Cricket

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This article is about the sport. For the insect, see Cricket (insect). For other
uses, see Cricket (disambiguation).
"Cricketer" redirects here. For other uses, see Cricketer (disambiguation).
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Cricket
Pollock to !ussey."pg
# bo$ler bo$ling to a batsman. The paler strip is the cricket pitch. The t$o
sets of three $ooden stumps on the pitch are the $ickets. The t$o $hite lines
are the creases.
!ighest go%erning body &nternational Cricket Council
First played '(th century (modern), )ngland
Characteristics
Team members '' players per side
$ith some substitute players (can act as *elders only) permitted (in cases of
in"ury, illness, fatigue).
+i,ed gender -ingle
Type Team, .atandball
)/uipment Cricket ball, cricket bat,
$icket0 stumps, bails , se%eral protecti%e gear.
1enueCricket *eld
Presence
2lympic '344 -ummer 2lympics only
Cricket is a batandball game played bet$een t$o teams of '' players each
on a *eld at the centre of $hich is a rectangular 55yard long pitch. )ach
team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, $hile the other team
*elds. )ach turn is kno$n as an innings.
The bo$ler deli%ers the ball to the batsman $ho attempts to hit the ball $ith
his bat a$ay from the *elders so he can run to the other end of the pitch and
score a run. )ach batsman continues batting until he is out. The batting team
continues batting until ten batsmen are out, or a speci*ed number of o%ers of
si, balls ha%e been bo$led, at $hich point the teams s$itch roles and the
*elding team comes in to bat.
&n professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 54 o%ers per side to
Test cricket played o%er *%e days. The 6a$s of Cricket are maintained by the
&nternational Cricket Council (&CC) and the +arylebone Cricket Club (+CC)
$ith additional -tandard Playing Conditions for Test matches and 2ne 7ay
&nternationals.8'9
Cricket $as *rst played in southern )ngland in the ':th century. .y the end of
the '(th century, it had de%eloped to be the national sport of )ngland. The
e,pansion of the .ritish )mpire led to cricket being played o%erseas and by
the mid'3th century the *rst international match $as held. &CC, the game;s
go%erning body, has '4 full members.859 The game is most popular in
#ustralasia, )ngland, the &ndian subcontinent, the West &ndies and -outhern
#frica.
Contents 8hide9
' !istory
5 <ules and gameplay
5.' -ummary
5.5 Format of the game
5.= Pitch, $ickets and creases
5.=.' Playing surface
5.=.5 -tumps, bails and creases
5.> .at and ball
5.? @mpires and scorers
5.: &nnings
5.A 2%ers
5.( Team structure
5.3 .o$ling
5.'4 Fielding
5.'' .atting
5.'5 <uns
5.'= ),tras
5.'> 7ismissals
5.'? &nnings closed
5.': <esults
= 7istincti%e elements
=.' &ndi%idual focus
=.5 -pirit of the Bame
=.= &nCuence of $eather
=.> @ni/ueness of each *eld
> Types of matches
>.' Test cricket
>.5 6imited o%ers
>.= Dational championships
>.> Club cricket
>.? 2ther types of matches
? &nternational structure
?.' +embers
?.'.' Full +embers
?.'.5 Top #ssociate and #Eliate +embers
: -tatistics
:.' -corecards
A &n popular culture
A.' &nCuence on e%eryday life
A.5 .ooks and games
A.= &nCuence on other sports
( -ee also
3 <eferences
'4 ),ternal links
!istory
+ain article0 !istory of cricket
)arly cricket $as at some time or another described as "a club striking a ball
(like) the ancient games of clubball, stoolball, trapball, stobball".8=9 Cricket
can de*nitely be traced back to Tudor times in early ':thcentury )ngland.
Written e%idence e,ists of a game kno$n as creag being played by Prince
)d$ard, the son of )d$ard & (6ongshanks), at De$enden, Fent in '=4'8>9 and
there has been speculation, but no e%idence, that this $as a form of cricket.
# number of other $ords ha%e been suggested as sources for the term
"cricket". &n the earliest de*nite reference to the sport in '?3(,8?9 it is called
creckett. Bi%en the strong medie%al trade connections bet$een southeast
)ngland and the County of Flanders $hen the latter belonged to the 7uchy of
.urgundy, the name may ha%e been deri%ed from the +iddle 7utch8:9 krick(
e), meaning a stick (crook)G or the 2ld )nglish cricc or cryce meaning a crutch
or staH.8A9 &n 2ld French, the $ord cri/uet seems to ha%e meant a kind of
club or stick.8(9 &n -amuel Iohnson;s 7ictionary, he deri%ed cricket from
"cryce, -a,on, a stick".839 #nother possible source is the +iddle 7utch $ord
krickstoel, meaning a long lo$ stool used for kneeling in church and $hich
resembled the long lo$ $icket $ith t$o stumps used in early cricket.8'49
#ccording to !einer Billmeister, a )uropean language e,pert of .onn
@ni%ersity, "cricket" deri%es from the +iddle 7utch phrase for hockey, met de
(krik ket)sen (i.e., "$ith the stick chase").8''9 7r Billmeister belie%es that not
only the name but the sport itself is of Flemish origin.8'59
The *rst )nglish touring team on board ship at 6i%erpool in '(?3
The earliest de*nite reference to cricket being played in )ngland (and hence
any$here) is in e%idence gi%en at a '?3( court case $hich mentions that
"creckett" $as played on common land in Buildford, -urrey, around '??4. The
court in Buildford heard on +onday, 'A Ianuary '?3A (Iulian date, e/uating to
the year '?3( in the Bregorian calendar) from a ?3 yearold coroner, Iohn
7errick, $ho ga%e $itness that $hen he $as a scholar at the "Free -chool at
Buildford", *fty years earlier, "hee and di%erse of his fello$s did runne and
play 8on the common land9 at creckett and other plaies."8'=98'>9 &t is
belie%ed that it $as originally a children;s game but references around
':'48'>9 indicate that adults had started playing it and the earliest reference
to interparish or %illage cricket occurs soon after$ards. &n ':5>, a player
called Iasper 1inall $as killed $hen he $as struck on the head during a match
bet$een t$o parish teams in -usse,.8'?9
7uring the 'Ath century, numerous references indicate the gro$th of cricket
in the southeast of )ngland. .y the end of the century, it had become an
organised acti%ity being played for high stakes and it is belie%ed that the *rst
professionals appeared in the years follo$ing the <estoration in '::4. #
ne$spaper report sur%i%es of "a great cricket match" $ith ele%en players a
side that $as played for high stakes in -usse, in ':3A and this is the earliest
kno$n reference to a cricket match of such importance.
The game under$ent ma"or de%elopment in the '(th century and became
the national sport of )ngland. .etting played a ma"or part in that
de%elopment $ith rich patrons forming their o$n "select J&s". Cricket $as
prominent in 6ondon as early as 'A4A and large cro$ds Cocked to matches
on the #rtillery Bround in Finsbury. The single $icket form of the sport
attracted huge cro$ds and $agers to match. &n the 'A=4s Frederick Prince of
Wales played a ma"or role in de%eloping the sport.8':9 .o$ling e%ol%ed
around 'A:4 $hen bo$lers began to pitch the ball instead of rolling or
skimming it to$ards the batsman. This caused a re%olution in bat design
because, to deal $ith the bouncing ball, it $as necessary to introduce the
modern straight bat in place of the old "hockey stick" shape. The !ambledon
Club $as founded in the 'A:4s and, for the ne,t 54 years until the formation
of +CC and the opening of 6ord;s 2ld Bround in 'A(A, !ambledon $as both
the game;s greatest club and its focal point. +CC /uickly became the sport;s
premier club and the custodian of the 6a$s of Cricket. De$ 6a$s introduced
in the latter part of the '(th century included the three stump $icket and leg
before $icket (lb$).
7on .radman of #ustralia had a Test a%erage of 33.3> and an o%erall *rst
class a%erage of 3?.'>, records unmatched by any other player.8'A9
The '3th century sa$ underarm bo$ling replaced by *rst roundarm and then
o%erarm bo$ling. .oth de%elopments $ere contro%ersial. 2rganisation of the
game at county le%el led to the creation of the county clubs, starting $ith
-usse, CCC in '(=3, $hich ultimately formed the oEcial County
Championship in '(34. +ean$hile, the .ritish )mpire had been instrumental
in spreading the game o%erseas and by the middle of the '3th century it had
become $ell established in &ndia, Dorth #merica, the Caribbean, -outh #frica,
#ustralia and De$ Kealand. &n '(>>, the *rst international cricket match took
place bet$een the @nited -tates and Canada (although neither has e%er been
ranked as a Testplaying nation).
-achin Tendulkar of &ndia $as rated by Wisden Cricketers; #lmanack in 5445
as the second greatest Test batsman of all time, behind 7on .radman.
&n '(?3, a team of )ngland players $ent on the *rst o%erseas tour (to Dorth
#merica). The *rst #ustralian team to tour o%erseas $as a team of #boriginal
stockmen $ho tra%elled to )ngland in '(:( to play matches against county
teams.8'(9 &n '(:5, an )nglish team made the *rst tour of #ustralia and in
'(A:LAA, an )ngland team took part in the *rste%er Test match at the
+elbourne Cricket Bround against #ustralia.
W.B. Brace started his long career in '(:?G his career is often said to ha%e
re%olutionised the sport.8'39 The ri%alry bet$een )ngland and #ustralia ga%e
birth to The #shes in '((5 and this has remained Test cricket;s most famous
contest8citation needed9. Test cricket began to e,pand in '(((L(3 $hen
-outh #frica played )ngland. The last t$o decades before the First World War
ha%e been called the "Bolden #ge of cricket". &t is a nostalgic name prompted
by the collecti%e sense of loss resulting from the $ar, but the period did
produce some great players and memorable matches, especially as organised
competition at county and Test le%el de%eloped.
