Specialisation of Cricket
Specialisation of Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball
game played between two teams of eleven players each
on a cricket field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch with a target called
the wicket (a set of three wooden stumps topped by two bails) at each end. Each
phase of play is called an innings during which one
team bats, attempting to score as many runs as possible, whilst
their opponents field. Depending on the type of match, the teams have one or two innings
apiece and, when the first innings ends, the teams swap roles for the next
innings. Except in matches which result in a draw, the winning team is the one that scores the most runs, including Before a match begins, the two team captains meet on the pitch for the toss
(of a coin) to determine which team will bat first. Two batsmen and eleven
fielders then enter the field and play begins when a member of the fielding
team, known as the bowler, delivers (i.e., bowls) the ball
from one end of the pitch towards the wicket at the other end, which is guarded
by one of the batsmen, known as the striker. In addition to the bowler, the
fielding team includes the wicket-keeper,
a specialist who stands behind the striker's wicket. The nine other fielders
are tactically deployed around the field by their captain, usually in
consultation with the bowler. The striker "takes guard" on a crease drawn on the pitch four feet in front of the
wicket. His role is to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps by using his bat
and, simultaneously, to strike it well enough to score runs. The other batsman,
known as the non-striker, waits at the opposite end of the pitch near the
bowler. The bowler's objectives are to prevent the scoring of runs and to dismiss the batsman. A dismissed batsman, who is declared
to be "out", must leave the field to be replaced by a teammate. An
over is a set of six deliveries bowled by the same bowler. The next over is
bowled from the other end of the pitch by a different bowler.
The laws of cricket are
maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone
Cricket Club (MCC). There are various formats
ranging from Twenty20,
played over a few hours with each team having a single innings
of 20 overs
(i.e. 120 deliveries), to Test matches played over five days with unlimited
overs and the teams playing two innings apiece. Traditionally cricketers play
in all-white kit, but in limited overs cricket
they wear club or team colours. In addition to the basic kit, some players wear
protective gear
to prevent injury caused by the ball, which is a hard, solid spheroid made of
compressed leather
enclosing a cork core.
History of cricket
Cricket
can definitely be traced back to Tudor times in late 16th-century England
though there have been a number of claims, many of them spurious or lacking
evidence, supporting earlier dates from 1301. The earliest definite reference
to cricket being played comes from evidence given at a 1598 court case which
mentions that "creckett" (sic) was played on common land in Guildford
around 1550. The court in Guildford heard on Monday, 17 January 1597 (Julian
date, equating to the year 1598 in the Gregorian calendar) from a 59-year-old coroner,
John Derrick,
who gave witness that when he was a scholar at the "Free School at
Guildford", fifty years earlier, "hee and diverse of his fellows did
runne and play [on the common land] at creckett and other plaies.
It
is believed that cricket was originally a children's game but references in
1611 indicate that adults had started playing it and the earliest known
organised inter-parish or village cricket match was played around that time.In
1624, a player called Jasper Vinall died after he was struck on the head during
a match between two parish teams in Sussex. During the 17th century, numerous
references indicate the growth of cricket in the south-east of England. By the
end of the century, it had become an organised activity being played for high
stakes and it is believed that the first professionals appeared in the years
following the Restoration in 1660. A newspaper report survives of "a great
cricket match" with eleven players a side that was played for high stakes
in Sussex in 1697, and this is the earliest known reference to a cricket match
of such importance.
The game
underwent major development in the 18th century. Betting played a key part in
that development with rich patrons forming their own "select XIs". Cricket
was prominent in London as early as 1707 and, in the middle years of the
century, large crowds flocked to matches on the Artillery Ground in Finsbury.
The single wicket form of the sport attracted huge crowds and wagers to match,
its popularity peaking in the 1748 season.Bowling underwent an evolution around
1760 when bowlers began to pitch the ball instead of rolling or skimming it
towards the batsman. This caused a revolution in bat design because, to deal
with the bouncing ball, it was necessary to introduce the modern straight bat
in place of the old "hockey stick" shape.
The
Hambledon Club was founded in the 1760s and, for the next twenty years until
the formation of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC )
and the opening of Lord's Old Ground in 1787, Hambledon was both the game's
greatest club and its focal point.MCC
quickly became the sport's premier club and the custodian of the Laws of
Cricket. New Laws introduced in the latter part of the 18th century included
the three stump wicket and leg before wicket (lbw).
The 19th century saw underarm
bowling superseded by first roundarm
and then overarm bowling. Both developments were
controversial. Organisation of the game at county level led to the creation of
the county clubs, starting with Sussex in 1839. In December 1889, the
eight leading county clubs formed the official County Championship, which began in
1890.Meanwhile, the British Empire had been instrumental in spreading the game
overseas and by the middle of the 19th century it had become well established
in Australia, the Caribbean, India, New Zealand, North America and South
Africa.In 1844, the first-ever international match took
place between the United States and Canada. In 1859, a team of English
players went to North America on the first overseas tour.
The first
Australian team to tour overseas was a team of Aboriginal stockmen who travelled to England in 1868 to
play matches against county teams. In 1862, an English
team made the first tour of Australia.The most famous player of the 19th
century was W. G. Grace, who started his long
and influential career in 1865. birth to The
Ashes in 1882 and this has remained Test cricket's most
famous contest. Test cricket began to expand in 1888–89 when South Africa
played England.
The last two decades before the
First World War have been called the "Golden Age of cricket". It is a
nostalgic name prompted by the collective sense of loss resulting from the war,
but the period did produce some great players and memorable matches, especially
as organised competition at county and Test level developed.
The inter-war years were
dominated by one player: Australia's Don
Bradman, statistically the greatest Test batsman of all time. Test cricket
continued to expand during the 20th century with the addition of the West Indies (1928), New Zealand (1930) and India (1932) before the Second World
War and then Pakistan (1952), Sri Lanka (1982), Zimbabwe (1992) and Bangladesh (2000) in the post-war
period. South Africa was banned from international cricket from 1970 to 1992 as
part of the apartheid
boycott.
Cricket entered a new era in 1963 when English
counties introduced the limited overs variant. As it was sure to
produce a result, limited overs cricket was lucrative and the number of matches
increased. The first Limited Overs International was played
in 1971 and the governing International Cricket Council (ICC),
seeing its potential, staged the first limited overs Cricket
World Cup in 1975.In the 21st century, a new limited overs form, Twenty20, made
an immediate impact. There
have been several speculations about the game's origins including some that it
was created in France or Flanders. The earliest of these speculative references
is dated Thursday, 10 March 1300 (Julian date) and concerns the future King Edward II playing at "creag and other games"
in both Westminster and Newenden. It has been suggested that
"creag" was an Olde English word for cricket but expert opinion is that
it was an early spelling of "craic", meaning "fun and games in
general".
It is
generally believed that cricket survived as a children's game for many
generations before it was increasingly taken up by adults around the beginning
of the 17th century. Possibly cricket was derived from bowls, assuming bowls is the older sport, by the
intervention of a batsman trying to stop the ball from reaching its target by
hitting it away. Playing on sheep-grazed land or in clearings, the original
implements may have been a matted lump of sheep’s wool (or even a stone or a
small lump of wood) as the ball; a stick or a crook or another farm tool as the
bat; and a stool or a tree stump or a gate (e.g., a wicket gate) as the wicket.
The
origins of cricket lie somewhere in the Dark Ages - probably after the Roman
Empire, almost certainly before the Normans invaded England, and almost
certainly somewhere in Northern Europe. All research concedes that the game
derived from a very old, widespread and uncomplicated pastime by which one
player served up an object, be it a small piece of wood or a ball, and another
hit it with a suitably fashioned club.
How and when this club-ball game developed into one where
the hitter defended a target against the thrower is simply not known. Nor is
there any evidence as to when points were awarded dependent upon how far the
hitter was able to despatch the missile; nor when helpers joined the two-player
contest, thus beginning the evolution into a team game; nor when the defining
concept of placing wickets at either end of the pitch was adopted.
Etymological
scholarship has variously placed the game in the Celtic, Scandinavian,
Anglo-Saxon, Dutch and Norman-French traditions; sociological historians have
variously attributed its mediaeval development to high-born country landowners,
emigré Flemish cloth-workers, shepherds on the close-cropped downland of
south-east England and the close-knit communities of iron- and glass-workers
deep in the Kentish Weald. Most of these theories have a solid academic basis,
but none is backed with enough evidence to establish a watertight case. The
research goes on. What is agreed is that by Tudor times cricket had evolved far
enough from club-ball to be recognisable as the game played today; that it was
well established in many parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey; that within a few
years it had become a feature of leisure time at a significant number of
schools; and - a sure sign of the wide acceptance of any game - that it had
become popular enough among young men to earn the disapproval of local magistrates.
Dates in cricket history
1550 (approx) Evidence of cricket being played in
Guildford, Surrey.
1598 Cricket mentioned in Florio's Italian-English dictionary.
1610 Reference to "cricketing" between
Weald and Upland near Chevening, Kent. 1611
Randle Cotgrave's French-English dictionary translates the French word
"crosse" as a cricket staff. Two youths fined for playing cricket at
Sidlesham, Sussex.
1624 Jasper Vinall becomes first man known to be
killed playing cricket: hit by a bat while trying to catch the ball - at
Horsted Green, Sussex.
1676 First reference to cricket being played
abroad, by British residents in Aleppo, Syria.
1694 Two shillings and sixpence paid for a
"wagger" (wager) about a cricket match at Lewes.
1697 First reference to "a great match"
with 11 players a side for fifty guineas, in Sussex.
1700 Cricket match announced on Clapham Common.
1709 First recorded inter-county match: Kent v
Surrey.
1710 First reference to cricket at Cambridge
University.
1727 Articles of Agreement written governing the
conduct of matches between the teams of the Duke of Richmond and Mr Brodrick of
Peperharow, Surrey.
1729 Date of earliest surviving bat, belonging to
John Chitty, now in the pavilion at The Oval.
1730 First recorded match at the Artillery
Ground, off City Road, central London, still the cricketing home of the
Honourable Artillery Company.
1744 Kent beat All England by one wicket at the
Artillery Ground. First known version of the Laws of Cricket, issued by the
London Club, formalising the pitch as 22 yards long.
1767 (approx) Foundation of the Hambledon Club in
Hampshire, the leading club in England for the next 30 years.
1769 First recorded century, by John Minshull for
Duke of Dorset's XI v Wrotham.
1771 Width of bat limited to 4 1/4 inches, where
it has remained ever since.
1774 LBW law devised.
1776 Earliest known scorecards, at the Vine Club,
Sevenoaks, Kent.
1780 The first six-seamed cricket ball,
manufactured by Dukes of Penshurst, Kent.
1787 First match at Thomas Lord's first ground,
Dorset Square, Marylebone - White Conduit Club v Middlesex. Formation of
Marylebone Cricket Club by members of the White Conduit Club.
1788 First revision of the Laws of Cricket by
MCC.
1794 First recorded inter-schools match:
Charterhouse v Westminster.
1795 First recorded case of a dismissal "leg
before wicket".
1806 First Gentlemen v Players match at Lord's.
1807 First mention of "straight-armed"
(i.e. round-arm) bowling: by John Willes of Kent.
1809 Thomas Lord's second ground opened at North
Bank, St John's Wood.
1811 First recorded women's county match: Surrey
v Hampshire at Ball's Pond, London.
1814 Lord's third ground opened on its present
site, also in St John's Wood.
1827 First Oxford v Cambridge match, at Lord's. A
draw.
1828 MCC authorise the bowler to raise his hand
level with the elbow.
1833 John Nyren publishes his classic Young
Cricketer's Tutor and The Cricketers of My Time.
1836 First North v South match, for many years
regarded as the principal fixture of the season.
1836 (approx) Batting pads invented.
1841 General Lord Hill, commander-in-chief of the
British Army, orders that a cricket ground be made an adjunct of every military
barracks.
1844 First official international match: Canada v
United States.
1845 First match played at The Oval.
1846 The All-England XI, organised by William
Clarke, begins playing matches, often against odds, throughout the country.
1849 First Yorkshire v Lancashire match.
1850 Wicket-keeping gloves first used.
1850 John Wisden bowls all ten batsmen in an
innings for North v South.
1853 First mention of a champion county:
Nottinghamshire.
1858 First recorded instance of a hat being
awarded to a bowler taking three wickets with consecutive balls.
1859 First touring team to leave England,
captained by George Parr, draws enthusiastic crowds in the US and Canada.
1864 Overhand bowling authorised by MCC.
John Wisden's The Cricketer's Almanack first
published.
1868 Team of Australian aborigines tour England.
1873 WG Grace becomes the first player to record
1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season. First regulations restricting county
qualifications, often regarded as the official start of the County
Championship.
1877 First Test match: Australia beat England by
45 runs in Melbourne.
1880 First Test in England: a five-wicket win
against Australia at The Oval.
1882 Following England's first defeat by
Australia in England, an "obituary notice" to English cricket in the
Sporting Times leads to the tradition of The Ashes.
1889 South Africa's first Test match.
Declarations first authorised, but only on the third day, or in a one-day
match.
1890 County Championship officially constituted.
Present Lord's pavilion opened.
1895 WG Grace scores 1,000 runs in May, and
reaches his 100th hundred.
1899 AEJ Collins scores 628 not out in a junior
house match at Clifton College, the highest individual score in any match.
Selectors choose England team for home Tests, instead of host club issuing
invitations.
1900 Six-ball over becomes the norm, instead of
five.
1909 Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC - now the
International Cricket Council) set up, with England, Australia and South Africa
the original members.
1910 Six runs given for any hit over the
boundary, instead of only for a hit out of the ground.
1912 First and only triangular Test series played
in England, involving England, Australia and South Africa.
1915 WG Grace dies, aged 67.
1926 Victoria score 1,107 v New South Wales at
Melbourne, the record total for a first-class innings.
1928 West Indies' first Test match.
AP "Tich" Freeman of Kent and England
becomes the only player to take more than 300 first-class wickets in a season:
304.
1930 New Zealand's first Test match.
Donald Bradman's first tour of England: he scores
974 runs in the five Ashes Tests, still a record for any Test series.
1931 Stumps made higher (28 inches not 27) and
wider (nine inches not eight - this was optional until 1947).
1932 India's first Test match.
Hedley Verity of Yorkshire takes ten wickets for
ten runs v Nottinghamshire, the best innings analysis in first-class cricket.
1932-33 The Bodyline tour of Australia in which
England bowl at batsmen's bodies with a packed leg-side field to neutralise
Bradman's scoring.
1934 Jack Hobbs retires, with 197 centuries and
61,237 runs, both records. First women's Test: Australia v England at Brisbane.
1935 MCC condemn and outlaw Bodyline.
1947 Denis Compton of Middlesex and England
scores a record 3,816 runs in an English season.
1948 First five-day Tests in England.
Bradman concludes Test career with a second-ball
duck at The Oval and a batting average of 99.94 - four runs short of 100.
1952 Pakistan's first Test match.
1953 England regain the Ashes after a 19-year
gap, the longest ever.
