What is Cricket? | 
The game of Cricket is played between two competing teams of eleven players on each side, on a large ground called a pitch. The teams comprise of players with a mixture of abilities, some specialising at batting, some at bowling, and with one who acts as ‘wicket-keeper’.
In the centre of the pitch (usually 22 yards long), called ‘the wicket’. At each end of the wicket are placed three sticks (stumps) adjacent to each other in an upright position. They are separated by a gap not greater than the diameter of a cricket ball. On top of each set of stumps are placed two smaller sticks (’bails’). A chalk outline is drawn in front of each set of stumps called a ‘crease’. The game is refereed by two ‘umpires’
Starting the game, one side will ‘bat’ first, while the other side will bowl to them. The object for the batting side is to score the optimal number of ‘runs’ (points) before the bowling side have dismissed them. The object for the bowling side is to dismiss the batsmen as economically as possible. Once the process is complete the roles are reversed.
Runs can be scored each time that the batting pair is able to run between the wickets after a ball has been bowled (and before the stumps are or potentially can be touched with the ball) a run is scored. If the ball travels outside of the playing area, and it has touched the ground prior to leaving the playing area.
Additionally, runs can be accrued through failure of the bowler to correctly deliver the ball; either through an incorrect bowling action, when this is deemed a ‘no-ball’, or through the ball being delivered too wide for the batsman to strike it, known as a ‘wide’.
Dismissal of the batsmen can occur in a number of ways. The batsman facing the bowler can be ‘bowled’ out. If the batsman strikes the ball with the bat and it is caught by the bowler or one of the bowler’s side who are dotted around the ground to field the ball before it hits the ground, then he is deemed to be out. A batsman can also be stumped by wicket-keeper, who stands immediately behind the batsman to retrieve balls coming through from the bowler. If the batsman steps in front of the crease leaving no part of his anatomy or the bat behind, and the wicket-keeper is able to remove the bails from the wicket with the ball. A batsman can also be out ‘leg before wicket’ or ‘lbw.
Topics: 20 & 20 Cricket, Cricket, oneday Cricket
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