The inter$ar years $ere dominated by one player0 #ustralia;s 7on .radman,
statistically the greatest batsman of all time. &t $as the determination of the
)ngland team to o%ercome his skill that brought about the infamous .odyline
series in '3=5L==, particularly from the accurate shortpitched bo$ling of
!arold 6ar$ood. Test cricket continued to e,pand during the 54th century
$ith the addition of the West &ndies, &ndia, and De$ Kealand before the
-econd World War and then Pakistan, -ri 6anka, and .angladesh in the post
$ar period. !o$e%er, -outh #frica $as banned from international cricket from
'3A4 to '335 because of its go%ernment;s apartheid policy.
Cricket entered a ne$ era in '3:= $hen )nglish counties introduced the
limited o%ers %ariant. #s it $as sure to produce a result, limited o%ers cricket
$as lucrati%e and the number of matches increased. The *rst 6imited 2%ers
&nternational $as played in '3A'. The go%erning &nternational Cricket Council
(&CC) sa$ its potential and staged the *rst limited o%ers Cricket World Cup in
'3A?. &n the 5'st century, a ne$ limited o%ers form, T$enty54, has made an
immediate impact.
<ules and gameplay
+ain article0 6a$s of cricket
-ummary
Cricket is a bat and ball game, played bet$een t$o teams of ele%en players
each.854985'9 2ne team bats, attempting to score runs, $hile the other bo$ls
and *elds the ball, attempting to restrict the scoring and dismiss the
batsmen. The ob"ecti%e of the game is for a team to score more runs than its
opponent. &n some forms of cricket, it may also be necessary to dismiss the
opposition in order to $in the match, $hich $ould other$ise be dra$n.
There are separate leagues for Women;s cricket, though informal matches
may ha%e mi,ed teams.
Format of the game
# cricket match is di%ided into periods called innings ($hich ends $ith "s" in
both singular and plural form). &t is decided before the match $hether the
teams $ill ha%e one innings or t$o innings each. 7uring an innings one team
*elds and the other bats. The t$o teams s$itch bet$een *elding and batting
after each innings. #ll ele%en members of the *elding team take the *eld, but
only t$o members of the batting team (t$o batsmen) are on the *eld at any
gi%en time. The order of batsmen is usually announced "ust before the match,
but it can be %aried.
# coin toss is held by the team captains ($ho are also players) "ust before the
match starts0 the $inner decides $hether to bat or *eld *rst.
The cricket *eld is usually o%al in shape, $ith a rectangular pitch at the
center. The edge of the playing *eld is marked $ith a boundary, $hich could
be a fence, part of the stands, a rope or a painted line.
#t each end of the pitch is a $ooden target called a $icket, placed 55 yards
apart. The pitch is marked $ith painted lines0 a bo$ling crease in line $ith the
$icket, and a batting or popping crease four feet in front of it. The $icket is
made of three %ertical stumps supporting t$o small horiMontal bails. # $icket
is put do$n if at least one bail is dislodged, or one stump is knocked do$n
(usually by the ball, but also if the batsman does it $ith his body, clothing or
e/uipment). This is also described as breaking, knocking do$n, or hitting the
$icket L though if the ball hits the $icket but does not dislodge a bail or
stump then it is not do$n.
#t any instant each batsman o$ns a particular $icket (usually the one closer
to him) and, e,cept $hen actually batting, is safe $hen he is in his ground.
This means that at least one part of his body or bat is touching the ground
behind the popping crease. &f his $icket is put do$n $hile the ball is li%e and
he is out of his ground then he is dismissed, but the other batsman is safe.
8559
# ball being bo$led. From back to front umpire ($ith hat), $icket, non
striking batsman (yello$), bo$ler (blue), ball, pitch, crease, striking batsman
(yello$), $icket, $icket keeper (blue,crouching) and *elder (blue,slip position)
The t$o batsmen take positions at opposite ends of the pitch. 2ne designated
member of the *elding team, called the bo$ler, bo$ls the ball from one end
of the pitch to the striking batsman at the other end. The batsman at the
bo$ling end is called the nonstriker, and stands to the side of his $icket,
behind his crease. The batsman are allo$ed to step for$ard of their creases,
though at some risk. #nother member of the *elding team, the $icket keeper,
is positioned behind the striker;s $icket.
The *elding team;s other nine members stand outside the pitch, spread out
across the *eld. The *elding captain often strategically changes their position
bet$een balls.
There is al$ays an umpire at each end of the pitch.
The bo$ler usually retreats a fe$ yards (metres) behind the $icket, runs
to$ards it (his runup), and then releases the ball o%erhand as he reaches
the bo$ling crease. (&f he crosses the crease before he releases the ball, or if
he Ce,es his elbo$ too much in a thro$, then it is a no ball, and the batting
team gets a penalty or e,tra run. &f the ball passes the far $icket out of reach
of the batsman then it is called a $ide, also $ith an e,tra run.) The ball can
be bo$led so that it bounces on the pitch, lands e,actly on the crease (a
yorker), or crosses the crease $ithout bouncing (a full toss).
The batsman tries to pre%ent the ball from hitting the $icket by striking the
ball $ith his bat. (This includes the handle of the bat, and his glo%es.) &f the
bo$ler succeeds in putting do$n the $icket the batsman is dismissed and is
said to be bo$led out. &f the batsman misses the ball, but any part of his body
pre%ents it from reaching the $icket, then he is out leg before $icket, or
"6.W".
&f the batsman hits the ball but it is caught by a *elder $ithout bouncing then
he caught out. &f it is caught by the bo$ler then he is caught and bo$ledG by
the $icket keeper, caught behind.
&f the batsman is successful in striking the ball and it is not caught $ithout
bouncing, then the t$o batsmen may try to score points (runs) for their team.
.oth batsmen run the length of the pitch, e,changing positions, and
grounding their bats behind the opposite crease. )ach crossing and
grounding by both batsmen is $orth one run. The batsmen may attempt one
run, multiple runs, or elect not to run at all. .y attempting runs, the batsmen
risk dismissal. This happens if the *elding team retrie%es the ball and hits
either $icket $ith the ball (either by thro$ing it, or $hile holding it) before
the batsman $ho o$ns that $icket reaches his ground behind the crease. The
dismissed batsman is run out. .atsmen $ill sometimes start to run, change
their mind, and return to their original positions.
&f the batsman hits the ball o%er the *eld boundary $ithout the ball touching
the *eld, the batting team scores si, runs. &f the ball touches the ground and
then reaches the boundary, the batting team scores four runs. The batsmen
might start running before the ball reaches the boundary, but those runs
don;t count.
&f the batsman misses the ball they can still attempt e,tra runs 0 these are
called byes. &f the ball bounces oH his body then it is called a leg bye.
&f the striking batsman lea%es his ground and misses the ball, then the $icket
keeper can catch it and put do$n the $icket stumped.
&n case of a no ball or a $ide the batsman can choose to strike the ball,
earning runs in addition to the *,ed penalty. &f he does so he can only be
dismissed by being run out.
When the batsmen ha%e *nished attempting their runs the ball is dead, and is
returned to the bo$ler to be bo$led again. The ball becomes li%e $hen he
starts his run up. The bo$ler continues to bo$l to$ard the same $icket,
regardless of any s$itch of the batsmen;s positions.85=9
# batsman may retire from an innings $ithout being dismissed, usually after
reaching a milestone like a hundred runs (a century).
# dismissed batsman lea%es the *eld, to be replaced by another batsman
from the batting team. !o$e%er, e%en though the $icket may ha%e been put
do$n, or the ball caught, the batsman is not actually dismissed until the
*elding team appeal to the umpires for a decision, traditionally using the
e,pression "!o$;s that" (or "!o$Mat"). &n some matches, particularly test
matches, either team may re/uest a re%ie$ by a third umpire $ho can use a
7ecision <e%ie$ -ystem (7<-), $hich includes T1 replays and other
electronic e/uipment such as ha$k eye, hotspot and the snickometer.
#fter a bo$ler has bo$led si, times (an o%er), another member of the *elding
team is designated as the ne$ bo$ler, the old bo$ler taking up a *elding
position. The batsmen stay in place, and the ne$ bo$ler bo$ls to the
opposite $icket, so the role of striker and nonstriker re%erse. The $icket
keeper and the t$o umpires al$ays change positions, as do many of the
*elders, and play continues. Fielding team members may bo$l multiple times
during an innings, but may not bo$l t$o o%ers in succession.
The innings is complete $hen '4 of the '' members of the batting team ha%e
been dismissed (all out L although one al$ays remaining "not out"), $hen a
set number of o%ers has been played, or $hen the batting team declares that
they ha%e enough runs.
The number of innings and the number of o%ers per innings %ary depending
on the format of the match. &n a match $hich is not a limited o%ers format the
umpires $ill usually specify that the last session of the last innings $ill ha%e a
speci*ed number of o%ers.
The match al$ays ends $hen all innings ha%e been completed. The umpires
can also call an end to the match in case of bad light or $eather. .ut in many
cases the match ends immediately $hen the *rst team to bat has played all
of its innings, and the last team to bat has more runs. &n fourinnings games
the last team may not e%en need to play its second innings0 this team is said
to $in by an innings. &f this $inning team has not completed its last innings,
and still has, for e,ample, *%e batsmen $ho are not out or ha%e not e%en
batted, then they are said to "$in by *%e $ickets". &f the last team to bat is
losing, is all out, and has '4 fe$er runs than the other team, then the $inning
team "$ins by '4 runs". &f the t$o teams both play all their innings and they
ha%e the same number of runs, then it is a tie.
&n fourinnings matches there is also the possibility of a dra$0 the team $ith
fe$er runs still has batsmen on the *eld $hen the game ends. This has a
ma"or eHect on strategy0 a team $ill often declare an innings $hen they ha%e
accumulated enough runs, in the hope that they $ill ha%e enough time left to
dismiss the other team and thus a%oid a dra$, but risking a loss if the other
team scores enough runs.