1956 Jim Laker of England takes 19 wickets for 90
v Australia at Manchester, the best match analysis in first-class cricket.
1957 Declarations authorised at any time.
1960 First tied Test, Australia v West Indies at
Brisbane.
1963 Distinction between amateur and professional
cricketers abolished in English cricket.
The first major one-day tournament begins in
England: the Gillette Cup.
1969 Limited-over Sunday league inaugurated for
first-class counties.
1970 Proposed South African tour of England
cancelled: South Africa excluded from international cricket because of their
government's apartheid policies.
1971 First one-day international: Australia v
England at Melbourne.
1975 First World Cup: West Indies beat Australia
in final at Lord's.
1976 First women's match at Lord's, England v Australia.
1977 Centenary Test at Melbourne, with identical
result to the first match: Australia beat England by 45 runs.
Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer, signs 51 of
the world's leading players in defiance of the cricketing authorities.
1978 Graham Yallop of Australia wears a
protective helmet to bat in a Test match, the first player to do so.
1979 Packer and official cricket agree peace
deal.
1980 Eight-ball over abolished in Australia,
making the six-ball over universal.
1981 England beat Australia in Leeds Test, after
following on with bookmakers offering odds of 500 to 1 against them winning.
1982 Sri Lanka's first Test match.
1991 South Africa return, with a one-day
international in India.
1992 Zimbabwe's first Test match. Durham become
the first county since Glamorgan in 1921 to attain firstclass status.
1993 The ICC ceases to be administered by MCC,
becoming an independent organisation with its own chief executive.
1994 Brian Lara of Warwickshire becomes the only
player to pass 500 in a firstclass innings: 501 not out v Durham.
2000 South Africa's captain Hansie Cronje banned
from cricket for life after admitting receiving bribes from bookmakers in
match-fixing scandal.
Bangladesh's first Test match.
County Championship split into two divisions,
with promotion and relegation.
The Laws of Cricket revised and rewritten.
2001 Sir Donald Bradman dies, aged 92.
2003 Twenty20 Cup, a 20-over-per-side evening
tournament, inaugurated in England.
2004 Lara becomes the first man to score 400 in a
Test innings, against England.
2005 The ICC introduces Powerplays and Supersubs
in ODIs, and hosts the inaugural Superseries.
2006 Pakistan forfeit a Test at The Oval after
being accused of ball tampering
Rules and game-play
Cricket is a bat and ball game, played between two teams of
eleven players each One team
bats, attempting to score runs, while the other bowls and fields the ball,
attempting to restrict the scoring and dismiss the batsmen. The objective of
the game is for a team to score more runs than its opponent. In some forms of
cricket, it is also necessary to dismiss the
opposition in order to win the match, which would otherwise be drawn.
Format of the game
A cricket match is divided into periods called innings
(which ends with "s" in both singular and plural form). It is decided
before the match whether the teams will have one innings or two innings each.
During an innings one team fields and the other bats. The two
teams switch between fielding and batting after each innings. All eleven
members of the fielding team take the field, but only two members of the
batting team (two batsmen) are on
the field at any given time. The order of batsmen is usually announced just
before the match, but it can be varied.
A coin toss is held
by the team captains (who are
also players) just before the match starts: the winner decides whether to bat
or field first.
The cricket field is usually circular or oval in
shape, with a rectangular pitch at the centre. The edge of the playing
field is marked with a boundary, which could be a fence, part of the
stands, a rope or a painted line.
At each end of the pitch is a wooden target called a wicket;
the two wickets are placed 22 yards (20 m) apart. The pitch is marked with
painted lines: a bowling crease in line with the wicket, and a batting
or popping crease four feet (122 cm) in front of it. The wicket is
made of three vertical stumps supporting two small horizontal bails.
A wicket is put down if at least one bail is dislodged, or one stump is
knocked down (usually by the ball, but also if the batsman does it with his
body, clothing or equipment). This is also described as breaking, knocking
down, or hitting the wicket – though if the ball hits the
wicket but does not dislodge a bail or stump then it is not
considered to be down.
At any instant each batsman "owns" a particular
wicket (usually the one closer to him) and, except when actually batting, is
safe when 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. If his
wicket is put down while the ball is live and he is out of his ground
then he is dismissed, but the other batsman is safe.[15]
The two batsmen take positions at opposite ends of the
pitch. One designated member of the fielding team, called the bowler, bowls
the ball from one end of the pitch to the striking batsman at the other
end. The batsman at the bowling end is called the non-striker, and
stands to the side of his wicket, behind his crease. The batsman are allowed to
step forward of their creases, though at some risk. Another member of the
fielding team, the wicket keeper, is positioned behind the striker's
wicket.
The fielding team's other nine members stand outside the
pitch, spread out across the field. The fielding captain often tactically
changes their position between balls.
There is always an umpire at each end of the pitch.The
bowler usually retreats a few yards (metres) behind the wicket, runs towards it
(his run-up), and then releases the ball over-hand as he reaches the bowling
crease. (If he crosses the crease before he releases the ball, or if he
flexes his elbow too much in a throw, then it is a no ball, the
batsman cannot be dismissed, and the batting team gets a penalty or extra
run. If the ball passes the far wicket out of reach of the batsman then it is
called a wide, also with an extra run.) The ball can be bowled so
that it bounces on the pitch, lands exactly on the crease (a yorker), or
crosses the crease without bouncing (a full toss).
A no ball or a wide does not count towards the
six balls in the over.The batsman tries to prevent the ball from hitting the
wicket by striking the ball with his bat. (This includes the handle of the bat,
and his gloves.) If the bowler succeeds in putting down the wicket the batsman
is dismissed and is said to be bowled out. If the batsman misses
the ball, but any part of his body prevents it from reaching the wicket, then
he is out leg before wicket, or "LBW".
If the batsman hits the ball but it is caught by a fielder
without bouncing then he is caught out. If it is caught by the bowler
then he is caught and bowled; by the wicket keeper, caught behind.
If the batsman is successful in striking the ball and it is
not caught without bouncing, then the two batsmen may try to score points (runs)
for their team. Both batsmen run the length of the pitch, exchanging positions,
and grounding their bats behind the opposite crease. Each crossing and
grounding by both batsmen is worth one run. The batsmen may attempt one run, or
multiple runs, or elect not to run at all. By attempting runs, the batsmen risk
dismissal. This happens if the fielding team retrieves the ball and hits either
wicket with the ball (either by throwing it, or while holding it) before the
batsman who owns that wicket reaches his ground behind the crease. The
dismissed batsman is run out. Batsmen will sometimes start to run,
change their minds, and return to their original positions.
If the batsman hits the ball over the field boundary without
the ball touching the field, the batting team scores six runs. If the ball
touches the ground and then reaches the boundary, the batting team scores four
runs. The batsmen might have started running before the ball reaches the
boundary, but those runs do not count.
If the batsman misses the ball they can still attempt extra
runs : these are called byes. If the ball bounces off his body then
it is called a leg bye.
If the striking batsman leaves his ground and misses the
ball, then the wicket keeper can catch it and put down the wicket – out stumped.
In case of a no ball or a wide the batsman can
choose to strike the ball, earning runs in addition to the fixed penalty. If he
does so he can only be dismissed by being run out.
When the batsmen have finished attempting their runs the
ball is dead, and is returned to the bowler to be bowled again. The ball
becomes live when he starts his run up. The bowler continues to
bowl toward the same wicket, regardless of any switch of the batsmen's
positions. A batsman may retire from an innings without being dismissed,
usually after reaching a milestone like a hundred runs (a century).
A dismissed batsman leaves the field, to be replaced by
another batsman from the batting team. However, even though the wicket may have
been put down, or the ball caught, the batsman is not actually dismissed until
the fielding team appeal to the umpires for a decision, traditionally using the
expression "How's that" (or "Howzat") (although often the
batsman will immediately walk away without the need for an appeal). In some
matches, particularly Test matches, either team may request a review by
a third umpire who can use a decision review system (DRS),
which includes TV replays and other electronic equipment such as Hawk-Eye, Hot
Spot and the Snickometer. After a
bowler has bowled six times (an over), another member of the fielding
team is designated as the new bowler, the old bowler taking up a fielding
position. The batsmen stay in place, and the new bowler bowls to the opposite
wicket, so the roles of striker and non-striker reverse. The
wicket keeper and the two umpires always change positions, as do many of the
fielders, and play continues. Bowlers may (and usually do) bowl multiple times
during an innings, but may not bowl two overs in succession. The innings is
complete when 10 of the 11 members of the batting team have been dismissed (all
out – although one always remaining "not out"), when a set
number of overs has been played, or when the batting team declares that
they have enough runs.
The number of innings and the number of overs per innings
vary depending on the format of the match. In a match which is not a limited
overs format the umpires will often specify that the last session of the
day will have a specified number of overs rather than continuing until a
specified time (to avoid time wasting by either team). The match ends when all
innings have been completed. The umpires can also call an end to the match in
case of bad light or weather. But often the match ends immediately when one
team to bat has completed its innings or both its innings, and the other team
already has more runs. In four-innings games the last team may not even need to
play its second innings: this team is said to win by an innings. If the
winning team has not completed its last innings, and still has, for example,
five batsmen who are not out or have not even batted, then they are said to
"win by five wickets". If the last team to bat is all out and
loses the match because it has say 50 fewer runs than the other team, then the
winning team "wins by 50 runs". In the rare event that the two teams
both complete their innings and they have the same number of runs, then it is a
tie. In matches which are not limited overs there is also the
possibility of a draw: the team with fewer runs still has batsmen on the
field when the game ends, usually because time has run out. This has an impact
on strategy: a team will often declare their innings closed when they
have accumulated enough runs, in the hope that they will have enough time left
to dismiss the other team and thus avoid a draw, but risking a loss if the
other team scores enough runs.
Pitch, wickets and creases Playing
surface
Cricket is played on a grassy field. The Laws of Cricket do not
specify the size or shape of the field, but it is
often oval. In the centre of the field is a rectangular strip, known as the pitch.
The pitch is a flat surface 10 feet (3.0 m) wide, with
very short grass that tends to be worn away as the game progresses. At either
end of the pitch, 22 yards (20 m) apart, are placed wooden targets, known
as the wickets. These
serve as a target for the bowling (also
known as the fielding) side and
are defended by the batting side,
which seeks to accumulate runs.
Stumps, bails and creases
A
wicket consists
of three stumps that are
hammered into the ground, and topped with two bails. Each
wicket on the pitch consists of three wooden stumps placed
vertically, in line with one another. They are surmounted by two wooden
crosspieces called bails; the
total height of the wicket including bails is 28.5 inches (720 mm) and the
combined width of the three stumps, including small gaps between them is 9
inches (230 mm).
Four lines, known as creases, are
painted onto the pitch around the wicket areas to define the batsman's
"safe territory" and to determine the limit of the bowler's approach.
These are called the "popping" (or batting) crease, the bowling
crease and two "return" creases.
The stumps are placed in line on the bowling creases and so
these creases must be 22 yards (20 m) apart. A bowling crease is
8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m) long, with the middle stump placed dead
centre. The popping crease has the same length, is parallel to the bowling
crease and is 4 feet (1.2 m) in front of the wicket. The return creases
are perpendicular to the other two; they are adjoined to the ends of the popping
crease and are drawn through the ends of the bowling crease to a length of at
least 8 feet (2.4 m).
When bowling the ball, the bowler's back foot in his
"delivery stride" must land within the two return creases while at
least some part of his front foot must land on or behind the popping crease. If
the bowler breaks this rule, the umpire calls "No ball".
The importance of the popping crease to the batsman is that
it marks the limit of his safe territory. He can be dismissed stumped or run out (see Dismissals
below) if the wicket is broken while he is "out of his ground".
Ball
i) A used
white ball. White balls are mainly used in limited
overs cricket, especially in matches played at night, under floodlights (left).
ii) A used red ball, Red balls are used in Test cricket and first-class cricket and some other forms of cricket (right).
ii) A used red ball, Red balls are used in Test cricket and first-class cricket and some other forms of cricket (right).
.
The essence of the sport is that a bowler delivers the ball
from his end of the pitch towards the batsman who, armed with a bat is "on
strike" at the other end.
The bat is made of wood (usually White Willow) and has
the shape of a blade topped by a cylindrical handle. The blade must not be more
than 4.25 inches (108 mm) wide and the total length of the bat not more
than 38 inches (970 mm).
The ball is a hard
leather-seamed spheroid, with a
circumference of 9 inches (230 mm). The hardness of the ball, which can be
delivered at speeds of more than 90 miles per hour (140 km/h), is a matter
for concern and batsmen wear protective clothing including pads (designed
to protect the knees and shins), batting gloves for the
hands, a helmet for the
head and a box inside
the trousers (to protect the crotch area).
Some batsmen wear additional padding inside their shirts and trousers such as
thigh pads, arm pads, rib protectors and shoulder pads. The ball has a
"seam": six rows of stitches attaching the leather shell of the ball
to the string and cork interior. The seam on a new ball is prominent, and helps
the bowler propel it in a less predictable manner. During cricket matches, the
quality of the ball deteriorates to a point where it is no longer usable, and
during the course of this deterioration its behaviour in flight will change and
thus influence the match. Players will therefore attempt to modify the ball's
behaviour by modifying its physical properties. Polishing the ball and wetting
it with sweat or saliva is legal, even when the polishing is deliberately done
on one side only to increase the ball's swing, while rubbing other substances
into the ball, scratching the surface or picking at the seam is illegal ball tampering.
Umpires and scorers
The game on the field is regulated by two umpires, one of
whom stands behind the wicket at the bowler's end, the other in a position
called "square leg", a position 15–20 metres to the side of the
"on strike" batsman. The main role of the umpires is to adjudicate on
whether a ball is correctly bowled (not a no ball or a wide),
when a run is scored, and whether a batsman is out (the fielding side must
appeal to the umpire, usually with the phrase How's That?). Umpires also
determine when intervals start and end, decide on the suitability of the
playing conditions and can interrupt or even abandon the match due to
circumstances likely to endanger the players, such as a damp pitch or
deterioration of the light.
Off the field and in televised matches, there is often a third umpire who can
make decisions on certain incidents with the aid of video evidence. The third
umpire is mandatory under the playing conditions for Test matches and limited
overs internationals played between two ICC full members. These matches also
have a match
referee whose job is to ensure that play is within the Laws of cricket and the
spirit of the game.
The match details, including runs and dismissals, are
recorded by two official scorers, one
representing each team. The scorers are directed by the hand signals of an
umpire. For example, the umpire raises a forefinger to signal that the batsman
is out (has been dismissed); he raises both arms above his head if the batsman
has hit the ball for six runs. The scorers are required by the Laws of cricket
to record all runs scored, wickets taken and overs bowled; in practice, they
also note significant amounts of additional data relating to the game.
Innings
The
innings (ending with 's' in both singular and plural form) is the term used for
the collective performance of the batting side.[20] Sometimes all eleven members of the batting side take a
turn to bat but, for various reasons, an innings can end before they have all
done so. Depending on the type of match being played, each team has either one
or two innings.
