| Cricket, although international and popular | | | | The other batsman stands at the other end of |
| all over the world, is quintessentially a | | | | the wicket and has to run at the same time as |
| very English game. It is played between two | | | | the batsman facing the ball. The batsman has |
| teams, each consisting of eleven players. At | | | | to reach the other end of the wicket to the |
| any time on the field are two from one side | | | | crease before the fielders knock the bails |
| (the batting side) and eleven from the | | | | off of the stumps. The batting crease is an |
| opposing side (who would be bowling | | | | area that is 122cms in front of the stumps. |
| fielding). | | | | When the batsman is in this he cannot be out |
| | | | by the fielding team knocking the bales off |
| The first team that have all eleven players | | | | of the stumps. |
| on the pitch are the fielding team and the | | | | |
| team that have just two players on the field | | | | When the bowler is bowling the batsman has to |
| are the batting team. Cricket is usually | | | | defend the stumps from the ball being bowled |
| played on a large oval pitch on which the | | | | with his bat whether or not he is standing in |
| fielders are distributed around the pitch | | | | front of the crease. But if he stops the ball |
| according to the instructions of their | | | | from hitting the stumps by using his legs |
| captain and bowler. In cricket there are | | | | then he can be out by LBW, or "leg before |
| specific fielding positions on the pitch, all | | | | wicket". |
| with their own unique name. | | | | |
| | | | He can also be out by one of the fielders |
| In, or around, the middle of the pitch, there | | | | catching a ball that he has hit before it has |
| is an area called "the wicket". This is a | | | | bounced on the ground. When the batsman are |
| thin strip of grass that is 22 yards long, 8 | | | | running between the stumps, if either of the |
| foot 8 inches wide and very flat. It has a | | | | batsmen are not in the crease when the |
| set of three stumps also know as wickets, at | | | | fielder hits the stumps and knocks the bails |
| each end. The three "stumps" are about a yard | | | | off with the ball, then they are "run out". |
| high and they are set in to the ground a few | | | | |
| inches apart. They are connected by two | | | | Each time the two batsmen run successfully |
| wooden "bails" that are balanced on | | | | between the two sets of stumps, they get one |
| indentations on top of the stumps. The aim | | | | run. If the batsman manages to hit the ball |
| for the bowler is to knock the bails off of | | | | over the rope that marks the boundary when it |
| the top of the stumps by "bowling" the ball | | | | has bounced or rolled on the ground, he gets |
| at them. And the object for the batsman is to | | | | four runs. If he hits the ball over the |
| defend the wicket from the ball. "Bowling" is | | | | boundary without it bouncing on the ground, |
| a way of throwing the ball that is unique to | | | | then he gets six runs. Each "innings" lasts |
| cricket, where the arm must remain straight | | | | until 10 out of the 11 batsmen are out (two |
| as the ball is delivered. | | | | batsman must always be on the wicket, so one |
| | | | batsman can not bat on his own). This is |
| The bowler has to "bowl the ball overarm | | | | because the batting team need two players on |
| while keeping his arm straight all of the | | | | the pitch at a time so that one can be at |
| time. If he bends his arm and is, in effect, | | | | each end. |
| throwing the ball, it is not allowed and | | | | |
| called a 'no ball'. The bowler bowls the ball | | | | The team that wins is the team that has the |
| six times each "over", then another bowler | | | | highest number of runs after everybody has |
| bowls six balls from the other end of the | | | | batted or the number of overs being played |
| wicket. The bowlers can be changed for other | | | | runs out. If the two teams have he same score |
| members of the fielding team, as usually each | | | | then the match is a draw, unless one team has |
| team will have at least four people who would | | | | fewer players out than the other. Most club |
| be classed as bowlers. | | | | games are played over one "innings". This |
| | | | means that each team bats and fields once. |
| The object for the batsman is to hit the ball | | | | But some games are played over two innings |
| away from his wicket, far enough from the | | | | where each team bats and fields twice. Games |
| fielders so that he has enough time to run | | | | are very often played over a certain number |
| between the two sets of stumps and so score a | | | | of "overs" that are agreed beforehand by the |
| "run". He can also score a run without | | | | captains or according to league regulations |
| hitting the ball as long as he can run before | | | | and can be altered according to the weather, |
| the fielders knock the bails off of the | | | | if play is interrupted. In club cricket both |
| stumps; this is called a 'bye'. | | | | teams usually play in cricket whites. |
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