Pitch, $ickets and creases
+ain articles0 Cricket pitch, Wicket and Crease (cricket)
-ee also0 -tump (cricket) and .ail (cricket)
# typical cricket *eld.
Playing surface
Cricket is played on a grassy *eld.85>9 The 6a$s of Cricket do not specify the
siMe or shape of the *eld,85?9 but it is often o%al. &n the centre of the *eld is a
rectangular strip, kno$n as the pitch.85>9
The cricket pitch dimensions
The pitch is a Cat surface '4 feet (=.4 m) $ide, $ith %ery short grass that
tends to be $orn a$ay as the game progresses.85:9 #t either end of the
pitch, 55 yards (54 m) apart, are placed $ooden targets, kno$n as the
$ickets. These ser%e as a target for the bo$ling (also kno$n as the *elding)
side and are defended by the batting side, $hich seeks to accumulate runs.
-tumps, bails and creases
# $icket consists of three stumps that are hammered into the ground, and
topped $ith t$o bails.
)ach $icket on the pitch consists of three $ooden stumps placed %ertically, in
line $ith one another. They are surmounted by t$o $ooden crosspieces
called bailsG the total height of the $icket including bails is 5(.? inches (A54
mm) and the combined $idth of the three stumps, including small gaps
bet$een them is 3 inches (5=4 mm).
Four lines, kno$n as creases, are painted onto the pitch around the $icket
areas to de*ne the batsman;s "safe territory" and to determine the limit of
the bo$ler;s approach. These are called the "popping" (or batting) crease, the
bo$ling crease and t$o "return" creases.
The stumps are placed in line on the bo$ling creases and so these creases
must be 55 yards (54 m) apart. # bo$ling crease is ( feet ( inches (5.:> m)
long, $ith the middle stump placed dead centre. The popping crease has the
same length, is parallel to the bo$ling crease and is > feet ('.5 m) in front of
the $icket. The return creases are perpendicular to the other t$oG they are
ad"oined to the ends of the popping crease and are dra$n through the ends
of the bo$ling crease to a length of at least ( feet (5.> m).
When bo$ling the ball, the bo$ler;s back foot in his "deli%ery stride" must
land $ithin the t$o return creases $hile at least some part of his front foot
must land on or behind the popping crease. &f the bo$ler breaks this rule, the
umpire calls "Do ball".
The importance of the popping crease to the batsman is that it marks the
limit of his safe territory. !e can be dismissed stumped or run out (see
7ismissals belo$) if the $icket is broken $hile he is "out of his ground".
.at and ball
+ain articles0 Cricket bat and Cricket ball
@sed $hite ball
@sed red ball
T$o diHerent types of cricket balls0
i) # used $hite ball. White balls are mainly utilised in limited o%ers cricket,
especially in matches played at night, under Coodlights (left).
ii) # used red ball, <ed balls are utilised in Test cricket and *rstclass cricket
and some other forms of cricket (right).
D. .oth balls are the same siMe.
The essence of the sport is that a bo$ler deli%ers the ball from his end of the
pitch to$ards the batsman $ho, armed $ith a bat is "on strike" at the other
end.
The bat is made of $ood (usually White Willo$) and has the shape of a blade
topped by a cylindrical handle. The blade must not be more than >.5? inches
('4( mm) $ide and the total length of the bat not more than =( inches (3A4
mm).
The ball is a hard leatherseamed spheroid, $ith a circumference of 3 inches
(5=4 mm). The hardness of the ball, $hich can be deli%ered at speeds of
more than 34 miles per hour ('>4 kmNh), is a matter for concern and batsmen
$ear protecti%e clothing including pads (designed to protect the knees and
shins), batting glo%es for the hands, a helmet for the head and a bo, inside
the trousers (to protect the crotch area). -ome batsmen $ear additional
padding inside their shirts and trousers such as thigh pads, arm pads, rib
protectors and shoulder pads. The ball has a "seam"0 si, ro$s of stitches
attaching the leather shell of the ball to the string and cork interior. The seam
on a ne$ ball is prominent, and helps the bo$ler propel it in a less
predictable manner. 7uring cricket matches, the /uality of the ball changes to
a point $here it is no longer usable, and during this decline its properties
alter and thus inCuence the match.
@mpires and scorers
+ain articles0 @mpire (cricket) and -corer
The game on the *eld is regulated by t$o umpires, one of $hom stands
behind the $icket at the bo$ler;s end, the other in a position called "s/uare
leg", a position '?L54 metres to the side of the "on strike" batsman. The main
role of the umpires is to ad"udicate on $hether a ball is correctly bo$led (not
a no ball or a $ide), $hen a run is scored, and $hether a batsman is out (the
*elding side must appeal to the umpire, usually $ith the phrase !o$;s ThatO).
@mpires also determine $hen inter%als start and end, decide on the
suitability of the playing conditions and can interrupt or e%en abandon the
match due to circumstances likely to endanger the players, such as a damp
pitch or deterioration of the light.
#n umpire
2H the *eld and in tele%ised matches, there is often a third umpire $ho can
make decisions on certain incidents $ith the aid of %ideo e%idence. The third
umpire is mandatory under the playing conditions for Test matches and
limited o%ers internationals played bet$een t$o &CC full members. These
matches also ha%e a match referee $hose "ob is to ensure that play is $ithin
the 6a$s of cricket and the spirit of the game.
The match details, including runs and dismissals, are recorded by t$o oEcial
scorers, one representing each team. The scorers are directed by the hand
signals of an umpire. For e,ample, the umpire raises a fore*nger to signal
that the batsman is out (has been dismissed)G he raises both arms abo%e his
head if the batsman has hit the ball for si, runs. The scorers are re/uired by
the 6a$s of cricket to record all runs scored, $ickets taken and o%ers bo$ledG
in practice, they also note signi*cant amounts of additional data relating to
the game.
&nnings
Iac/ues Fallis of -outh #frica is one of the greatest allrounders of all time,
being the only cricketer in the history of the game to hold more than '',444
runs and 5?4 $ickets in both one day and Test match cricket.
The innings (ending $ith ;s; in both singular and plural form) is the term used
for the collecti%e performance of the batting side.85A9 &n theory, all ele%en
members of the batting side take a turn to bat but, for %arious reasons, an
innings can end before they all do so. 7epending on the type of match being
played, each team has one or t$o innings apiece.
The main aim of the bo$ler, supported by his *elders, is to dismiss the
batsman. # batsman $hen dismissed is said to be "out" and that means he
must lea%e the *eld of play and be replaced by the ne,t batsman on his
team. When ten batsmen ha%e been dismissed (i.e., are out), then the $hole
team is dismissed and the innings is o%er. The last batsman, the one $ho has
not been dismissed, is not allo$ed to continue alone as there must al$ays be
t$o batsmen "in". This batsman is termed "not out".
#n innings can end early for three reasons0 because the batting side;s captain
has chosen to "declare" the innings closed ($hich is a tactical decision), or
because the batting side has achie%ed its target and $on the game, or
because the game has ended prematurely due to bad $eather or running out
of time. &n each of these cases the team;s innings ends $ith t$o "not out"
batsmen, unless the innings is declared closed at the fall of a $icket and the
ne,t batsman has not "oined in the play.
&n limited o%ers cricket, there might be t$o batsmen still "not out" $hen the
last of the allotted o%ers has been bo$led.
2%ers
+ain article0 2%er (cricket)
The bo$ler bo$ls the ball in sets of si, deli%eries (or "balls") and each set of
si, balls is called an o%er. This name came about because the umpire calls
"2%erP" $hen si, balls ha%e been bo$led. #t this point, another bo$ler is
deployed at the other end, and the *elding side changes ends $hile the
batsmen do not. # bo$ler cannot bo$l t$o successi%e o%ers, although a
bo$ler can bo$l unchanged at the same end for se%eral o%ers. The batsmen
do not change ends and so the one $ho $as nonstriker is no$ the striker and
%ice%ersa. The umpires also change positions so that the one $ho $as at
s/uare leg no$ stands behind the $icket at the nonstriker;s end and %ice
%ersa.
Team structure
# team consists of ele%en players. 7epending on his or her primary skills, a
player may be classi*ed as a specialist batsman or bo$ler. # $ellbalanced
team usually has *%e or si, specialist batsmen and four or *%e specialist
bo$lers. Teams nearly al$ays include a specialist $icketkeeper because of
the importance of this *elding position. )ach team is headed by a captain
$ho is responsible for making tactical decisions such as determining the
batting order, the placement of *elders and the rotation of bo$lers.
# player $ho e,cels in both batting and bo$ling is kno$n as an allrounder.
2ne $ho e,cels as a batsman and $icketkeeper is kno$n as a "$icket
keeperNbatsman", sometimes regarded as a type of allrounder. True all
rounders are rare as most players focus on either batting or bo$ling skills.
.o$ling
+ain articles0 .o$ler (cricket), .o$ling (cricket) and .o$ling strategy
(cricket)
-hoaib #khtar of Pakistan hold;s the record for deli%ering the fastest ball
(':'.= kmNh) of cricket history.85(9
# typical bo$ling action
The bo$ler reaches his deli%ery stride by means of a "runup", although some
bo$lers $ith a %ery slo$ deli%ery take no more than a couple of steps before
bo$ling. # fast bo$ler needs momentum and takes /uite a long runup,
running %ery fast as he does so.
The fastest bo$lers can deli%er the ball at a speed of o%er 34 miles per hour
('>4 kmNh) and they sometimes rely on sheer speed to try and defeat the
batsman, $ho is forced to react %ery /uickly. 2ther fast bo$lers rely on a
mi,ture of speed and guile. -ome fast bo$lers make use of the seam of the
ball so that it "cur%es" or "s$ings" in Cight. This type of deli%ery can decei%e
a batsman into mistiming his shot so that the ball touches the edge of the bat
and can then be "caught behind" by the $icketkeeper or a slip *elder.
#t the other end of the bo$ling scale is the "spinner" $ho bo$ls at a
relati%ely slo$ pace and relies entirely on guile to decei%e the batsman. #
spinner $ill often "buy his $icket" by "tossing one up" (in a slo$er, higher
parabolic path) to lure the batsman into making a poor shot. The batsman
has to be %ery $ary of such deli%eries as they are often "Cighted" or spun so
that the ball $ill not beha%e /uite as he e,pects and he could be "trapped"
into getting himself out.