The main
aim of the bowler, supported by his fielders, is to dismiss the batsman. A
batsman when dismissed is said to be "out" and that means he must
leave the field of play and be replaced by the next batsman on his team. When
ten batsmen have been dismissed (i.e. are out), then the whole team is
dismissed and the innings is over. The last batsman, the one who has not been
dismissed, is not allowed to continue alone as there must always be two batsmen
"in". This batsman is termed "not out".
An innings
can end early for three reasons: because the batting side's captain has chosen
to "declare" the innings closed (which is a tactical decision), or
because the batting side has achieved its target and won the game, or because
the game has ended prematurely due to bad weather or running out of time. In
each of these cases the team's innings ends with two "not out"
batsmen, unless the innings is declared closed at the fall of a wicket and the
next batsman has not joined in the play.
In limited
overs cricket, there might be two batsmen still "not out" when the
last of the allotted overs has been bowled.
Overs
The bowler
bowls the ball in sets of six deliveries (or "balls") and each set of
six balls is called an over. This name came about because the umpire calls
"Over!" when six balls have been bowled. At this point, another
bowler is deployed at the other end, and the fielding side changes ends while
the batsmen do not. A bowler cannot bowl two successive overs, although a
bowler can (and usually does) bowl alternate overs, from the same end, for
several overs. The batsmen do not change ends at the end of the over, and so
the one who was non-striker is now the striker and vice versa. (Sometimes when
one of the two batsmen is a much stronger player than the other, he tries to
score a single run from the last ball of the over so that he can remain
"on strike".) The umpires also change positions so that the one who
was at square leg now stands behind the wicket at the non-striker's end and
vice versa.
Team structure
A team
consists of eleven players. Depending on his or her primary skills, a player
may be classified as a specialist batsman or bowler. A well-balanced team usually has
five or six specialist batsmen and four or five specialist bowlers. Teams
nearly always include a specialist wicket-keeper because of the importance of this fielding position. Each
team is headed by a captain who is responsible for making
tactical decisions such as determining the batting order, the placement of
fielders and the rotation of bowlers.
A player
who excels in both batting and bowling is known as an all-rounder. One who excels as a batsman and wicket-keeper is known as
a "wicket-keeper/batsman", sometimes regarded as a type of
all-rounder. True all-rounders are rare as most players focus on either batting
or bowling skills.
Bowling
The bowler
reaches his delivery stride by means of a "run-up", although some
bowlers with a very slow delivery take no more than a couple of steps before
bowling. A fast bowler needs momentum and takes quite a long run-up, running
very fast as he does so.
The
fastest bowlers can deliver the ball at a speed of over 90 miles per hour
(140 km/h) and they sometimes rely on sheer speed to try and defeat the
batsman, who is forced to react very quickly. Other fast bowlers rely on a
mixture of speed and guile. Some fast bowlers make use of the seam of the ball
so that it "curves" or "swings" in flight. This type of
delivery can deceive a batsman into mistiming his shot so that the ball just
touches the edge of the bat and can then be "caught behind" by the
wicketkeeper or a slip fielder.
At the
other end of the bowling scale is the "spinner" who bowls at a
relatively slow pace and relies entirely on guile to deceive the batsman. A
spinner will often "buy his wicket" by "tossing one up" (in
a slower, higher parabolic path) to lure the batsman into
making a poor shot. The batsman has to be very wary of such deliveries as they
are often "flighted" or spun so that the ball will not behave quite
as he expects and he could be "trapped" into getting himself out.
In between
the pacemen and the spinners are the "medium pacers" who rely on persistent
accuracy to try and contain the rate of scoring and wear down the batsman's
concentration.
All
bowlers are classified according to their looks or style. The classifications, as with much cricket terminology,
can be very confusing. Hence, a bowler could be classified as LF, meaning he is
a left arm fast bowler; or as LBG, meaning he is a right arm spin bowler who
bowls deliveries that are called a "leg break" and a "Googly".
During the
bowling action the elbow may be held at any angle and may bend further, but may
not straighten out. If the elbow straightens illegally then the square-leg
umpire may call no-ball: this is known as
"throwing" or "chucking", and can be difficult to detect.
The current laws allow a bowler to straighten his arm 15 degrees or less.
Fielding
All eleven
players on the fielding side take the field together. One of them is the wicket-keeper (or "keeper") who operates behind the wicket
being defended by the batsman on strike. Wicket-keeping is normally a
specialist occupation and his primary job is to gather deliveries that the
batsman does not hit, so that the batsmen cannot run byes. He wears special
gloves (he is the only fielder allowed to do so), a box over the groin, and
pads to cover his lower legs. He is the only player who can get a batsman out stumped.
Apart from
the one currently bowling, the other nine fielders are tactically deployed by
the team captain in chosen positions around the field.
The
captain is the most important member of the fielding side as he determines all
the tactics including who should bowl (and how); and he is responsible for
"setting the field", though usually in consultation with the bowler.
In all
forms of cricket, if a fielder is injured or becomes ill during a match, a substitute is allowed to field instead of him.
The substitute cannot bowl, act as a captain or keep wicket. The substitute
leaves the field when the injured player is fit to return.
Batting
English cricketer W.G. Grace "taking guard" in 1883. His pads and bat are very
similar to those used today. The gloves have evolved somewhat. Many modern
players utilise more defensive equipment than was available to Grace, notably
helmets and arm guards.
At any one
time, there are two batsmen in the playing area. One takes station at the
striker's end to defend the wicket as above and to score runs if possible. His
partner, the non-striker, is at the end where the bowler is operating.
Batsmen
come in to bat in a batting order, decided by the team captain
usually after consulting the team coach, though the captain is not bound to
consult the coach. The first two batsmen – the "openers" –
usually face the hostile bowling from fresh fast bowlers with a new ball. The
top batting positions are usually given to the most competent batsmen in the
team, and the team's bowlers – who are typically, but not always, less
skilled as batsmen – typically bat last. The pre-announced batting order
is not mandatory; when a wicket falls any player who has not yet batted may be
sent in next.
If a
batsman "retires" (usually due to injury) and cannot return, he is
actually "not out" and his retirement does not count as a dismissal,
though in effect he has been dismissed because his innings is over. Substitute
batsmen are not allowed.
A skilled
batsman can use a wide array of "shots" or "strokes" in
both defensive and attacking mode. The idea is to hit the ball to best effect
with the flat surface of the bat's blade. If the ball touches the side of the
bat it is called an "edge". Batsmen do not always seek to hit the ball as hard
as possible, and a good player can score runs just by making a deft stroke with
a turn of the wrists or by simply "blocking" the ball but directing
it away from fielders so that he has time to take a run.
There is a
wide variety of shots played in cricket. The batsman's repertoire includes
strokes named according to the style of swing and the direction aimed: e.g.,
"cut", "drive", "hook",
"pull".
A batsman
is not required to play a shot; in the event that he believes the ball will not
hit his wicket and there is no opportunity to score runs, he can
"leave" the ball to go through to the wicketkeeper. Equally, he does
not have to attempt a run when he hits the ball with his bat. He can
deliberately use his leg to block the ball and thereby "pad it away",
but this is risky because of the leg before wicket rule.
In the
event of an injured batsman being fit to bat but not to run, the umpires and
the fielding captain could previously allow another member of the batting side
to be a runner. The runner's only task was to run
between the wickets instead of the incapacitated batsman, and he was required
to wear and carry exactly the same equipment as the batsman. As of 2011 the ICC
outlawed the use of runners as they felt this was being abused.
Runs
Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket. Photo shows him making a shot to reach 14,000 runs in Tests. He was batting against Australia in 2010.
The directions in which a right-handed batsman, facing down the page, intends to send the ball
when playing various cricketing shots. The diagram for a left-handed batsman is a mirror image of this one.
The
batsman on strike (i.e. the "striker") must prevent the ball hitting
the wicket, and try to score runs by hitting the ball with his bat so that he and his partner
have time to run from one end of the pitch to the other before the fielding
side can return the ball. To register a run, both runners must touch the ground
behind the crease with either their bats or their bodies (the batsmen carry
their bats as they run). Each completed run increments the score.
More than
one run can be scored from a single hit: hits worth one to three runs are
common, but the size of the field is such that it is usually difficult to run
four or more. To compensate for this, hits that reach the boundary of the field
are automatically awarded four runs if the ball touches the ground en route
to the boundary or six runs if the ball clears the boundary without touching
the ground within the boundary. In these cases the batsmen do not need to run.
Brian Lara of the West Indies holds the record for highest score in an
innings for both Test and first-class cricket.
Hits for
five are unusual and generally rely on the help of "overthrows" by a
fielder returning the ball. If an odd number of runs is scored by the striker,
the two batsmen have changed ends, and the one who was non-striker is now the
striker. Only the striker can score individual runs, but all runs are added to
the team's total.
The
decision to attempt a run is ideally made by the batsman who has the better
view of the ball's progress, and this is communicated by calling:
"yes", "no" and "wait" are often heard.
Running is
a calculated risk because if a fielder breaks the wicket with the ball while
the nearest batsman is out of his ground (i.e. he does not have part of his
body or bat in contact with the ground behind the popping crease), the batsman
is run out.A team's score is reported in terms of the number of runs
scored and the number of batsmen that have been dismissed. For example, if five
batsmen are out and the team has scored 224 runs, they are said to have scored
224 for the loss of 5 wickets (commonly shortened to "224 for five"
and written 224/5 or, in Australia, "five for 224" and 5/224).
Extras
Additional
runs can be gained by the batting team as extras (called "sundries" in Australia) due to errors
made by the fielding side. This is achieved in four ways:
- No ball: a penalty of one extra that
is conceded by the bowler if he breaks the rules of bowling either by (a)
using an inappropriate
arm action;
(b) overstepping the popping crease; (c) having a foot outside the return
crease. In addition, the bowler has to re-bowl the ball. In limited overs
matches, a no ball is called if the bowling team's field setting fails to
comply with the restrictions. In shorter formats of the game (20–20, ODI)
the free hit rule has been introduced. The ball following a front foot
no-ball will be a free-hit for the batsman, whereby he is safe from losing
his wicket except for being run-out.
- Wide: a penalty of one extra that
is conceded by the bowler if he bowls so that the ball is out of the
batsman's reach; as with a no ball, a wide must be re-bowled. If a wide
ball crosses the boundary, five runs are awarded to the batting side (one
run for the wide, and four for the boundary).
- Bye: extra(s) awarded if the
batsman misses the ball and it goes past the wicketkeeper to give the
batsmen time to run in the conventional way (note that one mark of a good
wicketkeeper is one who restricts the tally of byes to a minimum).
- Leg bye: extra(s) awarded if the ball
hits the batsman's body, but not his bat, while attempting a legitimate
shot, and it goes away from the fielders to give the batsmen time to run
in the conventional way.
When the
bowler has bowled a no ball or a wide, his team incurs an additional penalty
because that ball (i.e., delivery) has to be bowled again and hence the batting
side has the opportunity to score more runs from this extra ball. The batsmen
have to run (i.e., unless the ball goes to the boundary for four) to claim byes
and leg byes but these only count towards the team total, not to the striker's
individual total for which runs must be scored off the bat.
Dismissals
There are
eleven ways in which a batsman can be dismissed: five relatively common and six
extremely rare. The common forms of dismissal are "bowled",
"caught", "leg before wicket" (lbw), "run out",
and (somewhat less common) "stumped". Rare methods are "hit
wicket", "hit the ball twice", "obstructed the field",
"handled the ball" and "timed out" – these are almost
unknown in the professional game. The eleventh – retired out – is not treated as an on-field dismissal but rather a
retrospective one for which no fielder is credited.
If the
dismissal is obvious (for example when "bowled" and in most cases of
"caught") the batsman will voluntarily leave the field without the
umpire needing to dismiss them. Otherwise before the umpire will award a
dismissal and declare the batsman to be out, a member of the fielding side
(generally the bowler) must "appeal". This is invariably done by
asking (or shouting) "how's that?" – normally reduced to howzat?
If the umpire agrees with the appeal, he will raise a forefinger and say
"Out!". Otherwise he will shake his head and say "Not out".
Appeals are particularly loud when the circumstances of the claimed dismissal
are unclear, as is always the case with lbw and often with run outs and
stumpings.
- Bowled: the bowler has hit the wicket with the delivery and
the wicket has "broken" with at least one bail being dislodged
(if the ball hits the wicket without dislodging a bail it is not out).[24]
- Caught: the batsman has hit the ball
with his bat, or with his hand which was holding the bat, and the ball has
been caught before it has touched the ground by a member of the fielding
side.[25]
- Leg before
wicket
(lbw): the
ball has hit the batsman's body (including his clothing, pads etc. but not
the bat, nor a hand holding the bat) when it would have gone on to hit the
stumps. This rule exists mainly to prevent the batsman from guarding his
wicket with his legs instead of the bat. To be given out lbw, the ball
must not bounce outside leg stump or strike the batsmen outside the line
of leg-stump. It may bounce outside off-stump. The batsman may only be
dismissed lbw by a ball striking him outside the line of off-stump if he
has not made a genuine attempt to play the ball with his bat.[26]
- Run out: a member of the fielding side has broken or "put
down" the wicket with the ball while the nearest batsman was out of
his ground; this occurs either by an accurate throw to the wicket, or more
commonly by a throw to the wicketkeeper or other fielder standing near the
wicket, while the batsmen are attempting a run, although a batsman can be
given out "run out" even when he is not attempting a run; he
merely needs to be out of his ground.[27]
- Stumped is similar except that it is
done by the wicketkeeper after the batsman has missed the bowled ball and
has stepped out of his ground, and is not attempting a run.[28] A batsman can be run out on a No ball, but cannot be stumped.
- Hit wicket: a batsman is out hit wicket if he dislodges one or
both bails with his bat, person, clothing or equipment in the act of
receiving a ball, or in setting off for a run having just received a ball.[29]
- Hit the ball
twice
is very unusual and was introduced as a safety measure to counter
dangerous play and protect the fielders. The batsman may legally play the
ball a second time only to stop the ball hitting the wicket after he has
already played it. "Hit" does not necessarily refer to the
batsman's bat.[30]
- Obstructing the
field:
another unusual dismissal which tends to involve a batsman deliberately
getting in the way (physically and/or verbally) of a fielder.[31]
- Handled the
ball:
a batsman must not deliberately touch the ball with his hand, for
example to protect his wicket. Note that the batsman's hand or glove
counts as part of the bat while the hand is holding the bat, so batsmen
are frequently caught off their gloves (i.e. the
ball hits, and is deflected by, the glove and can then be caught).[32]
- Timed out; means that the next batsman was not ready to receive
a delivery within three minutes of the previous one being dismissed.[33]
- Retired out: a batsman retires without the
umpire's permission, and does not have the permission of the opposition
captain to resume their innings.[34]
In the
vast majority of cases, it is the striker who is out when a dismissal occurs.
