all | | | | Twenty 20 |
| forms of cricket. However, Test matches are | | | | T20s require teams to play a maximum of 20-overs |
| First-class matches that are played by international | | | | per innings. Sometimes, rain affected T20 matches |
| teams. In modern cricket, Tests are five-day | | | | are further abbreviated. T20 matches are played |
| matches that require a minimum of 90 overs per day. | | | | over the course of approximately three hours. |
| There are two innings per side. A team's innings is | | | | Twenty 20 Internationals |
| over once they declare their innings or are bowled | | | | T20 Internationals are T20 matches played between |
| out. | | | | teams that have ODI status. Matches by teams |
| Throughout cricket history, Tests have been played | | | | without ODI status that are played in the ICC World |
| without time restrictions - in what were "Timeless | | | | T20 Championship. |
| Tests". The ICC sanctions Tests - a match between | | | | Not all forms of cricket played are First class, |
| Test sides may be stripped of Test status and | | | | one-day or T20 games. Cricket is also played at club |
| reduced to First-class status by the ICC. | | | | level under the auspices of territorial bodies. Cricket |
| First Class fixtures | | | | boards do not recognize as official cricket matches |
| First class fixtures include Tests and domestic | | | | but they are often parallels of official cricket |
| matches played in Test-playing countries. Matches on | | | | matches. One should even find independent records |
| the English County circuit and all other domestic | | | | of these unofficial games. |
| circuits (e.g. Australia, Pakistan, West Indies) fall under | | | | For instance, the West Indies has different |
| this category. Competitive domestic First class | | | | independent territories. Club cricket is played in |
| matches are normally played over four days. | | | | various countries. The best club cricketers in Trinidad |
| However, certain domestic games can have a | | | | will vie for selection to the Trinidad and Tobago team |
| five-day span or a three-day span (usually warm-ups | | | | (First class/One-day/T20). From there, a cricketer |
| with international teams). Cricket authorities in Test | | | | can hope to gain selection to the West Indies to play |
| playing nations have the authority to sanction First | | | | Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals. |
| class matches. | | | | |