&n bet$een the pacemen and the spinners are the "medium pacers" $ho rely
on persistent accuracy to try and contain the rate of scoring and $ear do$n
the batsman;s concentration.
#ll bo$lers are classi*ed according to their looks or style. The classi*cations,
as $ith much cricket terminology, can be %ery confusing. !ence, a bo$ler
could be classi*ed as 6F, meaning he is a left arm fast bo$lerG or as 6.B,
meaning he is a right arm spin bo$ler $ho bo$ls deli%eries that are called a
"leg break" and a "Boogly".
7uring the bo$ling action the elbo$ may be held at any angle and may bend
further, but may not straighten out. &f the elbo$ straightens illegally then the
s/uareleg umpire may call noball0 this is kno$n as "thro$ing" or "chucking",
and can be diEcult to detect. The current la$s allo$ a bo$ler to straighten
his arm '? degrees or less.
Fielding
+ain articles0 Fielding (cricket) and Fielding strategy (cricket)
Fielding positions in cricket for a righthanded batsman
#ll ele%en players on the *elding side take the *eld together. 2ne of them is
the $icketkeeper aka "keeper" $ho operates behind the $icket being
defended by the batsman on strike. Wicketkeeping is normally a specialist
occupation and his primary "ob is to gather deli%eries that the batsman does
not hit, so that the batsmen cannot run byes. !e $ears special glo%es (he is
the only *elder allo$ed to do so), a bo, o%er the groin, and pads to co%er his
lo$er legs. 2$ing to his position directly behind the striker, the $icketkeeper
has a good chance of getting a batsman out caught oH a *ne edge from the
bat. !e is the only player $ho can get a batsman out stumped.
#part from the one currently bo$ling, the other nine *elders are tactically
deployed by the team captain in chosen positions around the *eld. These
positions are not *,ed but they are kno$n by speci*c and sometimes
colourful names such as "slip", "third man", "silly mid on" and "long leg".
There are al$ays many unprotected areas.
The captain is the most important member of the *elding side as he
determines all the tactics including $ho should bo$l (and ho$)G and he is
responsible for "setting the *eld", though usually in consultation $ith the
bo$ler.
&n all forms of cricket, if a *elder gets in"ured or becomes ill during a match, a
substitute is allo$ed to *eld instead of him. The substitute cannot bo$l, act
as a captain or keep $icket. The substitute lea%es the *eld $hen the in"ured
player is *t to return.
.atting
+ain article0 batting (cricket)
)nglish cricketer W.B. Brace "taking guard" in '((=. !is pads and bat are
%ery similar to those used today. The glo%es ha%e e%ol%ed some$hat. +any
modern players utilise more defensi%e e/uipment than $as a%ailable to
Brace, notably helmets and arm guards.
#t any one time, there are t$o batsmen in the playing area. 2ne takes station
at the striker;s end to defend the $icket as abo%e and to score runs if
possible. !is partner, the nonstriker, is at the end $here the bo$ler is
operating.
.atsmen come in to bat in a batting order, decided by the team captain. The
*rst t$o batsmen L the "openers" L usually face the hostile bo$ling from
fresh fast bo$lers $ith a ne$ ball. The top batting positions are usually gi%en
to the most competent batsmen in the team, and the team;s bo$lers L $ho
are typically, but not al$ays, less skilled as batsmen L typically bat last. The
preannounced batting order is not mandatoryG $hen a $icket falls any player
$ho has not yet batted may be sent in ne,t.
&f a batsman "retires" (usually due to in"ury) and cannot return, he is actually
"not out" and his retirement does not count as a dismissal, though in eHect
he has been dismissed because his innings is o%er. -ubstitute batsmen are
not allo$ed.
# skilled batsman can use a $ide array of "shots" or "strokes" in both
defensi%e and attacking mode. The idea is to hit the ball to best eHect $ith
the Cat surface of the bat;s blade. &f the ball touches the side of the bat it is
called an "edge". .atsmen do not al$ays seek to hit the ball as hard as
possible, and a good player can score runs "ust by making a deft stroke $ith a
turn of the $rists or by simply "blocking" the ball but directing it a$ay from
*elders so that he has time to take a run.
There is a $ide %ariety of shots played in cricket. The batsman;s repertoire
includes strokes named according to the style of s$ing and the direction
aimed0 e.g., "cut", "dri%e", "hook", "pull".
# batsman is not re/uired to play a shotG in the e%ent that he belie%es the
ball $ill not hit his $icket and there is no opportunity to score runs, he can
"lea%e" the ball to go through to the $icketkeeper. )/ually, he does not ha%e
to attempt a run $hen he hits the ball $ith his bat. !e can deliberately use
his leg to block the ball and thereby "pad it a$ay" but this is risky because of
the leg before $icket rule.
&n the e%ent of an in"ured batsman being *t to bat but not to run, the umpires
and the *elding captain $ere pre%iously able to allo$ another member of the
batting side to be a runner. The runner;s only task $as to run bet$een the
$ickets instead of the incapacitated batsman, and he $as re/uired to $ear
and carry e,actly the same e/uipment as the batsman. #s of 54'' the &CC
outla$ed the use of runners as they felt this $as being abused.8539
<uns
+ain article0 <un (cricket)
The directions in $hich a righthanded batsman intends to send the ball $hen
playing %arious cricketing shots. The diagram for a lefthanded batsman is a
mirror image of this one.
The primary concern of the batsman on strike (i.e., the "striker") is to pre%ent
the ball hitting the $icket and secondarily to score runs by hitting the ball
$ith his bat so that he and his partner ha%e time to run from one end of the
pitch to the other before the *elding side can return the ball. To register a
run, both runners must touch the ground behind the crease $ith either their
bats or their bodies (the batsmen carry their bats as they run). )ach
completed run increments the score.
+ore than one run can be scored from a single hitG but, $hile hits $orth one
to three runs are common, the siMe of the *eld is such that it is usually
diEcult to run four or more. To compensate for this, hits that reach the
boundary of the *eld are automatically a$arded four runs if the ball touches
the ground en route to the boundary or si, runs if the ball clears the
boundary $ithout touching the ground $ithin the boundary. The batsmen do
not need to run if the ball reaches or crosses the boundary.
.rian 6ara of the West &ndies holds the record for highest score in both Tests
and *rstclass cricket.
!its for *%e are unusual and generally rely on the help of "o%erthro$s" by a
*elder returning the ball. &f an odd number of runs is scored by the striker,
the t$o batsmen ha%e changed ends, and the one $ho $as nonstriker is no$
the striker. 2nly the striker can score indi%idual runs, but all runs are added to
the team;s total.
The decision to attempt a run is ideally made by the batsman $ho has the
better %ie$ of the ball;s progress, and this is communicated by calling0 "yes",
"no" and "$ait" are often heard.
<unning is a calculated risk because if a *elder breaks the $icket $ith the
ball $hile the nearest batsman is out of his ground (i.e., he does not ha%e
part of his body or bat in contact $ith the ground behind the popping crease),
the batsman is run out.
# team;s score is reported in terms of the number of runs scored and the
number of batsmen that ha%e been dismissed. For e,ample, if *%e batsmen
are out and the team has scored 55> runs, they are said to ha%e scored 55>
for the loss of ? $ickets (commonly shortened to "55> for *%e" and $ritten
55>N? or, in #ustralia, "*%e for 55>" and ?N55>).
),tras
+ain article0 ),tra (cricket)
#dditional runs can be gained by the batting team as e,tras (called
"sundries" in #ustralia) due to errors made by the *elding side. This is
achie%ed in four $ays0
Do ball0 a penalty of one e,tra that is conceded by the bo$ler if he breaks the
rules of bo$ling either by (a) using an inappropriate arm actionG (b)
o%erstepping the popping creaseG (c) ha%ing a foot outside the return crease.
&n addition, the bo$ler has to rebo$l the ball. &n limited o%ers matches, a no
ball is called if the bo$ling team;s *eld setting fails to comply $ith the
restrictions. &n shorter formats of the game (54L54, 27&) the free hit rule has
been introduced. The ball follo$ing a front foot noball $ill be a freehit for
the batsman, $hereby he is safe from losing his $icket e,cept for being run
out.
Wide0 a penalty of one e,tra that is conceded by the bo$ler if he bo$ls so
that the ball is out of the batsman;s reachG as $ith a no ball, a $ide must be
rebo$led. &f a $ide ball crosses the boundary, *%e runs are a$arded to the
batting side (one run for the $ide, and four for the boundary).
.ye0 e,tra(s) a$arded if the batsman misses the ball and it goes past the
$icketkeeper to gi%e the batsmen time to run in the con%entional $ay (note
that one mark of a good $icketkeeper is one $ho restricts the tally of byes to
a minimum).
6eg bye0 e,tra(s) a$arded if the ball hits the batsman;s body, but not his bat,
$hile attempting a legitimate shot, and it goes a$ay from the *elders to gi%e
the batsmen time to run in the con%entional $ay.
When the bo$ler has bo$led a no ball or a $ide, his team incurs an additional
penalty because that ball (i.e., deli%ery) has to be bo$led again and hence
the batting side has the opportunity to score more runs from this e,tra ball.
The batsmen ha%e to run (i.e., unless the ball goes to the boundary for four)
to claim byes and leg byes but these only count to$ards the team total, not
to the striker;s indi%idual total for $hich runs must be scored oH the bat.
7ismissals
+ain article0 7ismissal (cricket)
There are ele%en $ays in $hich a batsman can be dismissedG *%e relati%ely
common and si, e,tremely rare. The common forms of dismissal are
"bo$led", "caught", "leg before $icket" (lb$), "run out", and "stumped". 6ess
common methods are "hit $icket", "hit the ball t$ice", "obstructed the *eld",
"handled the ball" and "timed out" L these are almost unkno$n in the
professional game. The ele%enth retired out is not treated as an on*eld
dismissal but rather a retrospecti%e one for $hich no *elder is credited.