If the non-striker is dismissed it is usually by being run out, but he could
also be dismissed for obstructing the field, handling the ball or being timed
out.
A batsman
may leave the field without being dismissed. If injured or taken ill the
batsman may temporarily retire, and be replaced by the next batsman. This is
recorded as retired hurt or retired ill. The retiring batsman is not out,
and may resume the innings later if he recovers. An unimpaired batsman may
retire, and this is treated as being dismissed retired out; no player is credited with the dismissal. Batsmen cannot
be out bowled, caught, leg before wicket, stumped
or hit wicket off a no ball. They cannot be out bowled, caught,
leg before wicket, or hit the ball twice off a wide. Some
of these modes of dismissal can occur without the bowler bowling a delivery.
The batsman who is not on strike may be run out by the bowler if he leaves his crease before the
bowler bowls, and a batsman can be out obstructing the field or retired
out at any time. Timed out is, by its nature, a dismissal without a
delivery. With all other modes of dismissal, only one batsman can be dismissed
per ball bowled.
Innings closed
An innings
is closed when:
- Ten of the eleven batsmen are
out (have been dismissed); in this case, the team is said to be "all
out"
- The team has only one batsman
left who can bat, one or more of the remaining players being unavailable
owing to injury, illness or absence; again, the team is said to be
"all out"
- The team batting last reaches
the score required to win the match
- The predetermined number of
overs has been bowled (in a one-day match only, commonly 50 overs; or 20
in Twenty20)
- A captain declares
his team's innings closed while at least two of his batsmen are not out
(this does not apply in one-day limited over matches)
Results
If the
team that bats last is all out having scored fewer runs than their opponents,
the team is said to have "lost by n runs" (where n is
the difference between the number of runs scored by the teams). If the team
that bats last scores enough runs to win, it is said to have "won by n
wickets", where n is the number of wickets left to fall. For
instance a team that passes its opponents' score having only lost six wickets
would have won "by four wickets".
In a
two-innings-a-side match, one team's combined first and second innings total
may be less than the other side's first innings total. The team with the
greater score is then said to have won by an innings and n runs,
and does not need to bat again: n is the difference between the two
teams' aggregate scores.
If the
team batting last is all out, and both sides have scored the same number of
runs, then the match is a tie; this result is quite rare in
matches of two innings a side. In the traditional form of the game, if the time
allotted for the match expires before either side can win, then the game is
declared a draw.
If the
match has only a single innings per side, then a maximum number of deliveries
for each innings is often imposed. Such a match is called a "limited
overs" or "one-day" match, and the side scoring more runs wins
regardless of the number of wickets lost, so that a draw cannot occur. If this
kind of match is temporarily interrupted by bad weather, then a complex
mathematical formula, known as the Duckworth-Lewis
method after its
developers, is often used to recalculate a new target score. A one-day match
can also be declared a "no-result" if fewer than a previously agreed
number of overs have been bowled by either team, in circumstances that make
normal resumption of play impossible; for example, wet weather.
Distinctive elements
Individual focus
For a team
sport, cricket places individual players under unusual scrutiny and pressure.
Bowler, batsman, and fielder all act essentially independently of each other.
While team managements can signal to a bowler or batsman to pursue certain
tactics, the execution of the play itself is a series of solitary acts. Cricket
is more similar to baseball than many other team sports in this regard: while the
individual 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's innings may continue for several
hours.
Spirit of the Game
Cricket is
a unique game where in addition to the laws, the players must abide by the
"Spirit of the Game". The standard of sportsmanship has historically been
considered so high that the phrase "it's just not cricket" was coined
in the 19th century to describe unfair or underhanded behaviour in any walk of
life. In the last few decades though, with financial incentives, high-level
cricket has become increasingly fast-paced and competitive, increasing the use
of appealing and sledging, although players are still
expected to abide by the umpires' rulings without argument, and for the most
part they do. Beginning in 2001, the MCC has held an annual lecture named after
Colin Cowdrey on the spirit of the game.[36] Even in the modern game fielders are known to signal to the
umpire that a boundary was hit, despite what could have been considered a
spectacular save (though sometimes they might be found out by the TV replays
anyway).[citation needed] In addition to
this, some batsmen have been known to "walk" when they think they are
out even if the umpire does not declare them out. This is a high level of
sportsmanship, as sometimes a batsman could take advantage of incorrect
umpiring decisions.
Influence of weather
Cricket is
a sport played predominantly in the drier periods of the year. But, even so,
the weather is a key factor in many cricket matches.
Cricket
cannot be played in wet weather. Dampness affects the bounce of the ball on the
wicket and is a risk to all players involved in the game. Many grounds have
facilities to cover the cricket pitch (or the wicket). Covers can be in the
form of tarpaulins laid over the wicket, elevated
covers on wheels (acting like an umbrella) or even hover covers which form an airtight
seal around the wicket. However, most grounds do not have the facilities to
cover the outfield. This means that in the event of heavy rain, a match may be
cancelled, abandoned or suspended due to an unsafe outfield.
Another
factor in cricket is the amount of light available. At grounds without
floodlights (or in game formats which disallow the use of floodlights), umpires
can stop play in the event of bad light as it becomes too difficult for the
batsmen (and in extreme cases, fielders) to see the ball coming at them.
The
sight-screens give a white background which help batsmen pick out the red ball
(or a black background for a white ball).
The
umpires always have the final decision on weather-related issues.
Uniqueness of each field
Unlike
those of most sports, cricket playing fields can vary significantly in size and
shape. While the dimensions of the pitch and infield are specifically
regulated, the Laws of Cricket do not specify the size or shape of the field.[18] The field boundaries are sometimes painted and sometimes
marked by a rope. Pitch and outfield variations can have a significant effect
on how balls behave and are fielded as well as on batting. Pitches vary in
consistency, and thus in the amount of bounce, spin, and seam movement
available to the bowler. Hard pitches are usually good to bat on because of
high but even bounce. Dry pitches tend to deteriorate for batting as cracks
often appear, and when this happens to the pitch, spinners can play a key role.
Damp pitches, or pitches covered in grass (termed "green" pitches),
allow good fast bowlers to extract extra bounce. Such pitches tend to offer
help to fast bowlers throughout the match, but become better for batting as the
game goes on. While players of other outdoor sports deal with similar
variations of field surface and stadium covering, the size and shape of their
fields are much more standardised. Other local factors, such as altitude and
climate, can also significantly affect play. These physical variations create a
distinctive set of playing conditions at each ground. A given ground may
acquire a reputation as batsman friendly or bowler friendly if one or the other
discipline notably benefits from its unique mix of elements. The absence of a
standardised field affects not only how particular games play out, but the nature
of team makeup and players' statistical records.
Types of matches
Cricket is
a multi-faceted sport with multiple formats, varying playing standard and level
of formality and the desired time that the match should last. A pertinent
division in terms of professional cricket is between matches limited by time in
which the teams have two innings apiece, and those limited by number of overs,
in which they have a single innings each. The former, known as first-class cricket, has a duration of three to five
days (there have been examples of "timeless" matches too); the
latter, known as limited overs
cricket because
each team bowls a limit of typically 50 or 20 overs, has a planned duration of
one day only (a match can be extended if necessary due to bad weather, etc.).
Typically,
two-innings matches have at least six hours of playing time each day. Limited overs matches
often last six hours or more. There are usually formal intervals on each day
for lunch and tea with brief informal breaks for drinks. There is also a short
interval between innings.
Amateur
cricketers rarely play matches that last longer than a single day; these may
loosely be divided into declaration matches, in which a specified maximum time
or number of overs is assigned to the game in total and the teams swap roles
only when the batting team is either completely dismissed or declares; and limited overs matches, in which
a specified maximum number of overs is assigned for each team's innings
individually. These will vary in length between 30 and 60 overs per side at the
weekend and the ever popular 20 over format during the evenings. Other forms of
cricket, such as indoor cricket and garden cricket remain popular.
Historically,
a form of cricket known as single wicket had been extremely successful and
many of these contests in the 18th and 19th centuries qualify as important matches. In this form, although each team
may have from one to six players, there is only one batsman at a time and he
must face every delivery bowled while his innings lasts. Single wicket has
rarely been played since limited overs cricket began.
Test cricket
The men wearing black trousers are the umpires. Teams in Test cricket, first-class cricket and club cricket wear traditional white uniforms and use red cricket balls.
Test cricket is the highest standard of
first-class cricket. A Test match is an international fixture between teams
representing those countries that are Full Members of the ICC.
Although
the term "Test match" was not coined until much later, Test cricket
is deemed to have begun with two matches between Australia and England in the 1876–77
Australian season.
Subsequently, eight other national teams have achieved Test status: South
Africa (1889), West Indies (1928), New
Zealand (1929), India (1932), Pakistan (1952), Sri
Lanka (1982), Zimbabwe (1992) and Bangladesh (2000). Zimbabwe suspended its Test
status in 2006 due to its inability to compete against other Test teams,[37]
and returned in 2011.[38]
Welsh players are eligible to play for England, which is in effect an England and Wales team. The West Indies team comprises players from numerous
states in the Caribbean, notably Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad &
Tobago, the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands.
Test
matches between two teams are usually played in a group of matches called a
"series". Matches last up to five days
and a series normally consists of three to five matches. Test matches that are
not finished within the allotted time are drawn. In the case of Test and first-class cricket: the possibility of a draw often
encourages a team that is batting last and well behind to bat defensively,
giving up any faint chance at a win to avoid a loss.[39]
Since
1882, most Test series between England and Australia have been played for a
trophy known as The Ashes. Some other bilateral series have
individual trophies too: for example, the Wisden Trophy is contested by England and West Indies; the Frank Worrell Trophy by Australia and West Indies and
the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy between
India and Australia.
Limited overs
Sir Viv Richards of the West Indies was voted by Wisden as the greatest
One Day
International
batsman of all time.
Standard limited overs
cricket was
introduced in England in the 1963 season in the form of a knockout cup
contested by the first-class county clubs. In 1969, a national league
competition was established. The concept was gradually introduced to the other
leading cricket countries and the first limited overs international was played
in 1971. In 1975, the first Cricket World Cup took place in England. Limited overs cricket has seen
various innovations including the use of multi-coloured kit and floodlit
matches using a white ball. A "one day match", named so because each
match is scheduled for completion in a single day, is the common form of
limited overs cricket played on an international level. In practice, matches
sometimes continue on a second day if they have been interrupted or postponed
by bad weather. The main objective of a limited overs match is to produce a
definite result and so a conventional draw is not possible, but matches can be
undecided if the scores are tied or if bad weather prevents a result. Each team
plays one innings only and faces a limited number of overs, usually a maximum
of 50. The Cricket World Cup is held in one day format and the last World Cup in 2015 was won by the co-hosts,
Australia. The next World Cup will be hosted by England and Wales
in 2019.
Twenty20 is a new variant of limited overs itself with the purpose
being to complete the match within about three hours, usually in an evening
session. The original idea, when the concept was introduced in England in 2003,
was to provide workers with an evening entertainment. It was commercially
successful and has been adopted internationally. The inaugural Twenty20 World
Championship
was held in 2007 and won by India. Subsequent events have been held which were
won by Pakistan (2009), England (2010), West Indies (2012), and Sri Lanka
(2014). The next tournament is scheduled to be held in 2016. After the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 many domestic Twenty20 leagues were
born. First of them was Indian Cricket
League which was
a rebel league since it was not authorized by BCCI. BCCI then formed its official
league called the Indian Premier
League. The
official league went on to become a successful annual affair that attracted
players and audience around the globe, while the Indian Cricket League has been
disbanded. After the success of Indian Premier League, many other domestic
leagues were formed globally. Recently the Twenty20 Champions
League was
formed as a tournament for domestic clubs of various countries. In this league,
competition is between the top domestic teams from the senior cricketing
nations.
National championships
Yorkshire County
Cricket Club
in 1895. The team first became County Championship champions in 1893.
First-class cricket includes Test cricket but the term
is generally used to refer to the highest level of domestic cricket in those
countries with full ICC membership, although there are exceptions to this.
First-class cricket in England is played for the most part by the 18 county
clubs which contest the County Championship. The concept of a champion county has existed since the 18th century but the official
competition was not established until 1890. The most successful club has been Yorkshire County
Cricket Club
with 30 official titles.
Australia
established its national first-class championship in 1892–93 when the Sheffield Shield was introduced. In Australia, the first-class teams
represent the various states. New South Wales has won the maximum number of
titles with 45 to 2008.
National
championship trophies to be established elsewhere included the Ranji Trophy (India), Plunket Shield (New Zealand), Currie Cup (South Africa) and Shell Shield (West Indies). Some of these competitions have been updated
and renamed in recent years.
Domestic
limited overs competitions began with England's Gillette Cup knockout in 1963. Countries usually
stage seasonal limited overs competitions in both knockout and league format.
In recent years, national Twenty20 competitions have been introduced, usually
in knockout form though some incorporate mini-leagues.
Club cricket
A typical
club cricket match in England.
Club cricket is a mainly amateur, but still
formal, form of the sport of cricket, usually involving teams playing in
competitions at weekends or in the evening. There is a great deal of variation
in game format although the Laws of Cricket are always observed.
Club
cricket is frequently organised in a league or cup format. Games are limited by
either time or overs. Limited overs games usually last between 20 and 60 overs
per innings. A less common, but more traditional, format is limiting the game
by time only. Games can range from a few hours in the evening to two days long.
A modern innovation is the introduction of Twenty20 competitions, both as a format in the existing leagues and
new leagues solely based on Twenty20, such as LastManStanding.
Standards
of play can vary from semi-professional to occasional recreational level and
club cricket is often enjoyed as much for the social element as for the
competition. Most clubs have their own ground to play on regularly, often
including a field and pavilion or club house. An exception being 'Wandering
Sides' who use other's grounds.
Many
leagues have been formed around the world of varying degrees of
professionalism, the oldest being the Birmingham
& District Premier League in the Birmingham area of England, founded in 1888.
Other types of matches
There are
numerous variations of the sport played throughout the world that include indoor cricket, French cricket, beach cricket, Kwik cricket and all sorts of card games and
board games that have been inspired by cricket. In these variants, the rules
are often changed to make the game playable with limited resources or to render
it more convenient and enjoyable for the participants.
Indoor Cricket was first invented in 1970.[40] It is similar to outdoor cricket except that is played in
an indoor sports hall with 6 players per team. It is extremely popular in the
UK with national championships and multiple independent leagues. Another less
formal version of indoor cricket is played in a smaller arena with a
soft ball and without pads was invented some years later and is commonly played
in the Southern Hemisphere, and even has its own nominal international
championships, including World Cups.
In the UK,
garden cricket is a popular version of the sport,
played in gardens and on recreation grounds around the country by adults and
children alike. Although a cricket bat and ball are generally used, other
equipment such as pads and gloves are not. The exact rules will vary based on
the number of participants and the available space.