&f the dismissal is ob%ious (for e,ample $hen "bo$led" and in most cases of
"caught") the batsman $ill %oluntarily lea%e the *eld $ithout the umpire
needing to dismiss them. 2ther$ise before the umpire $ill a$ard a dismissal
and declare the batsman to be out, a member of the *elding side (generally
the bo$ler) must "appeal". This is in%ariably done by asking (or shouting)
"ho$;s thatO" L normally reduced to ho$MatO &f the umpire agrees $ith the
appeal, he $ill raise a fore*nger and say "2utP". 2ther$ise he $ill shake his
head and say "Dot out". #ppeals are particularly loud $hen the circumstances
of the claimed dismissal are unclear, as is al$ays the case $ith lb$ and often
$ith run outs and stumpings.
.o$led0 the bo$ler has hit the $icket $ith the deli%ery and the $icket has
"broken" $ith at least one bail being dislodged (note that if the ball hits the
$icket $ithout dislodging a bail it is not out).8=49
Caught0 the batsman has hit the ball $ith his bat, or $ith his hand $hich $as
holding the bat, and the ball has been caught before it has touched the
ground by a member of the *elding side.8='9
6eg before $icket (lb$)0 the ball has hit the batsman;s body (including his
clothing, pads etc. but not the bat, or a hand holding the bat) $hen it $ould
ha%e gone on to hit the stumps. This rule e,ists mainly to pre%ent the
batsman from guarding his $icket $ith his legs instead of the bat. To be gi%en
out lb$, the ball must not bounce outside leg stump or strike the batsmen
outside the line of legstump. &t may bounce outside oHstump. The batsman
may only be dismissed lb$ by a ball striking him outside the line of oHstump
if he has not made a genuine attempt to play the ball $ith his bat.8=59
<un out0 a member of the *elding side has broken or "put do$n" the $icket
$ith the ball $hile the nearest batsman $as out of his groundG this usually
occurs by means of an accurate thro$ to the $icket $hile the batsmen are
attempting a run, although a batsman can be gi%en out <un out e%en $hen
he is not attempting a runG he merely needs to be out of his ground.8==9
-tumped is similar e,cept that it is done by the $icketkeeper after the
batsman has missed the bo$led ball and has stepped out of his ground, and
is not attempting a run.8=>9
!it $icket0 a batsman is out hit $icket if he dislodges one or both bails $ith
his bat, person, clothing or e/uipment in the act of recei%ing a ball, or in
setting oH for a run ha%ing "ust recei%ed a ball.8=?9
!it the ball t$ice is %ery unusual and $as introduced as a safety measure to
counter dangerous play and protect the *elders. The batsman may legally
play the ball a second time only to stop the ball hitting the $icket after he
has already played it. "!it" does not necessarily refer to the batsman;s bat.
8=:9
2bstructing the *eld0 another unusual dismissal $hich tends to in%ol%e a
batsman deliberately getting in the $ay (physically andNor %erbally) of a
*elder.8=A9
!andled the ball0 a batsman must not deliberately touch the ball $ith his
hand, for e,ample to protect his $icket. Dote that the batsman;s hand or
glo%e counts as part of the bat $hile the hand is holding the bat, so batsmen
are fre/uently caught oH their glo%es (i.e. the ball hits, and is deCected by,
the glo%e and can then be caught).8=(9
Timed out usually means that the ne,t batsman $as not ready to recei%e a
deli%ery $ithin three minutes of the pre%ious one being dismissed.8=39
&n the %ast ma"ority of cases, it is the striker $ho is out $hen a dismissal
occurs. &f the nonstriker is dismissed it is usually by being run out, but he
could also be dismissed for obstructing the *eld, handling the ball or being
timed out.
# batsman may lea%e the *eld $ithout being dismissed. &f in"ured or taken ill
the batsman may temporarily retire, and be replaced by the ne,t batsman.
This is recorded as retired hurt or retired ill. The retiring batsman is not out,
and may resume the innings later. #n unimpaired batsman may retire, and
this is treated as being dismissed retired outG no player is credited $ith the
dismissal. .atsmen cannot be out bo$led, caught, leg before $icket, stumped
or hit $icket oH a no ball. They cannot be out bo$led, caught, leg before
$icket, or hit the ball t$ice oH a $ide. -ome of these modes of dismissal can
occur $ithout the bo$ler bo$ling a deli%ery. The batsman $ho is not on strike
may be run out by the bo$ler if he lea%es his crease before the bo$ler bo$ls,
and a batsman can be out obstructing the *eld or retired out at any time.
Timed out is, by its nature, a dismissal $ithout a deli%ery. With all other
modes of dismissal, only one batsman can be dismissed per ball bo$led.
&nnings closed
+ain article0 )nd of an innings (cricket)
#n innings is closed $hen0
Ten of the ele%en batsmen are out (ha%e been dismissed)G in this case, the
team is said to be "all out"
The team has only one batsman left $ho can bat, one or more of the
remaining players being una%ailable o$ing to in"ury, illness or absenceG
again, the team is said to be "all out"
The team batting last reaches the score re/uired to $in the match
The predetermined number of o%ers has been bo$led (in a oneday match
only, commonly ?4 o%ersG or 54 in T$enty54)
# captain declares his team;s innings closed $hile at least t$o of his batsmen
are not out (this does not apply in oneday limited o%er matches)
<esults
+ain article0 <esult (cricket)
&f the team that bats last is all out ha%ing scored fe$er runs than their
opponents, the team is said to ha%e "lost by n runs" ($here n is the diHerence
bet$een the number of runs scored by the teams). &f the team that bats last
scores enough runs to $in, it is said to ha%e "$on by n $ickets", $here n is
the number of $ickets left to fall. For instance a team that passes its
opponents; score ha%ing only lost si, $ickets $ould ha%e $on "by four
$ickets".
&n a t$oinningsaside match, one team;s combined *rst and second innings
total may be less than the other side;s *rst innings total. The team $ith the
greater score is then said to ha%e $on by an innings and n runs, and does not
need to bat again0 n is the diHerence bet$een the t$o teams; aggregate
scores.
&f the team batting last is all out, and both sides ha%e scored the same
number of runs, then the match is a tieG this result is /uite rare in matches of
t$o innings a side. &n the traditional form of the game, if the time allotted for
the match e,pires before either side can $in, then the game is declared a
dra$.
&f the match has only a single innings per side, then a ma,imum number of
deli%eries for each innings is often imposed. -uch a match is called a "limited
o%ers" or "oneday" match, and the side scoring more runs $ins regardless of
the number of $ickets lost, so that a dra$ cannot occur. &f this kind of match
is temporarily interrupted by bad $eather, then a comple, mathematical
formula, kno$n as the 7uck$orth6e$is method after its de%elopers, is often
used to recalculate a ne$ target score. # oneday match can also be declared
a "noresult" if fe$er than a pre%iously agreed number of o%ers ha%e been
bo$led by either team, in circumstances that make normal resumption of
play impossibleG for e,ample, $et $eather.
7istincti%e elements
&ndi%idual focus
For a team sport, cricket places indi%idual players under unusual scrutiny and
pressure. .o$ler, batsman, and *elder all act essentially independently of
each other. While team managements can signal bo$ler or batsman to
pursue certain tactics, the e,ecution of the play itself is a series of solitary
acts. Cricket is more similar to baseball than many other team sports in this
regard0 $hile the indi%idual focus in cricket is slightly mitigated by the
importance of the batting partnership and the practicalities of running, it is
enhanced by the fact that a batsman may occupy the $icket for a long time.
-pirit of the Bame
Cricket is a uni/ue game $here in addition to the la$s, the players must
abide by the "-pirit of the Bame".8>49 The standard of sportsmanship has
historically been considered so high that the phrase "it;s "ust not cricket" $as
coined in the '3th century to describe unfair or underhanded beha%iour in
any $alk of life. &n the last fe$ decades though, cricket has become
increasingly fastpaced and competiti%e, increasing the use of appealing and
sledging, although players are still e,pected to abide by the umpires; rulings
$ithout argument, and for the most part they do. .eginning in 544', the +CC
has held an annual lecture named after Colin Co$drey on the spirit of the
game.8>'9 )%en in the modern game *elders are kno$n to signal to the
umpire that a boundary $as hit, despite $hat could ha%e been considered a
spectacular sa%e (though they might be found out by the T1 replays any$ay).
&n addition to this, some batsmen ha%e been kno$n to "$alk" $hen they
think they are out e%en if the umpire does not declare them out. This is a
high le%el of sportsmanship, as a batsman can easily take ad%antage of
incorrect umpiring decisions.
&nCuence of $eather
Floodlight at +. #. Chidambaram -tadium, Chennai
Cricket is a sport played predominantly in the drier periods of the year. .ut,
e%en so, the $eather is a ma"or factor in all cricket matches.
# scheduled game of cricket cannot be played in $et $eather. 7ampness
aHects the bounce of the ball on the $icket and is a risk to all players
in%ol%ed in the game. +any grounds ha%e facilities to co%er the cricket pitch
(or the $icket). Co%ers can be in the form of sheets being laid o%er the $icket
to ele%ated co%ers on $heels (using the same concept as an umbrella) to
e%en ho%er co%ers $hich form an airtight seal around the $icket. !o$e%er,
most grounds do not ha%e the facilities to co%er the out*eld. This means that
in the e%ent of hea%y bouts of bad $eather, games may be cancelled,
abandoned or suspended due to an unsafe out*eld.
#nother factor in cricket is the amount of light a%ailable. #t grounds $ithout
Coodlights (or in game formats $hich disallo$ the use of Coodlights), umpires
can stop play in the e%ent of bad light as it becomes too diEcult for the
batsmen to be able to see the ball coming at them, (and in e,treme cases,
members of the *elding team).
2n the other hand, in instances of good light, batsmen can utilise sight
screens $hich enable batsmen to ha%e a $hite background against $hich
they can pick out the red ball (or black background for $hite ball) $ith
greater ease.
The umpires al$ays ha%e the *nal decision on $eather related issues.
@ni/ueness of each *eld
@nlike those of most sports, cricket playing *elds can %ary signi*cantly in siMe
and shape. While the dimensions of the pitch and in*eld are speci*cally
regulated, the 6a$s of Cricket do not specify the siMe or shape of the *eld.
85?9 The *eld boundaries are sometimes painted and sometimes marked by a
rope. Pitch and out*eld %ariations can ha%e a signi*cant eHect on ho$ balls
beha%e and are *elded as $ell as on batting. Pitches %ary in consistency, and
thus in the amount of bounce, spin, and seam mo%ement a%ailable to the
bo$ler. !ard pitches are usually good to bat on because of high but e%en
bounce. 7ry pitches tend to deteriorate for batting as cracks often appear,
and $hen this happens to the pitch, spinners can play a ma"or role. 7amp
pitches, or pitches co%ered in grass (termed "green" pitches), allo$ good fast
bo$lers to e,tract e,tra bounce. -uch pitches tend to oHer help to fast
bo$lers throughout the match, but become better for batting as the game
goes on. While players of other outdoor sports deal $ith similar %ariations of
*eld surface and stadium co%ering, the siMe and shape of their *elds are
much more standardised. 2ther local factors, such as altitude and climate,
can also signi*cantly aHect play. These physical %ariations create a distincti%e
set of playing conditions at each ground. # gi%en ground may ac/uire a
reputation as batsman friendly or bo$ler friendly if one or the other discipline
notably bene*ts from its uni/ue mi, of elements. The absence of a
standardised *eld aHects not only ho$ particular games play out, but the
nature of team makeup and players; statistical records.
Types of matches
Cricket is a multifaceted sport $ith multiple formats based around playing
standard and le%el of formality and the desired time that the match should
last. # pertinent di%ision in terms of professional cricket is bet$een matches
limited by time in $hich the teams ha%e t$o innings apiece, and those
limited by number of o%ers, in $hich they ha%e a single innings each. The
former, kno$n as *rstclass cricket, has a duration of three to *%e days (there
ha%e been e,amples of "timeless" matches too)G the latter, kno$n as limited
o%ers cricket because each team bo$ls a limit of typically ?4 or 54 o%ers, has
a planned duration of one day only (a match can be e,tended if necessary
due to bad $eather, etc.).
Typically, t$oinnings matches ha%e at least si, hours of playing time each
day. 6imited o%ers matches often last si, hours or more. There are usually
formal inter%als on each day for lunch and tea $ith brief informal breaks for
drinks. There is also a short inter%al bet$een innings.
#mateur cricketers rarely play matches that last longer than a single dayG
these may loosely be di%ided into declaration matches, in $hich a speci*ed
ma,imum time or number of o%ers is assigned to the game in total and the
teams s$ap roles only $hen the batting team is either completely dismissed
or declaresG and limited o%ers matches, in $hich a speci*ed ma,imum
number of o%ers is assigned for each team;s innings indi%idually. These $ill
%ary in length bet$een =4 and :4 o%ers per side at the $eekend and the e%er
popular 54 o%er format during the e%enings. 2ther forms of cricket, such as
indoor cricket and garden cricket remain popular.
!istorically, a form of cricket kno$n as single $icket had been e,tremely
successful and many of these contests in the '(th and '3th centuries /ualify
as ma"or cricket matches. &n this form, although each team may ha%e from
one to si, players, there is only one batsman at a time and he must face
e%ery deli%ery bo$led $hile his innings lasts. -ingle $icket has rarely been
played since limited o%ers cricket began.
Test cricket
+ain article0 Test cricket
# Test match bet$een -outh #frica and )ngland in Ianuary 544?. The men
$earing black trousers are the umpires. Teams in Test cricket, *rstclass
cricket and club cricket $ear traditional $hite uniforms and use red cricket
balls.
Test cricket is the highest standard of *rstclass cricket. # Test match is an
international *,ture bet$een teams representing those countries that are Full
+embers of the &CC.
#lthough the term "Test match" $as not coined until much later, Test cricket
is deemed to ha%e begun $ith t$o matches bet$een #ustralia and )ngland in
the '(A:LAA #ustralian season. -ubse/uently, eight other national teams
ha%e achie%ed Test status0 -outh #frica ('((3), West &ndies ('35(), De$
Kealand ('353), &ndia ('3=5), Pakistan ('3?5), -ri 6anka ('3(5), Kimbab$e
('335) and .angladesh (5444). Kimbab$e suspended its Test status in 544:
due to its inability to compete against other Test teams,8>59 and returned in
54''.8>=9
Welsh players are eligible to play for )ngland, $hich is in eHect an )ngland
and Wales team. The West &ndies team comprises players from numerous
states in the Caribbean, notably .arbados, Buyana, Iamaica, Trinidad Q
Tobago, the 6ee$ard &slands and the Wind$ard &slands.
Test matches bet$een t$o teams are usually played in a group of matches
called a "series". +atches last up to *%e days and a series normally consists
of three to *%e matches. Test matches that are not *nished $ithin the allotted
time are dra$n. &n the case of Test and *rstclass cricket0 the possibility of a
dra$ often encourages a team that is batting last and $ell behind to bat
defensi%ely, gi%ing up any faint chance at a $in to a%oid a loss.8>>9
-ince '((5, most Test series bet$een )ngland and #ustralia ha%e been
played for a trophy kno$n as The #shes. -ome other bilateral series ha%e
indi%idual trophies too0 for e,ample, the Wisden Trophy is contested by
)ngland and West &ndiesG the Frank Worrell Trophy by #ustralia and West
&ndies and the .orderBa%askar Trophy bet$een &ndia and #ustralia.
6imited o%ers
+ain article0 6imited o%ers cricket
-ee also0 2ne 7ay &nternational and T$enty54 &nternational
#n 27& match bet$een #ustralia and &ndia in Ianuary 544>. The men $earing
black trousers are the umpires. Teams in limited o%ers games $ear multi
coloured uniforms and use $hite cricket balls.
-ir 1i% <ichards of the West &ndies $as %oted by Wisden as the greatest 2ne
7ay &nternational batsman of all time.
-tandard limited o%ers cricket $as introduced in )ngland in the '3:= season
in the form of a knockout cup contested by the *rstclass county clubs. &n
'3:3, a national league competition $as established. The concept $as
gradually introduced to the other ma"or cricket countries and the *rst limited
o%ers international $as played in '3A'. &n '3A?, the *rst Cricket World Cup
took place in )ngland. 6imited o%ers cricket has seen %arious inno%ations
including the use of multicoloured kit and Coodlit matches using a $hite ball.
# "one day match", named so because each match is scheduled for
completion in a single day, is the common form of limited o%ers cricket
played on an international le%el. &n practice, matches sometimes continue on
a second day if they ha%e been interrupted or postponed by bad $eather. The
main ob"ecti%e of a limited o%ers match is to produce a de*nite result and so
a con%entional dra$ is not possible, but matches can be undecided if the
scores are tied or if bad $eather pre%ents a result. )ach team plays one
innings only and faces a limited number of o%ers, usually a ma,imum of ?4.
The Cricket World Cup is held in one day format and the last World Cup in
54'' $as $on by the cohosts, &ndia. The ne,t World Cup $ill hosted by
#ustralia and De$ Kealand in 54'?.
T$enty54 is a ne$ %ariant of limited o%ers itself $ith the purpose being to
complete the match $ithin about three hours, usually in an e%ening session.
The original idea, $hen the concept $as introduced in )ngland in 544=, $as
to pro%ide $orkers $ith an e%ening entertainment. &t $as commercially
successful and has been adopted internationally. The inaugural T$enty54
World Championship $as held in 544A and $on by &ndia, three subse/uent
e%ents ha%e been held $hich $ere $on by Pakistan, )ngland and West &ndies
respecti%ely. The ne,t tournament is scheduled to be held in 54'>. #fter the
inaugural &CC World T$enty54 many domestic T$enty54 leagues $ere born.
First of them $as &ndian Cricket 6eague $hich $as a rebel league since it $as
not authoriMed by .CC&. .CC& then formed its oEcial league called the &ndian
Premier 6eague. The oEcial league $ent on to become a successful annual
aHair that attracted players and audience around the globe, $hile the &ndian
Cricket 6eague has been disbanded. #fter the success of &ndian premier
league many other domestic leagues $ere formed in all ma"or cricketing
nations. <ecently T$enty54 Champions 6eague $as formed as a tournament
for domestic clubs of %arious countries.&n this league competition played
bet$een the top domestic teams from ma"or cricketing nations.
Dational championships
+ain article0 Firstclass cricket
Rorkshire County Cricket Club in '(3?. The team *rst became County
Championship champions in '(3=.
Firstclass cricket includes Test cricket but the term is generally used to refer
to the highest le%el of domestic cricket in those countries $ith full &CC
membership, although there are e,ceptions to this. Firstclass cricket in
)ngland is played for the most part by the '( county clubs $hich contest the
County Championship. The concept of a champion county has e,isted since
the '(th century but the oEcial competition $as not established until '(34.
The most successful club has been Rorkshire County Cricket Club $ith =4
oEcial titles.
#ustralia established its national *rstclass championship in '(35L3= $hen
the -heEeld -hield $as introduced. &n #ustralia, the *rstclass teams
represent the %arious states. De$ -outh Wales has $on the ma,imum
number of titles $ith >? to 544(.
Dational championship trophies to be established else$here included the
<an"i Trophy (&ndia), Plunket -hield (De$ Kealand), Currie Cup (-outh #frica)
and -hell -hield (West &ndies). -ome of these competitions ha%e been
updated and renamed in recent years.
7omestic limited o%ers competitions began $ith )ngland;s Billette Cup
knockout in '3:=. Countries usually stage seasonal limited o%ers
competitions in both knockout and league format. &n recent years, national
T$enty54 competitions ha%e been introduced, usually in knockout form
though some incorporate minileagues.