Families
and teenagers play backyard cricket or tennis ball cricket in suburban yards or driveways, and
the cities of India and Pakistan play host to countless games of "Gully Cricket" or "tape ball" in their long narrow streets. Sometimes the rules are
improvised: e.g. it may be agreed that fielders can catch the ball with one
hand after one bounce and claim a wicket; or if only a few people are available
then everyone may field while the players take it in turns to bat and bowl.
Tennis balls and homemade bats are often used, and a variety of objects may
serve as wickets: for example, the batter's legs as in French cricket, which did not in fact originate in France, and is usually
played by small children.
In Kwik cricket, the bowler does not have to wait for the batsman to be
ready before a delivery, leading to a faster, more exhausting game designed to
appeal to children, which is often used in physical education lessons at UK schools. Another
modification to increase the pace of the game is the "Tip and Run",
"Tipity" Run, "Tipsy Run" or "Tippy-Go" rule, in
which the batter must run when the ball touches the bat, even if it the contact
is unintentional or minor. This rule, seen only in impromptu games, speeds the
match up by removing the batsman's right to block the ball.
In Samoa a
form of cricket called Kilikiti is played in which hockey stick-shaped bats are used. In original English cricket, the
hockey stick shape was replaced by the modern straight bat in the 1760s after
bowlers began to pitch the ball instead of rolling or skimming it. In Estonia, teams gather over the winter for the annual Ice Cricket tournament. The game juxtaposes the normal summer pursuit
with harsh, wintry conditions. Rules are otherwise similar to those for the
six-a-side game.
International structure
Main articles: International
structure of cricket,
International
Cricket Council,
and World Cricket League
ICC member nations. The (highest level)
Test playing nations are shown in orange; the associate member nations are
shown in yellow; the affiliate member nations are shown in purple.
The
International Cricket Council (ICC), which has its headquarters in Dubai, is the international governing
body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by
representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International
Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.
The ICC
has 104
members: 10 Full
Members that play official Test matches, 34 Associate Members, and 60 Affiliate
Members.[41] The ICC is responsible for the organisation and governance
of cricket's major international tournaments, notably the Cricket World Cup. It
also appoints the umpires and referees that officiate at all sanctioned Test
matches, One Day International and Twenty20 Internationals. Each nation has a
national cricket board which regulates cricket matches played in its country.
The cricket board also selects the national squad and organises home and away
tours for the national team. In the West Indies these matters are addressed by
the West Indies Cricket
Board which
consists of members appointed by four national boards and two multi-national
boards.
Members
Full Members
Full
Members are the governing bodies for cricket in a country or associated countries.
Full Members may also represent a geographical area. All Full Members have a
right to send one representative team to play official Test matches. Also, all
Full Member nations are automatically qualified to play ODIs and Twenty20
Internationals.[42] West Indies cricket team does not represent one country
instead an amalgamation of over 20 countries from the Caribbean. The English Cricket team represents both England and
Wales.
Nation
|
Governing
body
|
Member
since
|
|||
15 July 1909
|
2
|
1
|
8
|
||
26 June 2000
|
9
|
7
|
10
|
||
15 July 1909
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
||
31 May 1926
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
||
31 May 1926
|
6
|
2
|
5
|
||
28 July 1953
|
4
|
8
|
7
|
||
15 July 1909A
|
3
|
4
|
6
|
||
21 July 1981
|
7
|
5
|
3
|
||
31 May 1926
|
8
|
9
|
2
|
||
6 July 1992
|
10
|
12
|
14
|
Top Associate and Affiliate Members
All the
associate and affiliate members are not qualified to play Test Cricket, however ICC grants One Day
International
status to its associate and affiliate members based on their success in the World Cricket League. The top six teams will be awarded One day international and Twenty20
International
status, which will allow the associate and affiliate teams to be eligible to
play the full members and play official ODI cricket.
Nation
|
Governing
body
|
Member
since
|
|
14
|
|||
16
|
|||
11
|
|||
13
|
|||
12
|
|||
15
|
Cricket at international multi-sport events
Ajantha Mendis is the only player to have taken
six wickets in a T20I
Cricket
was played as part of the 1900
Summer Olympics,
when England and France contested a two-day match.[45] In 1998, cricket
was played as part of the Commonwealth Games, on this occasion in the 50-over format. Twenty20 cricket
was under consideration to be part of the 2010 Commonwealth
Games, which
were held in Delhi, but at the time the Board
of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), were not in favour of the short format of the game,
and it was not included.[46]
Cricket
was played in 2010
Asian Games
in Guangzhou, China[47]
and 2014
Asian Games
in Incheon, South Korea.[48] India skipped both times.[49] There was further calls for subsequent Commonwealth Games
and Olympic Games. The Commonwealth Games
Federation asked the
ICC to participate in the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth
Games, but the
ICC turned down the invitation.[50] In 2010, the International
Olympic Committee
recognised cricket as a sport which could apply to be included in the Olympic
Games,[51] but in 2013 the ICC announced that it had no intentions to
make such an application, primarily due to opposition from the BCCI. ESPNcricinfo suggested that the opposition might be based on the
possible loss of income.[52] In April 2016, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson said that Twenty20 cricket can have
a chance of getting in for the 2024 Summer Games, but there must be collective
support shown by the ICC's membership base, in particular from BCCI, in order
for there to be a chance of inclusion.[53]
Statistics
Organized
cricket lends itself to statistics to a greater degree than many other sports.
Each play is discrete and has a relatively small number of possible outcomes.
At the professional level, statistics for Test cricket, one-day internationals,
and first-class cricket are recorded separately. However, since Test matches
are a form of first-class cricket, a player's first-class statistics will
include his Test match statistics – but not vice versa. The Guide to
Cricketers
was a cricket annual edited by Fred Lillywhite between 1849 and his death in 1866. Wisden
Cricketers' Almanack
was founded in 1864 by the English cricketer John Wisden (1826–1884) as a competitor to The Guide to Cricketers.
Its 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 include:
- Innings (I): The number of innings in which the batsman
actually batted.
- Not outs (NO): The number of times the batsman was not out at
the conclusion of an innings they batted in.
- Runs (R): The number of runs
scored.
- Highest score (HS/Best): The
highest score ever made by the batsman.
- Batting average (Ave): The total number of
runs divided by the total number of innings in which the batsman was out.
Ave = Runs/[I – NO] (also Avge or Avg.)
- Centuries (100): The number of innings
in which the batsman scored one hundred runs or more.
- Half-centuries (50): The number
of innings in which the batsman scored fifty to ninety-nine runs
(centuries do not count as half-centuries as well).
- Balls faced (BF): The total
number of balls received, including no balls but not including wides.
- Strike rate (SR): The number of runs scored per 100 balls faced.
(SR = [100 * Runs]/BF)
- Run rate (RR): Is the number of runs a batsman (or the batting
side) scores in an over of six balls.
The basic
bowling statistics include:
- Overs (O): The number of overs
bowled.
- Balls (B): The number of balls
bowled. Overs is more traditional, but balls is a more useful statistic
because the number of balls per over has varied historically.
- Maiden overs (M): The number of
maiden overs (overs in which the bowler conceded zero runs) bowled.
- Runs (R): The number of runs
conceded.
- Wickets (W): The number of wickets taken.
- No balls (Nb): The number of no balls bowled.
- Wides (Wd): The number of wides
bowled.
- Bowling average (Ave): The average number of
runs conceded per wicket. (Ave = Runs/W)
- Strike rate (SR): The average number of balls bowled per wicket.
(SR = Balls/W)
- Economy rate (Econ): The
average number of runs conceded per over. (Econ = Runs/overs bowled).
Scorecards
A match's
statistics are summarised on a scorecard. Prior to the popularisation of
scorecards, most scoring was done by men sitting on vantage points cuttings
notches on tally sticks. The earliest known scorecards were
printed in 1776 by Pratt, scorer to the Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club, but it was many years before his invention
was widely adopted. Scorecards were printed and sold at Lord's for the first time in 1846.
The introduction of scoreboards
revolutionised cricket by allowing spectators to keep track of the day's play.
In 1848, Fred Lillywhite used a portable printing press at grounds to print
updated scorecards. In 1858, the Kennington
Oval introduced the first mobile scorebox, "a house on rollers
with figures for telegraphing on each side". In 1881, the Melbourne Cricket Ground erected the first
cricket scoreboard. The scoreboard, located at the western end of the ground,
gave the batsman's name and method of dismissal
History of cricket in
Bangladesh
The history of cricket
in Bangladesh
predates the foundation of the Bangladeshi state in 1971 by nearly two
centuries. Cricket was introduced to Bengal
by the British in the 18th century but its growth in East Bengal
was slow. Following Partition and the creation of East Pakistan,
both first-class and Test cricket
were played there during the 1950s and 1960s. Although cricket continued to be
popular after independence, especially in Dhaka, the country lost
first-class status and had to establish itself in international competition as
an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). After
winning the 1997 ICC Trophy and making a good showing at
the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh created
its National Cricket League
(NCL) in 1999–2000 to prepare the way for Full Membership of the ICC. This was
granted in 2000 and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was
formally established. In November 2000, the Bangladesh national team
played its inaugural Test match against India at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka. The
2000–01 season saw the beginning of first-class domestic competition as the NCL
was upgraded in status. Development has gathered pace in the 21st century with
a notable improvement in playing standards. Bangladesh has hosted several
international competitions and has successfully launched new domestic
competitions including the lucrative Bangladesh Premier League.
Cricket in Bengal
Cricket was
first introduced into Bengal by the British East India Company in the
18th century and the first cricket matches recorded were in Calcutta in 1792, but matches were possibly played more than a decade earlier and
the sport quickly achieved popularity in western Bengal and neighbouring Bihar. In eastern Bengal, the area which is now Bangladesh, cricket developed
very slowly as the area failed to attract large numbers of European settlers
until the second half of the 19th century. The problems were the region's
predominantly rural character and its lack of infrastructure given that it had
numerous rivers and travel was extremely difficult. The confluence of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra is in central Bangladesh and the
coastal area consists of the Sundarbans mangrove forest and the Ganges Delta. The British saw it as a remote
region with few economic incentives. Improvement was gradual and it was not
until the 1860s and 1870s that the British built the new roads that facilitated
communication. Work was done to improve water supplies, with a consequent boost
to public health, and Europeans began to settle in Dhaka with cricket soon becoming one of their favourite recreational
activities, as had happened elsewhere in India. In 1876, a European XI met and
defeated a Native XVIII in Dhaka. A team representative of Bengal played against G. F.
Vernon's XI, the first English team to visit
the Indian sub-continent, in 1889–90.[2] In January 1923, Bengal took part in the Nagpur Provincial Tournament
with Bombay and a Central
Provinces XI.[3] In 1934, the Board of Control for Cricket in India organised the Ranji Trophy but Bengal did not take part in
1934–35. Bengal achieved first-class status in December 1935 when they played
the Australian
tourists and were defeated by 9 wickets. In January
1936, Bengal joined the Ranji Trophy, playing in the East Zone, and reached the
semi-final where they lost to Madras. In 1937,
Bengal were runners-up and, in 1939, winners of the Ranji Trophy. Throughout
this period, Bengal was essentially a West Bengal team. They were based in Calcutta and played all their matches at Eden
Gardens. The earliest match of note in Dhaka was in
February 1941 when a Bengal Governor's XI played the Bengal Gymkhana at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, then called the Dacca Stadium.With the Partition of British India in 1947, Bengal itself was partitioned with West Bengal remaining an Indian province and East Bengal becoming the eastern wing of Pakistan. In 1955, the western wing became West
Pakistan and East Bengal became the new province of East
Pakistan. The two wings were separated by some
1,600 km (1,000 miles) of Indian territory and, despite their common
religion of Islam, the ethnic and linguistic gulf between the two, compounded
by an apathetic government based in the west, eventually resulted in the independence
of Bangladesh. While Pakistani cricket was strong in the west, there was no
first-class cricket in East Bengal until the 1954–55 season.
Cricket in East Pakistan
Between the 1954–55 and
1970–71 seasons, thirteen East Pakistan first-class cricket
teams played in Pakistan's domestic cricket competitions,
the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and the Ayub Trophy.
Many played in only a single season or two. The most prolific were East Pakistan (nine seasons), Dacca University (four), East Pakistan Greens
and East Pakistan Whites
(three each). Chittagong is a good example of
the sporadic way in which teams from East Pakistan were involved in the
national competitions as they were scheduled to play three matches between
1959–60 and 1965–66 and all were abandoned without play starting. The main East
Pakistan team played first-class matches against the touring Indians in 1954–55 and Marylebone Cricket Club in 1955–56.
East Pakistan staged Test cricket from January 1955 when a match between Pakistan
and India was allocated to the Bangabandhu National Stadium
in Dhaka.
The stadium was used for numerous important matches including Tests through the
1960s. The M. A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong
also dates back to 1954 as a first-class venue but it was not used for Tests
until Bangladesh
played there in 2001. Relations between East and West Pakistan had been tense
since Partition. East Pakistan was plunged into turmoil on 12 November 1970
when Cylone Bhola struck Bengal with
enormous loss of life and devastating impact on the community and economy. The
Pakistani government, based in West Pakistan, was roundly condemned for
procrastination in its response to the crisis. A few weeks later, when the
country's first general election
was held on 7 December, widespread outrage in the East resulted in victory for
the Awami League which was a Bengali
nationalist party under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This led to an
opening of talks between representatives of the East and West wings of Pakistan
about the future of the country's constitution under a national government
headed by the Awami League, and proposals for the division of power between the
central government and the provinces. The talks were unsuccessful in breaking a
deadlock and, on 1 March 1971, Pakistani President Yahya Khan
indefinitely postponed the pending National Assembly session, precipitating
massive civil disobedience in East Pakistan. Three weeks later, Bangladesh
formally declared its independence and the country was plunged into its liberation war which raged through
1971 until intervention by India, in support of the Bangladeshis, on 3 December
1971. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
was short-lived and resulted in Pakistan's capitulation on 16 December 1971,
celebrated as Victory Day in Bangladesh, which
was then established as a new nation. The last first-class match to be
completed in East Pakistan was between a Pakistan Cricket Board XI and the touring
International XI in Dhaka from 26 February to 1 March
1971.[5]
It was drawn and its final day coincided with Yahya Khan's suspension of the
National Assembly, the action which finally triggered the liberation war. The
International XI left Dhaka next day for Lahore
and played one further match there to end their tour. Two Quaid-i-Azam Trophy
matches scheduled to be played in Dhaka during March were both cancelled
because of the national emergency.
Cricket in Bangladesh
1972
to 1977
After independence, the new
state endured poverty, famine, political turmoil and military coups until the restoration of democracy in 1991
which has been followed by relative calm and economic progress. Cricket had to
find its way forward amid the turmoil but it was helped by successive
governments, civil and military, which treated its development with some
importance. In 1972, the government created the Bangladesh Cricket Board, then called the
Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, with a directive to organise cricket in the
new country. In the aftermath of the war, this was no easy task. Barclays
World of Cricket records that, in early 1975, the national stadium in Dhaka
was "in such disrepair (some buildings being shell-torn) that the cricket
square had sunk several inches after years of disuse". The problems of
post-war recovery apart, cricket was popular in Dhaka and the first
organised competition of note was the club-level Dhaka Metropolis Knockout
Tournament staged in February and March 1973. A national club championship
began in 1974–75 and has been held in most seasons to 2015.This gained
sponsorship by the Wills tobacco company from 1983–84, then
by Pepsi
from 1993–94, but it has never been a first-class competition. It has similar status
to league cricket in England
or grade cricket
in Australia.
The worst of the problems had been addressed by the start of the 1976–77
season. In January 1977, the inaugural Bangladesh national cricket team
was selected for a match against the touring MCC
at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. MCC also played
against North Zone, East Zone and South Zone which was the
first time that any of these teams, now in the Bangladesh Cricket League, were selected.
Although the MCC team included some notable county
cricket players such as Mick Norman,
John Barclay, Dan Piachaud
and Nigel Popplewell, their matches on the 1976–77
tour were not first-class. Even so, Bangladesh made a favourable impression on
MCC and it was in 1977 that the country became an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
1978 to 1986
The first full
international team to visit Bangladesh was Sri Lanka in January 1978.
Sri Lanka was then close to ICC Full Member status
(achieved in 1982) and their higher standard was underlined by a series of
innings victories in the three international matches against Bangladesh. The
three-day match in Dhaka starting on 13 January 1978, which Sri Lanka won by an
innings and 9 runs, was Bangladesh's debut in international cricket but the
very low standard of Bangladeshi cricket at the time means that it was not a
first-class match. Sri Lanka also played against a BCB President's XI, South
Zone and Central Zone, the first
time that this team was selected. In early February, the first Indian team to
visit Bangladesh was the Hyderabad Blues who played a single game
in Dhaka against the national team. MCC returned in December 1978 and played
six matches at various locations, five of them against the national team. None
of the 1978 matches were first-class. Bangladesh made their competitive
international debut when taking part in the 1979 ICC
Trophy, held in England between 22 May and 21 June, but failed to
reach the semi-final stage. Captained by Raqibul Hasan, Bangladesh
were in Group B (there were three qualifying groups of five teams each) against
Canada, Denmark, Fiji and Malaysia. Bangladesh
struggled in their opening match against Fiji but were rescued by Ashraful
Haque who took 7–23 to secure a 22-run victory. In the second match,
Bangladesh were well beaten by Canada. They won convincingly against Malaysia
and so needed to defeat Denmark in the last match to qualify for the
semi-finals. It was a close game but Denmark won by ten runs. Denmark won the
group with Canada second and both of these two qualified for the semi-finals,
Bangladesh being placed third. Sri Lanka then defeated Denmark and Canada in
turn to win the tournament. In the 1979–80 season, Pakistan visited
Bangladesh for the first time. It was eight years after the end of the
Liberation War but tensions were still evident. The visit was in January during
a break in Pakistan's six-Test tour of India.
In a two-day match on 2 & 3 January, the Pakistanis played a BCB XI at the
M. A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. The BCB XI played well though each of the
first three innings were ended early by sporting declarations. At tea on the
second day, with the BCB XI struggling to chase a target of 211, there was a
crowd riot which prematurely terminated the game as a draw. Because of the
riot, an international match due to start at the National Stadium two days
later was cancelled.[12]
It was not until January 1994 that the Pakistan national team could safely tour
Bangladesh. In March 1980, an inter-divisional tournament was staged which
included teams from the Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions. It
was the first time that divisional teams were selected and this tournament
anticipated the National Cricket League which was launched twenty years later.
Fortunately, the riot in 1980 did not deter other tourists and MCC returned to
Bangladesh in 1980–81, followed by the Calcutta and Hyderabad
clubs from India in 1981–82. In the 1982 ICC
Trophy, also held in England, Bangladesh reached the semi-finals and
lost to the eventual winners, Zimbabwe. This time, there
were sixteen teams divided into two groups of eight. Bangladesh were in Group
B. Two of their seven matches were abandoned because of bad weather and they
had two very narrow wins against Malaysia, by a single run, and Netherlands, by four runs.
They had only one defeat and so finished second. The defeat was against group
winners Bermuda and it was a heavy one, again
exposing Bangladesh's limitations at this stage of their development.
Bangladesh were bowled out for only 67 and Bermuda needed just 15.5 overs to
win by seven wickets.The limitations were again exposed in the semi-final when
Bangladesh's batsmen could only reach 124, Zimbabwe winning easily by eight
wickets.[14]
Zimbabwe defeated Bermuda in the final and there was another setback for
Bangladesh when they lost the third-place playoff match to Papua New Guinea by three
wickets despite an innings of 115 by Yousuf Rahman.
In 1983–84, Bangladesh hosted a tournament for the first time. This was the
South East Asian Tournament (limited overs) in which the national team played
against Hong Kong, Singapore and a BCB
under-25 XI. Bangladesh defeated Hong Kong by 3 wickets in the final to claim
the country's first international trophy.
The first New Zealand team to visit Bangladesh arrived in 1984–85. This
was the New Zealand Ambassadors who played two limited overs matches in January
against Dhaka University and a BCB Under-25 XI. In March, Sri Lanka returned to
play a single three-day match against Bangladesh, captained by Gazi Ashraf,
in the National Stadium. Bangladesh did well to secure a draw after scoring 139
and 152 for 6 against Sri Lanka's 429 for 9 declared. In the 1985–86 season,
neighbouring Bengal toured Bangladesh and played four
matches against university and BCB teams in February and March. On the basis of
their triumph in the South East Asian Tournament two years earlier, Bangladesh
were invited to take part in the 1986 Asia Cup,
the first edition of this tournament, in Sri Lanka
after India withdrew. On 31 March, Bangladesh
played their first-ever List A-classified Limited Overs International against
Pakistan at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium in Moratuwa.
Captained by Gazi Ashraf, Bangladesh were dismissed for 94 and Pakistan won
easily by seven wickets. Three days later, Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by the
same margin. Writing in 1986, Robin Marlar
expressed positive views about Bangladeshi cricket including his opinion that
the country would, with more encouragement and experience, one day win the ICC
Trophy. He also mentioned the large crowds attending matches and the potential
for thousands more to play the game. In June and July, Bangladesh competed in
the 1986 ICC Trophy, again held in England. As in
1982, there were two qualifying groups and Bangladesh were placed sixth in
Group A after a disappointing campaign.
1987 to 1996
Bangladesh hosted the 1988 Asia Cup,
competing against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the first List A
classified matches to be played in the country. Bangladesh were the rank
outsiders and, as expected, were easily beaten by each of their three
opponents. Gazi Ashraf again captained the team. Five of the tournament's seven
matches, including the final, were played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium
and the other two, both involving Bangladesh themselves, at the M. A. Aziz
Stadium in Chittagong. The tournament was won by India who defeated Sri Lanka
by six wickets in the final. There were visits by the Hyderabad Blues and
Denmark in January and February 1990 to play limited overs games against the
BCB XI and club sides only and none of the matches were List A classified. The 1990 ICC
Trophy in June was held in the Netherlands
and Bangladesh performed with credit, qualifying via two group phases for the
semi-final where they were drawn against Zimbabwe and lost by 84 runs.
Zimbabwe, who won the tournament, were elected to ICC Full Member status soon
afterwards. Bangladesh played in the 1990–91 Asia Cup in India but were well beaten
in their two matches by Sri Lanka and the host nation. In December 1992,
Bangladesh hosted a SAARC
Quadrangular tournament in which their national team competed against the
A-teams of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, all the matches being List A
classified and all to be played in Dhaka at the National Stadium. Bangladesh
defeated Sri Lanka A by seven wickets in the opening game but then lost by five
wickets to Pakistan A. Their third match against India A was interrupted in the
ninth over by a crowd riot and abandoned. It was rescheduled three days later
but with the situation still volatile, it was cancelled along with the final
which would have been India A v Pakistan A.
The situation was calmer the following season (1993–94) when there were
short visits by Zimbabwe (November) and Pakistan (January) to play two limited
overs matches each against the national team. Being friendlies, these games are
not List A-classified. Zimbabwe won their matches by margins of 9 and 13 runs.
Pakistan won their two games by 62 runs and 7 wickets. Although the national
team were having limited success against opponents with greater experience,
domestic cricket in Bangladesh was making progress and expanding. In 1994, the
ICC estimated that there were 93,000 people playing cricket in Bangladesh and,
as a result, playing standards were rising. Bangladesh competed in the 1994 ICC
Trophy in Kenya
and reached the quarter final stage and finished third in their group behind Kenya and the Netherlands. In December
1994, Bangladesh hosted a second SAARC Quadrangular against the A-teams of
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, all the matches being List A classified and all
to be played in Dhaka at the National Stadium. The problems of 1992 were not
repeated and Bangladesh reached the final where they lost to India A by 52
runs. Kenya, one of Bangladesh's main opponents in Associate Member cricket,
visited in January 1995 to play five one-day matches. These were not List A
classified and Bangladesh won all three of the international fixtures.
England's A team visited Bangladesh in February 1995 and played three double
innings matches, not first-class, all against the national team. England A won
the first two and the third, in which Aminul Islam scored a
century, was drawn. Bangladesh were in the 1995 Asia Cup
in Sharjah
against India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka but lost all three of their first round
matches. MCC returned in February 1996 to play a mixture of one-day and
three-day matches.
1997 to 2000
The SAARC Quadrangular returned
to Bangladesh in February 1997, Pakistan A defeating India A in the final.
Bangladesh fared badly and were well beaten in all of their three matches.
Disappointing as that was, only two months later Bangladesh had their first
international success when they won the 1997 ICC
Trophy in Kuala Lumpur. Bangladesh won all five of their
matches in the tournament's Group B to reach the quarter-finals, which were two
more round-robin groups of four. Bangladesh qualified for the semi-finals
defeating Netherlands and Hong Kong while the other game against Ireland was abandoned because of bad
weather. In the semi-final, Bangladesh defeated Scotland by 72 runs. They
were now playing in the final itself against Kenya and winning by two wickets,
scoring the winning run from the last ball of the match. The national team's
debut in official first-class cricket was 17–19 November 1997 at Seddon Park,
Hamilton, New Zealand, against a Northern
Conference team. Bangladesh were guesting in the 1997–98 Shell Conference. They
lost this match by an innings and 151 runs and were similarly outclassed in
their other matches in the tournament. In January 1998, Bangladesh hosted the
List A-classified Coca-Cola Silver Jubilee Independence Cup involving India and
Pakistan. They lost both their matches and India defeated Pakistan in the
final. In 1998–99, Bangladesh hosted the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy (known as the
Wills International Cup) during October and November, although it being for
Test nations only they could not play themselves but providing neutral venue. South Africa won the
tournament. During November, the West Indies A team visited and having
played three List A matches against Bangladesh, starting on 12 November the two
teams played the first-ever first-class match in Bangladesh (i.e., since
independence). West Indies A won by 8 wickets The final of the 1998–99 Asian Test Championship
was played at Dhaka in March 1999, Pakistan winning by an innings and 175 runs
against Sri Lanka. Later that month, Bangladesh hosted Kenya and Zimbabwe for
the List A Meril International Tournament, won convincingly by Zimbabwe. The
Bangladesh team played in the Cricket World
Cup for the first time, having qualified by winning the 1997 ICC
Trophy, for the 1999 tournament in Great Britain. They did
not get past the group stage but had a memorable victory by 62 runs over
Pakistan. Their progress had received recognition and, on 26 June 2000,
Bangladesh became a Full Member of the ICC,
which enabled them to play Test cricket.The board officially changed its
name to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its
president Saber Chowdhury described his country's elevation to Test status as
"the third most historic event in our national life". In May/June
2000, Bangladesh had hosted the 2000 Asia Cup,
won by Pakistan. In November of that year, Bangladesh played their first-ever Test match
against India at the National Stadium, India
winning by 9 wickets.
2001 to 2010
The country's main domestic
competition, the National Cricket League
(NCL), began in 1999–2000 with teams from each of Bangladesh's (then six)
administrative divisions: Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet. In 2000–01, its second season, the
NCL became a first-class competition, sponsored by the Green
Delta insurance company, and won by Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
The 2000–01 NCL involved eight teams playing twelve matches each in two groups.
Four teams qualified for a final stage in which they each played a further
eight games. Group A consisted of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Chittagong,
Rajshahi and Dhaka Division. Group B had Dhaka Metropolis, Khulna, Barisal and
Sylhet. In 2001–02, Ispahani Mirzapore Tea became the sponsor of the NCL in
addition to the new One-Day League, introduced
as the premier limited overs competition. The NCL was reduced to six teams in
2001–02 with Dhaka Metropolis and the champions, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, both
dropping out. Following creation of Rangpur
Division in January 2010 as the country's seventh administrative
region, the NCL in 2011–12 was again expanded to eight teams with the
introduction of the Rangpur team and the return of Dhaka
Metropolis, although the latter had no settled home venue.
2011 to present
The One-Day League was
terminated after the 2010–11 season. The main
List A limited overs competition since then is the Dhaka Premier Division, which began in
2013–14. Bangladesh co-hosted the 2011 Cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. The country was
the sole host of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, the final of
which was played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket
Stadium. In addition, Bangladesh has hosted, in succession, the
three Asia Cup tournaments in 2012,
2014
and 2016.
Bangladesh also continued to do well in test cricket. They have beaten England
and Sri Lanka in 2016-17 session. The win against Sri Lanka was the 100th test
match and 9th winning test match for Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL), another
first-class competition, began in 2012–13. It is played by four teams selected
on a zonal basis (North Zone, South Zone, East Zone and Central Zone) to give
experience to leading players of a higher standard than the NCL and so prepare
them for Test cricket. The winners of the four championships to 2016 have been
Central Zone and South Zone winning two apiece. In April 2015, the BCL staged a
One-Day League, which was won by East Zone. The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) is the
country's main Twenty20
competition. It was founded in January 2012 and despite problems including
match-fixing, it has been a commercial success, said by its promoters to be
second only to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of
global revenue. Although a 2016 tournament is currently (July 2016) uncertain,
it is expected that six franchises will be taking part who are the Barisal Bulls,
the Chittagong Vikings, the Comilla Victorians, the Dhaka
Dynamites, the Rangpur Riders and the Sylhet Super Stars
In the sport of cricket, batting is the act or skill of hitting the cricket ball with a cricket bat to score runs or prevent the loss of one's wicket. A player who is currently batting is denoted as a batsman, while the act of hitting the ball is called a shot or stroke. The term specialist batsman is also used generically to describe players who specialise in batting (as opposed to e.g. bowlers who specialise in bowling), and the term bowler is also used in this context. The latter term can, however, refer to any player during their turn at bat. In women's cricket, the term batswoman is sometimes encountered, as is batter, but the "male" form is widely used in both men's and women's cricket. Cricketers have to adapt to various conditions when visiting international pitches; this is because the type of pitch usually changes. Therefore, batsmen have to also have a good sense of decision making.