Club cricket
# typical club cricket match in )ngland.
Club cricket is a mainly amateur, but still formal, form of the sport of cricket,
usually in%ol%ing teams playing in competitions at $eekends or in the
e%ening. There is a great deal of %ariation in game format although the 6a$s
of Cricket are al$ays obser%ed.
Club cricket is fre/uently organised in a league or cup format. Bames are
limited by either time or o%ers. 6imited o%ers games usually last bet$een 54
and :4 o%ers per innings. # less common, but more traditional, format is
limiting the game by time only. Bames can range from a fe$ hours in the
e%ening to t$o days long. # modern inno%ation is the introduction of
T$enty54 competitions, both as a format in the e,isting leagues and ne$
leagues solely based on T$enty54, such as 6ast+an-tanding.
-tandards of play can %ary from semiprofessional to occasional recreational
le%el and club cricket is often en"oyed as much for the social element as for
the competition. +ost clubs ha%e their o$n ground to play on regularly, often
including a *eld and pa%ilion or club house.
+any leagues ha%e been formed around the $orld of %arying degrees of
professionalism, the oldest being the .irmingham Q 7istrict Premier 6eague
in around the .irmingham area of )ngland, founded in '(((.
2ther types of matches
+ain article0 Forms of cricket
# game of French cricket in progress in Ier%is .ay, #ustralia
There are numerous %ariations of the sport played throughout the $orld that
include indoor cricket, French cricket, beach cricket, F$ik cricket and all sorts
of card games and board games that ha%e been inspired by cricket. &n these
%ariants, the rules are often changed to make the game playable $ith limited
resources or to render it more con%enient and en"oyable for the participants.
&ndoor Cricket $as *rst in%ented in '3A4.8>?9 &t is similar to outdoor cricket
e,cept that is played in an indoor sports hall $ith : players per team. &t is
e,tremely popular in the @F $ith national championships and multiple
independent leagues. #nother less formal %ersion of indoor cricket is played
in a smaller arena $ith a soft ball and $ithout pads $as in%ented some years
later and is commonly played in the -outhern !emisphere, and e%en has its
o$n nominal international championships, including World Cups.
&n the @F, garden cricket is a popular %ersion of the sport, played in gardens
and on recreation grounds around the country by adults and children alike.
#lthough a cricket bat and ball are generally used, other e/uipment such as
pads and glo%es are not. The e,act rules $ill %ary based on the number of
participants and the a%ailable space.
Families and teenagers play backyard cricket or tennis ball cricket in
suburban yards or dri%e$ays, and the cities of &ndia and Pakistan play host to
countless games of "Bully Cricket" or "tape ball" in their long narro$ streets.
-ometimes the rules are impro%ised0 e.g. it may be agreed that *elders can
catch the ball $ith one hand after one bounce and claim a $icketG or if only a
fe$ people are a%ailable then e%eryone may *eld $hile the players take it in
turns to bat and bo$l. Tennis balls and homemade bats are often used, and a
%ariety of ob"ects may ser%e as $ickets0 for e,ample, the batter;s legs as in
French cricket, $hich did not in fact originate in France, and is usually played
by small children.
&n F$ik cricket, the bo$ler does not ha%e to $ait for the batsman to be ready
before a deli%ery, leading to a faster, more e,hausting game designed to
appeal to children, $hich is often used in physical education lessons at @F
schools. #nother modi*cation to increase the pace of the game is the "Tip
and <un", "Tipity" <un, "Tipsy <un" or "TippyBo" rule, in $hich the batter
must run $hen the ball touches the bat, e%en if it the contact is unintentional
or minor. This rule, seen only in impromptu games, speeds the match up by
remo%ing the batsman;s right to block the ball.
&n -amoa a form of cricket called Filikiti is played in $hich hockey stick
shaped bats are used. &n original )nglish cricket, the hockey stick shape $as
replaced by the modern straight bat in the 'A:4s after bo$lers began to pitch
the ball instead of rolling or skimming it. &n )stonia, teams gather o%er the
$inter for the annual &ce Cricket tournament. The game "u,taposes the
normal summer pursuit $ith harsh, $intry conditions. <ules are other$ise
similar to those for the si,aside game.
&nternational structure
+ain articles0 &nternational structure of cricket, &nternational Cricket Council
and World Cricket 6eague
&CC member nations. The (highest le%el) Test playing nations are sho$n in
orangeG the associate member nations are sho$n in yello$G the aEliate
member nations are sho$n in purple.
The &nternational Cricket Council (&CC), $hich has its head/uarters in 7ubai, is
the international go%erning body of cricket. &t $as founded as the &mperial
Cricket Conference in '343 by representati%es from )ngland, #ustralia and
-outh #frica, renamed the &nternational Cricket Conference in '3:?, and took
up its current name in '3(3.
The &CC has '4> members0 '4 Full +embers that play oEcial Test matches,
=> #ssociate +embers, and :4 #Eliate +embers.8>:9 The &CC is responsible
for the organisation and go%ernance of cricket;s ma"or international
tournaments, notably the Cricket World Cup. &t also appoints the umpires and
referees that oEciate at all sanctioned Test matches, 2ne 7ay &nternational
and T$enty54 &nternationals. )ach nation has a national cricket board $hich
regulates cricket matches played in its country. The cricket board also selects
the national s/uad and organises home and a$ay tours for the national team.
&n the West &ndies these matters are addressed by the West &ndies Cricket
.oard $hich consists of members appointed by four national boards and t$o
multinational boards.
+embers
+ain article0 6ist of &nternational Cricket Council members
Full +embers
Full +embers are the go%erning bodies for cricket in a country or associated
countries. Full +embers may also represent a geographical area. #ll Full
+embers ha%e a right to send one representati%e team to play oEcial Test
matches. #lso, all Full +ember nations are automatically /uali*ed to play
27&s and T$enty54 &nternationals.8>A9 West &ndies cricket team does not
represent one country instead an amalgamation of o%er 54 countries from the
Caribbean. The )nglish Cricket team represents both )ngland and Wales.
Dation Bo%erning body +ember since Current Test <ankings
Current 27& <ankings Current T54 <ankings
#ustralia Cricket #ustralia '? Iuly '3438>A9 ' ' ?
.angladesh .angladesh Cricket .oard5: Iune 54448>A9 '4 3 '4
)ngland )ngland and Wales Cricket .oard '? Iuly '3438>A9 ?
? (
&ndia .oard of Control for Cricket in &ndia =' +ay '35:8>A9 > 5
'
De$ Kealand De$ Kealand Cricket =' +ay '35:8>A9 A A
:
Pakistan Pakistan Cricket .oard 5( Iuly '3?=8>A9 = : =
-outh #fricaCricket -outh #frica '? Iuly '343#8>A9 5 > >
-ri 6anka -ri 6anka Cricket 5' Iuly '3('8>A9 : = 5
West &ndies West &ndies Cricket .oard =' +ay '35:8>A9 ( ( A
Kimbab$e Kimbab$e Cricket : Iuly '3358>A9 3 '4
S6ast @pdated0 ?Iuly54'> T #<esigned +ay '3:', readmitted '4 Iuly '33'.
Top #ssociate and #Eliate +embers
#ll the associate and aEliate members are not /uali*ed to play Test Cricket,
ho$e%er &CC grants 2ne 7ay &nternational status to its associate and aEliate
members based on their success in the World Cricket 6eague. The top si,
teams $ill be a$arded 2ne day international and T$enty54 &nternational
status, $hich $ill allo$ the associate and aEliate teams to be eligible to play
the full members and play oEcial 27& cricket.
The associate and aEliate teams $ho currently hold 27& and T54& status0
Dation Bo%erning body +ember since Current 27& <ankings
#fghanistan #fghanistan Cricket .oard544'8>(9 '>
Canada Cricket Canada '3:(8>A9 ':
&reland Cricket &reland '33=8>A9 ''
Fenya Cricket Fenya '3('8>A9 '=
DetherlandsFoninkli"ke Dederlandse Cricket .ond '3::8>A9 '5
-cotland Cricket -cotland '33>8>A9 '?
-tatistics
+ain article0 Cricket statistics
2rganiMed cricket lends itself to statistics to a greater degree than many
other sports. )ach play is discrete and has a relati%ely small number of
possible outcomes. #t the professional le%el, statistics for Test cricket, one
day internationals, and *rstclass cricket are recorded separately. !o$e%er,
since Test matches are a form of *rstclass cricket, a player;s *rstclass
statistics $ill include his Test match statistics L but not %ice %ersa. The Buide
to Cricketers $as a cricket annual edited by Fred 6illy$hite bet$een '(>3 and
his death in '(::. Wisden Cricketers; #lmanack $as founded in '(:> by the
)nglish cricketer Iohn Wisden ('(5:L'((>) as a competitor to The Buide to
Cricketers. &ts annual publication has continued uninterrupted to the present
day, making it the longest running sports annual in history.
Certain traditional statistics are familiar to most cricket fans. The basic
batting statistics include0
&nnings (&)0 The number of innings in $hich the batsman actually batted.
Dot outs (D2)0 The number of times the batsman $as not out at the
conclusion of an innings they batted in.'
<uns (<)0 The number of runs scored.
!ighest score (!-N.est)0 The highest score e%er made by the batsman.
.atting a%erage (#%e)0 The total number of runs di%ided by the total number
of innings in $hich the batsman $as out. #%e U <unsN8& L D29 (also #%ge or
#%g.)
Centuries ('44)0 The number of innings in $hich the batsman scored one
hundred runs or more.
!alfcenturies (?4)0 The number of innings in $hich the batsman scored *fty
to ninetynine runs (centuries do not count as halfcenturies as $ell).
.alls faced (.F)0 The total number of balls recei%ed, including no balls but not
including $ides.
-trike rate (-<)0 The number of runs scored per '44 balls faced. (-< U 8'44 S
<uns9N.F)
<un rate (<<)0 &s the number of runs a batsman (or the batting side) scores in
an o%er of si, balls.
The basic bo$ling statistics include0
2%ers (2)0 The number of o%ers bo$led.
.alls (.)0 The number of balls bo$led. 2%ers is more traditional, but balls is a
more useful statistic because the number of balls per o%er has %aried
historically.
+aiden o%ers (+)0 The number of maiden o%ers (o%ers in $hich the bo$ler
conceded Mero runs) bo$led.
<uns (<)0 The number of runs conceded.
Wickets (W)0 The number of $ickets taken.
Do balls (Db)0 The number of no balls bo$led.
Wides (Wd)0 The number of $ides bo$led.
.o$ling a%erage (#%e)0 The a%erage number of runs conceded per $icket.
(#%e U <unsNW)
-trike rate (-<)0 The a%erage number of balls bo$led per $icket. (-< U
.allsNW)
)conomy rate ()con)0 The a%erage number of runs conceded per o%er. ()con
U <unsNo%ers bo$led).
-corecards
-ee also0 -coring (cricket)
# match;s statistics are summarised on a scorecard. Prior to the
popularisation of scorecards, most scoring $as done by men sitting on
%antage points cuttings notches on tally sticks. The earliest kno$n scorecards
$ere printed in 'AA: by Pratt, scorer to the -e%enoaks 1ine Cricket Club, but
it $as many years before his in%ention $as $idely adopted.8>39 -corecards
$ere printed and sold at 6ord;s for the *rst time in '(>:.8?49
The introduction of scoreboards re%olutionised cricket by allo$ing spectators
to keep track of the day;s play. &n '(>(, Fred 6illy$hite used a portable
printing press at grounds to print updated scorecards. &n '(?(, the
Fennington 2%al introduced the *rst mobile scorebo,, "a house on rollers $ith
*gures for telegraphing on each side". &n '((', the +elbourne Cricket Bround
erected the *rst cricket scoreboard. The scoreboard, located at the $estern
end of the ground, ga%e the batsman;s name and method of dismissal.8>39
&n popular culture
&nCuence on e%eryday life
Cricket has had a broad impact on popular culture, both in the
Common$ealth of Dations and else$here. Cricket has had an inCuence on
the le,icon of these nations, especially the )nglish language, $ith such
phrases as "that;s not cricket" (unfair), "had a good innings", "sticky $icket",
and "bo$led o%er". There ha%e been many cricket *lms. The term
".radmanes/ue" from 7on .radman;s name has become a generic term for
outstanding e,cellence, both $ithin cricket and in the $ider $orld.8?'9
The amateur game has also been spread further a*eld by e,patriates from
the Testplaying nations.
.ooks and games
-ee also0 Cricket in *ction
C.6.<. Iames;s .eyond a .oundary is a popular book about the sport. &n
*ction, there is )nglish #uthor P. B. Wodehouse;s '343 no%el, +ike.
Cricket is a popular motif in sportsrelated %ideo games. ),amples include
Cricket 6ife ' for the PC. -ee also list of Cricket %ideo games.
&nCuence on other sports
Tom Wills, cricketer and cofounder of #ustralian football
Cricket has a close relationship $ith #ustralian rules football and many
players ha%e competed at top le%els in both sports.8?59 &n '(?(, prominent
#ustralian cricketer Tom Wills called for the formation of a "football club"
$ith "a code of la$s" to keep cricketers *t during the oHseason. The
follo$ing year, Wills and other 1ictorian cricketers founded the +elbourne
Football Club and codi*ed the *rst la$s of the game.8?=9 &t is typically played
on modi*ed cricket *elds and borro$s terminology from cricket, such as
"umpire" and "sledging".
&n the late '3th century, a former cricket player, )nglishborn !enry Chad$ick
of .rooklyn, De$ Rork, $as responsible for the "de%elopment of the bo, score,
tabular standings, the annual baseball guide, the batting a%erage, and most
of the common statistics and tables used to describe baseball".8?>9 The
statistical record is so central to the game;s "historical essence" that
Chad$ick came to be kno$n as Father of .aseball.8?>98??9
-ee also
Portal icon Cricket portal
&CC 27& Championship
&CC Player <ankings
&CC Test Championship
6ist of cricket terms
&CC T54 Championship
6ist of Test cricket records
6ist of 2ne 7ay &nternational cricket records
6ist of T$enty54 &nternational records
.lind Cricket
Comparison of cricket and baseball
2utline of cricket
Women;s cricket
Table Cricket
&CC Cricket World Cup
<eferences
Iump up V +CC L the oEcial 6a$s of Cricket. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V Cricket#rchi%e L full list of &CC member countries. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly
5443.
Iump up V Iohn +a"or,+ore Than # Bame, !arperCollins, 544A
Iump up V Iohn 6each, From 6ads to 6ord;s at the Wayback +achine (archi%ed
Iune 53, 54'') /uotes the precise date of the accounting entry as Thursday
'4 +arch '=44 (Iulian date), $hich is in the Bregorian year of '=4'. <etrie%ed
=' Ianuary 5443.
Iump up V Iohn 6each, From 6ads to 6ord;s at the Wayback +achine (archi%ed
Iune 53, 54'') /uotes the precise date of the court case in Buildford as
+onday, 'A Ianuary '?3A (Iulian date), $hich is in the Bregorian year of
'?3(. <etrie%ed =' Ianuary 5443.8dead link9
Iump up V +iddle 7utch $as the language in use in Flanders at the time.
Iump up V .irley, p.=
Iump up V .irley, op. cit.
Iump up V #ltham, p.5'
Iump up V .o$en, p.==
Iump up V 7a%id Terry, The -e%enteenth Century Bame of Cricket0 #
<econstruction of the Bame. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V Billmeister;s theory is summarised in the introduction to the book
The 6anguage of Cricket by Iohn )ddo$es, &-.D '(?A?>5A4=.
Iump up V 7a%id @nderdo$n, -tart of Play, #llen 6ane, 5444, p.=
V Iump up to0 a b ! - #ltham, # !istory of Cricket, 1olume ' (to '3'>),
Beorge #llen Q @n$in, '3:5, p.5'
Iump up V Timothy I +cCann,-usse, Cricket in the )ighteenth Century,
-usse, <ecord -ociety, 544>
Iump up V +arples, +orris Poor Fred and the .utcher 0 -ons of Beorge &&
6ondon '3A4 p>' &-.D 4A'('4(':A
Iump up V Cricket#rchi%e pro*le. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V #ustralian )le%en0 The *rst #ustralian team, Dational +useum of
#ustralia. <etrie%ed 5> +ay 54''.
Iump up V Cric&nfo pro*le. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ ' <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V )asta$ay, <ob (544>). What &s a BooglyO0 The +ysteries of Cricket
),plained. Breat .ritain0 <obson Works. p. 5>. &-.D '(:'4?:53J.
Iump up V 6a$ 5(
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ 5=. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
V Iump up to0 a b "7imensions for Cricket". <etrie%ed ': February 54'4.
V Iump up to0 a b +CC L6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ '3
Iump up V Cricket can also be played on arti*cial surfaces, notably matting.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ '5. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V http0NN$$$.guinness$orldrecords.comNrecords'4444Nfastestbo$l
ofacricketballN
Iump up V "<unner rule $as being abused, says &CC". espn cricinfo. <etrie%ed
5( +ay 54'=.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =4. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =5. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =:. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =(. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =3. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =?. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =>. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ =A. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ ==. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 6a$ ='. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 Preamble to the 6a$s. #ccessed (
-eptember 54'4.
Iump up V +CC L 6a$s of Cricket0 Promoting the -pirit of Cricket. #ccessed 5:
+arch 54'5.
Iump up V "Kimbab$e re%okes Test status". ..C -port. '( Ianuary 544:.
<etrie%ed : Do%ember 54''.
Iump up V "Kimbab$e beat .angladesh on return to Test cricket". ..C -port.
( #ugust 54''. <etrie%ed : Do%ember 54''.
Iump up V )asta$ay, <ob, What &s a BooglyO0 The +ysteries of Cricket
),plained (#no%a, 544?), p. '=>.
Iump up V "-horter, simpler, sillier" in )-PDcricinfo, A -eptember 544A.
Iump up V Cricket#rchi%e0 full list of &CC members. <etrie%ed 5? Iuly 5443.
V Iump up to0 a b c d e f g h i " k l m n o p "# brief history ...". Cricinfo.
<etrie%ed 5 +ay 544(.
Iump up V "Cricinfo2ther countriesTeams#fghanistan". Cricinfo. <etrie%ed >
+ay 544(.
V Iump up to0 a b +ortimer, Ba%in (Iune :, 54'=). # !istory of Cricket in '44
2b"ects. -erpent;s Tail. pp. A:LAA. &-.D '(>::(3>4:.
Iump up V Fletcher, IeH (Iune '333). Collins Bem Cricket. !arperCollins. p.
5=>. &-.D 444>A5=>4:.
Iump up V -ingh, 1ikas (=4 7ecember 544=). "Ponting in .radmanes/ue
a%atar". The Times of &ndia. <etrie%ed ( -eptember 54'4.
Iump up V .lainey, BeoHrey (54'4). # Bame of 2ur 2$n0 The 2rigins of
#ustralian Football. .lack &nc. p. '(:. &-.D '(:=3?=>AA.
Iump up V de +oore, Breg (544(). Tom Wills0 !is -pectacular <ise and Tragic
Fall. #llen Q @n$in. pp. AA, 3=L3>. &-.D 3A('A>'A?>33?.
V Iump up to0 a b Tygiel (5444), p. ':.
Iump up V !is !all of Fame pla/ue states, in part0 "&n%entor of the bo, score.
#uthor of the *rst rulebook .... Chairman of rules committee in *rst nation
$ide baseball organiMation." 6ederer, <ich. .y the Dumbers0 Computer
technology has deepened fans; passion $ith the game;s statiustics. +emories
and 7reams (1ol. ==, Do. :G Winter 54''854'59, p. =5=>). Dational .aseball
!all of Fame oEcial magaMine
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