During an innings two members of the batting side are on the pitch at any time: the one facing the current delivery from the bowler is denoted the striker, while the other is the non-striker. When a batsman is out, he is replaced by a teammate. This continues until the end of the innings or until 10 of the team members are out, where upon the other team gets a turn to bat.
Batting tactics and strategy vary depending on the type of match being played as well as the current state of play. The main concerns for the batsmen are not to lose their wicket and to score as many runs as quickly as possible. These objectives generally conflict – to score quickly, risky shots must be played, increasing the chance that the batsman will be dismissed, while the batsman's safest choice with a careful wicket-guarding stroke may be not to attempt any runs at all. Depending on the situation, batsmen may forget attempts at run-scoring in an effort to preserve their wicket, or may attempt to score runs as quickly as possible with scant concern for the possibility of being dismissed.
As with all other cricket statistics, batting statistics and records are given much attention and provide a measure of a player's effectiveness. The main statistic for batting is a player's batting average. This is calculated by dividing the number of runs he has scored, not by the innings he has played, but by the number of times he has been dismissed.
Sir Donald Bradman set many batting records, some as far back as the 1930s and still unbeaten, and he is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time.
Orthodox technique and strokeplay
Names of orthodox cricket shots and the directions in which they are hit for a right-handed batsman. The batsman is standing at the centre point facing south. The positions are mirrored for left-handers.
Over time a standard batting technique has been developed which is used by most batsmen. Technique refers to the batsman's stance before the ball is bowled as well as the movement of the hands, feet, head and body in the execution of a cricket stroke. Good technique is characterised by quickly getting into the correct position to play the shot, especially getting one's head and body in line with the ball, one's feet placed next to where the ball would bounce and then swinging the bat at the ball to make contact at the precise moment required for the particular stroke being played.
The movement of the batsman for a particular delivery depends on the shot being attempted. Front-foot shots are played with the weight on the front foot (left foot for a right-hander) and are usually played when the ball is pitched up to the batsman, while back-foot shots are played putting the weight onto the back foot, usually to bowling that is pitched short. Shots may also be described as vertical bat shots, in which the bat is swung vertically at the ball (e.g. when playing a drive or leg glance), or horizontal or cross-bat shots, in which the bat is swung horizontally at the ball (e.g. when playing the pull or cut shot).
While a batsman is not limited in where or how he may hit the ball, the development of good technique has gone hand in hand with the development of standard or orthodox cricket shots played to specific types of deliveries. These "textbook" shots are standard material found in many coaching manuals.
The advent of limited overs cricket, with its emphasis on rapid run-scoring, has led to increasing use of unorthodox shots to hit the ball into gaps where there are no fielders. Unorthodox shots are typically—but not always— more high-risk than orthodox shots due to some aspects of good batting technique being abandoned.
Batting (cricket)
Stance
The stance is the position in which a batsman stands to have the ball bowled to him. An ideal stance is "comfortable, relaxed and balanced",[citation needed] with the feet 40 centimetres (16 in) apart, parallel and astride the crease. Additionally, the front shoulder should be pointing down the wicket, the head facing the bowler, the weight equally balanced and the bat near the back toe.[2] As the ball is about to be released, the batsman will lift his bat up behind up in anticipation of playing a stroke, and will shift his weight onto the balls of his feet. By doing this he is ready to move swiftly into position to address the ball once he sees its path out of the bowler's hand.
Although this textbook, side-on stance is the most common, a few international batsmen, such as Shivnarine Chanderpaul, use an "open" or "square on" stance.
Backlift
Backlift is the term used to describe how a batsman lifts his bat in preparation for hitting the ball.[3]
While the bat should be raised as vertically as possible, coaching manuals often suggest that correct technique is for the bat to be slightly angled from the perpendicular; a common instruction is to point the face of the bat in the direction of first or second slip.[3]
Some players (notably, in recent times, Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag)[4] have employed an exaggerated backlift. Others, who have employed the more unorthodox open stance, such as Peter Willey, had a more abbreviated backlift.
Forward and back
Depending upon the path of the ball, the batsman will either move forward or back in his attempt to intercept it. A forward movement is designated a front foot shot, whereas a backwards movement is designated a back foot shot. A front foot shot is typically used to address a ball arriving at between ankle and thigh height. The batsman will step forward towards the ball, bending his front knee to bring his bat down to the anticipated height of the ball. By moving forwards, the batsman is also able to intercept the ball immediately after it has pitched, thus nullifying any potentially dangerous lateral movement. A back foot shot is typically used to address a ball arriving at between thigh and head height. The batsman will step back and, if necessary, stand on his tip toes to raise his bat to the height of the ball. By stepping back towards the wicket, he also receives the advantage of having an extra small amount of time to react to any unexpected lateral movement or variation in bounce.
Leave
The leave. Note the batsman's head focussed on where the ball had bounced. The bat and hands are held well out of the way of the ball.
The leave is sometimes considered a cricket shot, even though the batsman physically does not play at or interfere with the ball as it passes him. The leave is likely to be used by batsmen during the first few balls they receive, to give themselves time to judge the conditions of the pitch and the bowling before attempting to play a shot. Leaving a delivery is a matter of judgement and technique. The batsman still has to watch the ball closely to ensure that it will not hit him or the wicket; he also has to ensure that his bat and hands are kept out of the path of the ball so that it cannot make accidental contact and possibly lead to him being out caught. Batsmen only leave the ball when they are certain that it will not hit the stumps.
Vertical bat strokes
Vertical bat or straight-bat shots can be played off either the front foot or the back foot depending upon the anticipated height of the ball at the moment it reaches the batsman. The characteristic position of the bat is a vertical alignment at point of contact. Vertical bat shots are typically played with the batsman's head directly above the point of contact so that he is able to accurately judge the line of the ball. At this point the bat can either be stationary and facing straight back down the wicket – known as a block or defensive shot; angled to one side – known as a glance or deflection; or travelling forwards towards the bowler – known as a drive.
Defensive shot
Having taken a long stride, a batsman blocks the ball with a forward defensive shot.
A block stroke is usually a purely defensive stroke designed to stop the ball from hitting the wicket or the batsman's body. This shot has no strength behind it and is usually played with a light or "soft" bottom-hand grip and merely stops the ball moving towards the wicket. A block played on the front foot is known as a forward defensive, while that played on the back foot is known as a backward defensive. The application of these strokes may be used to score runs, by manipulating the block to move the ball into vacant portions of the infield, in which case a block becomes a "push". Pushing the ball is one of the more common ways batsmen manipulate the strike.
Leaving and blocking are employed much more often in first-class cricket (including Test matches), as there is no requirement to score runs as quickly as possible, thus allowing the batsman to choose which deliveries to play.
Glance
A leg glance is a delicate straight-batted shot played at a ball aimed slightly on the leg side, using the bat to flick the ball as it passes the batsman, and requiring some wrist work as well, deflecting towards the square leg or fine leg area. The stroke involves deflecting the bat-face towards the leg side at the last moment, head and body moving inside the line of the ball. This shot is played "off the toes, shins or hip". It is played off the front foot if the ball is pitched up at the toes or shin of the batsman, or off the back foot if the ball bounces at waist/hip height to the batsman. Although the opposite term off glance is not employed within cricket, the concept of angling the bat face towards the offside to deflect the ball away from the wicket for the purpose of scoring runs through the off side is a commonly used technique. This would commonly be described instead as "running (or steering) the ball down to third man".
Drive
A batsman plays a cover drive off the front foot. Notice the stance of the batsman and position of his hands, legs, body and head.
A drive is a straight-batted shot, played by swinging the bat in a vertical arc through the line of the ball, hitting the ball in front of the batsman along the ground. It is one of the most common shots in a batsman's armoury and often the first shot taught to junior cricketers. Depending on the direction the ball travels, a drive can be a cover drive (struck towards the cover fielding position), an off drive (towards mid-off), straight drive (straight past the bowler), on drive (between stumps and mid-on) or square drive (towards point). A drive can also be played towards midwicket, although the phrase "midwicket drive" is not in common usage. Drives can be played both off the front and the back foot, but back-foot drives are harder to force through the line of the ball. Although most drives are deliberately struck along the ground to reduce the risk of being dismissed caught, a batsman may decide to play a lofted drive to hit the ball over the infielders and potentially even over the boundary for six.
Flick
Virat Kohli playing the flick shot in 2015.
A flick shot is a straight-batted shot played on the leg side by flicking a full-length delivery using the wrists. It is often also called the clip off the legs. The shot is playing with the bat coming through straight as for the on drive, but the bat face is angled towards the leg side. It can be played both off the front foot or the back foot, either off the toes or from the hips. The shot is played between the mid on and square leg region. Typically played along the ground, the flick can also be played by lofting the ball over the infield.
Horizontal bat shots
The second class of cricket stroke comprises the horizontal bat shots, also known as cross bat shots: the cut, the square drive, the pull, the hook and the sweep. Typically horizontal bat shots have a greater probability of failing to make contact with the ball than vertical bat shots, and therefore are restricted to deliveries that are not threatening to hit the stumps, either by dint of being too wide or too short. The bat is swung in a horizontal arc, with the batsman's head typically not being perfectly in line with the ball at point of contact.
Cut
A batsman plays a cut off the back foot. Note the balance and weight of the batsman is on his back (right) leg.
A cut is a cross-batted shot played at a short-pitched ball, placing it wide on the off side. The batsman makes contact with the ball as it draws alongside or passes him and therefore requires virtually no effort on his part as he uses the bowler's pace to divert the ball. A square cut is a shot hit into the off side at near to 90 degrees from the wicket (towards point). A late cut is played as or after the ball passes the batsman's body and is hit towards third man. The cut shot is typically played off the back foot, but is also sometimes played off the front foot against slower bowling. The cut should be played with the face of the bat rolling over the ball to face the ground thus pushing the ball downwards. A mistimed cut with an open-faced bat (with the face of the bat facing the bowler) will generally lead to the ball rising in the air, giving a chance for the batsman to be caught.
Square drive
Although confusingly named a drive, the square drive is actually a horizontal bat shot, with identical arm mechanics to that of the square cut. The difference between the cut and the square drive is the height of the ball at contact: the cut is played to a ball bouncing waist high or above with the batsman standing tall, whereas the square drive is played to a wide ball of shin height with the batsman bending his knees and crouching low to make contact.
Pull and hook
A pull is a cross-batted shot played to a ball bouncing around waist height by swinging the bat in a horizontal arc in front of the body, pulling it around to the leg side towards mid-wicket or square leg. The term hook shot is used when the shot is played against a ball bouncing at or above chest high to the batsman, the batsman thus "hooking" the ball around behind square leg, either along the ground or in the air. Pull and hook shots can be played off front or back foot, with back foot being more typical.
Sweep
A sweep is a cross-batted front foot shot played to a low bouncing ball, usually from a slow bowler, by kneeling on one knee, bringing the head down in line with the ball and swinging the bat around in a horizontal arc near the pitch as the ball arrives, sweeping it around to the leg side, typically towards square leg or fine leg. A paddle sweep shot is a sweep shot in which the ball is deflected towards fine leg with a stationary or near-stationary bat extended horizontally towards the bowler, whereas the hard sweep shot is played towards square leg with the bat swung firmly in a horizontal arc. Typically the sweep shot will be played to a legside delivery, but it is also possible for a batsman to sweep the ball to the legside from outside off stump. Attempting to sweep a full straight delivery on the stumps is generally not recommended because of the risk of lbw.
Unorthodox strokeplay
Since a batsman is free to play any shot to any type of delivery as he wishes, the above list is by no means a complete list of the strokes that batsmen choose to play. Many unorthodox, typically high-risk, shots have been used throughout the history of the game. The advent of limited overs cricket has seen the increased use of unorthodox shots to hit the ball into gaps where there are no fielders placed. Unorthodox shots are rarely used in first-class cricket as the pace of the game is slower and it is relatively more important to keep one's wicket than to try to score runs off every ball.
A few unorthodox shots have gained enough popularity or notoriety to have been given their own names and entered common usage.
Reverse sweep
A reverse sweep is a crossbatted sweep shot played in the opposite direction to the standard sweep, thus instead of sweeping the ball to the leg side, it is swept to the off side, towards backward point or third man. The batsman may also swap his hands on the bat handle to make the stroke easier to execute. The batsman may also bring his back foot to the front therefore making it more like a traditional sweep. The advantage of a reverse sweep is that it effectively reverses the fielding positions and thus is very difficult to set a field to. It is also a risky shot for the batsman as it increases the chance of LBW and also is quite easy to top edge to a fielder.
It was first regularly played in the 1970s by the Pakistani batsman Mushtaq Mohammad, though Mushtaq's brother Hanif Mohammad is sometimes credited as the inventor. Cricket coach Bob Woolmer has been credited with popularising the stroke. The most famous example of a reverse sweep backfiring was in the case of Mike Gatting of England against Allan Border of Australia in the 1987 Cricket World Cup Final. With England on course for victory, Gatting attempted a reverse sweep off the first delivery bowled by Border, topedged the ball and was caught by wicketkeeper Greg Dyer. England subsequently lost momentum and eventually lost the match.
Because of the unorthodox nature of hand and body position, it is often difficult to get a lot of power behind a reverse sweep; in many situations, the intention is to glance or cut the ball to the backward leg area. However, in rare occasions, players have been able to execute reverse sweeps for a six. Kevin Pietersen, who pioneered switch hitting, is adept at this, but one could argue[original research?] that the resulting shot is basically a sweep rather than a reverse sweep. A more classic example of such a shot would be Yusuf Pathan's six off Robin Peterson. South Africa's AB de Villiers is well known for his ability to hit sixes with the reverse sweep at ease and Glenn Maxwell also often plays reverse sweep.
Slog and slog sweep
A slog is a powerful pull shot played over mid-wicket, usually hit in the air in an attempt to score a six. A shot would be described as a slog when it is typically played at a delivery that would not ordinarily be pulled. A slog can also be described as hitting the ball to "cow corner". This phrase is designed to imply that the batsman is unsophisticated in his strokeplay and technique by suggesting he would be more at home playing on more rudimentary cricket fields in which there may be cows grazing along the boundary edge. The slog can be an effective shot because all the batsman's power and body weight can be put into swinging the bat at the ball.
A slog sweep is a slog played from the kneeling position used to sweep. Slog sweeps are usually directed over square-leg rather than to mid-wicket. It is almost exclusively used against reasonably full-pitched balls from slow bowlers, as only then does the batsman have time to sight the length and adopt the kneeling position required for the slog sweep. The front leg of the shot is usually placed wider outside leg stump to allow for a full swing of the bat.
Upper cut
An upper cut is a shot played towards third man, usually hit when the ball is pitched outside the off stump with an extra bounce. It is a dangerous shot which can edge the batsman to keeper or slips if not executed correctly. The shot is widely used in modern cricket. The shot is advantageous in fast bouncy tracks and is seen commonly in Twenty20 cricket.
Switch hit
A switch hit is a shot where a batsman changes his handedness and posture to adopt a stance the mirror image of his traditional handedness while the bowler is running in to bowl. As a fielding team cannot manoeuvre fielders while the bowler is in his run-up, the fielding side is effectively wrong-footed with the fielders out of position. The shot was pioneered by Kevin Pietersen, first performed off the bowling of Muttiah Muralitharan in England's 2006 home series against Sri Lanka. It was subsequently used in the New Zealand series in England in 2008 when Pietersen performed the shot twice in the same innings on his way to making an unbeaten century. David Warner, the Australian opening batsman, is also a frequent user of the switch hit and used it to great effect against the Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the first Twenty20 of the Indian cricket team's tour to Australia 2012.
The legality of the switch hit was questioned when first introduced, but cleared by the International Cricket Council as legal. The shot is risky because a batsman is less proficient in the other handedness and is more likely to make a mistake in the execution of his shot.
Scoop / ramp
A scoop shot (also known as a ramp shot, paddle scoop, Marillier shot or Dilscoop) has been used by a number of first-class batsmen, the first being Dougie Marillier. It is played to short pitched straight balls that would traditionally be defended or, more aggressively, pulled to the leg side. To play a scoop shot, the batsman is on the front foot and aims to get beneath the bounce of the ball and hit it directly behind the stumps, up and over the wicket-keeper.
This shot, though risky in the execution, has the advantage of being aimed at a section of the field where a fielder is rarely placed – particularly in Twenty20 and One Day International cricket where the number of outfielders is limited. However the Marillier shot is played over the batsman's shoulder to fine leg, but the basis of the scoop stroke is for the batsman to go down on one knee to a good length or slightly short-of-length delivery off a fast or medium paced bowler and scoop the ball over the head of the wicket-keeper. The scoop shot is a risky shot to play as the improper execution of this shot may lead to a catch being offered. One famous example of the scoop backfiring is of the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Final when Pakistan were 152/9 and needed 6 runs off 4 balls and Misbah-ul-Haq improperly executed this shot resulting in a catch to Sreesanth.
A version of the scoop stroke called the Dilscoop was developed by Sri Lankan right-handed batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20.
Strategy of batting
The fundamental aim of each batsman is to find a means of safely scoring runs against each bowler he faces. To do this, the batsman must take into consideration the bowler's strategy, the position of the fielders, the pitch conditions, and his own strengths and weaknesses. The strategy he will decide on will incorporate a number of preconceived attacking responses to the various deliveries he may anticipate receiving, designed specifically to score runs with minimal risk of being dismissed. The success of this strategy will be dependent upon both the accuracy of its conception and the technical ability with which it is carried out. The level of aggression of his strategy will be informed by the target run rate and the calculated risk of losing his wicket, which will be dependent upon the match situation. As such, strategies vary between the three forms of international cricket, T20, Test cricket and One Day International cricket.
One-Day International cricket
As One Day International matches have a limited set of overs, batsmen try to score quickly. Scoring quickly means trying to score at least one run per ball bowled. Most batsmen manage to score at an average of four runs an over (i.e. four runs in the six ball over).
Before the ball reaches a batsman (left) the bat is held in a high backlift, before stepping forward and swinging through for a forward drive (right).
When a team goes out to bat, the best players bat first. The first three batsmen (number 1, 2, 3) are known as the top order; the next four (numbers 4, 5, 6 and possibly 7) form the middle order, and the last four (numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11) are the lower order or tail.
The specialist batsmen of a team usually bat near the top of the order, so as to score more runs. The openers or opening batsmen are the first two batsmen to take the crease. They are not necessarily the best batsmen, but are expected to negotiate the new ball and not lose wickets until the shine on the ball is considerably diminished (a hard and shiny ball bounces and swings more and is more difficult for the batsmen to face). In addition, they are supposed to play a quick innings (more runs in fewer balls), reflecting the fact that the fielding side is subject to restrictions on the placement of fielders in the first 15 overs which makes it easier to score runs. In a recent amendment [1] to the rules of ODI cricket, fielding captains are given mandatory fielding restrictions for the first 10 overs and then two chunks of 5 overs each, also known as power-play overs, which they may impose at any stage of their choice within the stipulated 50 overs.
Following the openers is the No. 3 or one-drop batsman. His job is to take over from the openers and typically play a careful and prolonged innings, effectively tying up one end of the batting. This brings in some stability in the batting, as new batsmen find it difficult to settle down and it helps to have a settled batsman at the other end. The best batsman of the team is usually put at number 3 or 4, to protect him from the difficulties of batting against the best bowlers on a fresh pitch and to allow him to play a long innings.
The middle order is often considered the most valuable asset of a batting line-up in One-Day Internationals, because its members are responsible for consolidating the batting team's position through the middle part of the 50 overs. Characteristic of middle-order batting is the practice of taking many singles (or ones) and 'twos', with only the occasional boundary (a four or a six), as opposed to the more flamboyant openers who score primarily in boundaries. This is because the fielding restrictions on the opposition are lifted in the middle overs, so that the percentage of boundaries scored decreases. Middle-order batsmen are often chosen for the ability to run hard and fast between the wickets (to maximise the number of runs not scored from boundaries) and for their endurance and patience. The middle order typically sets the stage for an aggressive assault on the bowling in the final 10 overs of the match. To achieve this assault, two things are necessary – a number of hard-hitting batsmen yet to bat or not out and a number of wickets in hand (since aggression means a greater likelihood of losing wickets). The last 10 overs of a one-day cricket match innings is often the most exciting part of the innings, because of the large number of boundaries scored and wickets taken. During the last ten overs of an ODI, batsmen often use shots that are riskier than shots played at the beginning of the innings.
Examples of risky shots include the reverse sweep and the paddle-scoop. These shots are used to achieve a boundary which would not be possible when playing a safer, more orthodox shot. Finally, the lower order consists of the bowlers of the team, who are not known for their batting prowess and so bat as low down the order as possible.
However, there are no real restrictions to the batting positions. Captains have been known to experiment with the batting line-up to gain specific advantages. For example, a lower-order batsman is sometimes sent in at number 3 with instructions to pinch-hit (playing aggressively in an attempt to score more runs in fewer balls – a term borrowed from baseball) to score quick runs and shield better players, as his wicket (as a less accomplished lower-order batsman) is less valuable anyway.
Test cricket
In Test cricket, the usual aim is to score as high a total as possible. As the overs are unlimited, a batsman can take his time to score runs. In general, 90 overs have to be bowled per day in Test match cricket. The openers or the starting batsmen in Test cricket are often chosen for their sound technique and ability to defend their wicket, because the first 1–2 hours of an innings, especially if it begins in the morning, are usually characterised by good conditions for bowling, specifically in terms of the pace and bounce of the pitch and the lateral movement of the ball in the air.
The one-drop batsman is usually also chosen for his sound technique, so as to stabilise his end in case an opener gets out. The middle order of a batting team in Test matches usually includes its most skilled batsmen in terms of shot-playing ability, because during the middle overs of a day batting is relatively easier than in the initial stages of the innings. If the batting innings of a team begins after the last half-hour of the day, the team might employ a nightwatchman to bat after a batsman gets out.
The nightwatchman is usually a lower-order batsman, able to protect his wicket primarily by defending dangerous balls and leaving non-dangerous ones rather than looking to produce a large number of runs for his team, but not a complete rabbit, liable to expose other batsmen late in a day. This move prevents a regular batsman from having to face the last few overs left in the day or bat early the following morning; however, some teams do not employ a nightwatchmen for various reasons, including a belief that middle-order batsmen should be able to protect their wicket in poor conditions as well as good, or a lack of defensively minded lower-order batsmen.
In the third innings, the batting team may score quickly to set a large target to the opposition. This scenario usually occurs on the fourth day's play. The batting captain decides how many overs he is prepared to allow the opposition to chase his total in their fourth innings. He usually declares his team's innings at a predetermined time on the fourth day so that they can bowl at least 20 overs on that day and 90 overs on the last day. A good number of overs to bowl at the opposition team in the fourth innings is essential because usually on the fourth and fifth days of a Test match conditions are good for bowling (especially slow bowling), with the pitch having experienced a fair degree of wear and tear. Thus, to make the target as difficult as possible, the batting side speeds up the run rate (runs per over) till the captain declares.
If, however, a batting team is significantly behind the opposition in terms of runs going into the fourth day of a Test match, typical strategy by the batting team involves playing defensively to avoid losing their wickets. This ensures that they occupy the most time until the match draws to a close on the fifth day, because if a team's innings does not end on the fifth day then the match is drawn, or a stalemate is reached. However, in trying to do so, if the said batting team manages to overhaul its deficit and gain a substantial lead (an excess of runs) over the opposition, the captain may consider declaring the innings so that he can "force" a victory on the final day, depending on the size of his lead, the readiness of his bowlers, and the state of the pitch.
Bowling (cricket)
Bowling, in cricket,
is the action of propelling the ball
toward the wicket
defended by a batsman.
A player skilled at bowling is called a bowler; a bowler who is also a competent batsman
is known as an all-rounder. Bowling the ball is distinguished
from throwing the ball by a strictly
specified biomechanical definition, which restricts the angle of extension of
the elbow. A single act of bowling the ball towards the batsman is called a ball
or a delivery. Bowlers bowl deliveries in
sets of six, called an over.
Once a bowler has bowled an over, a teammate will bowl an over from the other
end of the pitch. The Laws of Cricket govern how a ball must be
bowled.[1]
If a ball is bowled illegally, an umpire will rule it a no ball.[2]
If a ball is bowled too wide of the striker for the batsman to be able to play
at it with a proper cricket shot, the bowler's end umpire will rule it a wide.[3]There are different types of bowlers, from fast bowlers, whose primary weapon is pace, through swing and seam bowlers who try to make the ball deviate in its course through the air or when it bounces, to slow bowlers, who will attempt to deceive the batsmen with a variety of flight and spin. A spin bowler usually delivers the ball quite slowly and puts spin on the ball, causing it to turn at an angle while bouncing off the pitch.
History of bowling
In the early days of cricket, underarm
bowling was the only method employed. Many theories exist about the
origins of cricket. One suggests that the game began among shepherds hitting a
stone or a ball of wool with their crooks and, at the same time, defending the
wicket gate into the sheep-fold (from Anglo Saxon
'cricce', a crooked staff). A second theory suggests the name came from a low
stool known as a 'cricket' in England, which from the side looked like the
long, low wicket used in the early days of the game (originally from the Flemish
'krickstoel', a low stool on which parishioners knelt in church). There is also
a reference to 'criquet' in North-East France in 1478 and evidence that the game
evolved in South-East England in the Middle Ages.In 1706 William Goldwyn published the first description of the game. He wrote that two teams were first seen carrying their curving bats to the venue, choosing a pitch and arguing over the rules to be played. They pitched two sets of wickets, each with a "milk-white" bail perched on two stumps; toss a coin for first knock, the umpire called "play" and the "leathern orb" was bowled. They had four-ball overs, the umpires leant on their staves (which the batters had to touch to complete a run), and the scorers sat on a mound making notches.
The first written "Laws of Cricket" were drawn up in 1744. They stated, "the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes. The stumps must be 22 inches high and the bail across them six inches. The ball must be between 5 & 6 ounces, and the two sets of stumps 22 yards apart". There were no limits on the shape or size of the bat. It appears that 40 notches was viewed as a very big score, probably due to the bowlers bowling quickly at shins unprotected by pads. The world's first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787.
During the 1760s and 1770s it became common to pitch the ball through the air, rather than roll it along the ground. This innovation gave bowlers the weapons of length, deception through the air, plus increased pace. It also opened new possibilities for spin and swerve. In response, batters had to master timing and shot selection. One immediate consequence was the replacement of the curving bat with the straight one. All of this raised the premium on skill and lessened the influence of rough ground and brute force. It was in the 1770s that the modern game began to take shape. The weight of the ball was limited to between five and a half and five and three-quarter ounces, and the width of the bat to four inches. The latter ruling followed an innings by a batter called Thomas "Daddy" White, who appeared with a bat the width of the wicket. In 1774, the first leg before law was published. Also around this time, a third stump became commonplace. By 1780, the duration of an important match was generally three days, and this year also saw the creation of the first six-seam cricket ball. In 1788, the MCC published its first revision of the laws, which prohibited charging down an opponent and also provided for mowing and covering the wicket in order to standardise conditions. The desire for standardisation reflected the massive increase in the popularity of cricket during the 18th century. Between 1730 and 1740, 150 cricket matches were recorded in the papers of the time. Between 1750 and 1760, this figure rose to 230, and between 1770 and 1790 over 500.
The 19th century saw a series of significant changes. Wide deliveries were outlawed in 1811. The circumference of the ball was specified for the first time in 1838 (its weight had been dictated 60 years earlier). Pads, made of cork, became available for the first time in 1841, and these were further developed following the invention of vulcanised rubber, which was also used to introduce protective gloves in 1848. In the 1870s, boundaries were introduced – previously, all hits had to be run; if the ball went into the crowd, the spectators would clear a way for the fieldsman to fetch it. The biggest change, however, was in how the ball was delivered by the bowler.
At the start of the century, all bowlers were still delivering the ball under-arm. However, so the story goes, John Willes became the first bowler to use a "round-arm" technique after practising with his sister Christina, who had used the technique, as she was unable to bowl underarm due to her wide dress impeding her delivery of the ball.[5]
The round-arm action came to be employed widely in matches but was quickly determined to be illegal and banned by the MCC, who stated that "the ball must be delivered underhand, not thrown or jerked, with the hand underneath the elbow at the time of delivering the ball".[6] When it was accepted the rules stated that the arm could not be raised above the shoulder. It was quickly found, however, that a raised arm imparted more accuracy and generated more bounce than the roundarm method. Again, the governing body banned the method. It was not until the method was finally accepted by the MCC in 1835[7] that it grew rapidly in popularity amongst all players. Underarm bowling hitherto had almost disappeared from the game.
Modern-day underarm bowling
An infamous "underarm bowling incident"
occurred during a match in 1981, in which the Australian bowler, Trevor
Chappell, took advantage of the fact that underarm bowling was still legal by
rolling the ball along the ground. By doing so he avoided the possibility that
the New Zealand batsman, Brian McKechnie, would score a six from the last ball
to tie the match, as the bat would not be able to hit the ball high enough to
score a six.[8]As a result of this incident underarm bowling was subsequently made illegal in all grades of cricket, except by prior agreement of both teams, as it was not considered to be within the spirit of the game
The bowling action
The typical bowling action of a
fast bowler.
\.
Bowling the ball is distinguished from simply throwing the ball by a
strictly specified biomechanical definition.Originally, this definition said that the elbow joint must not straighten out during the bowling action. Bowlers generally hold their elbows fully extended and rotate the arm vertically about the shoulder joint to impart velocity to the ball, releasing it near the top of the arc. Flexion at the elbow is not allowed, but any extension of the elbow was deemed to be a throw and would be liable to be called a no ball. This was thought to be possible only if the bowler's elbow was originally held in a slightly flexed position.
In 2005, this definition was deemed to be physically impossible by a scientific investigative commission. Biomechanical studies that showed that almost all bowlers extend their elbows somewhat throughout the bowling action, because the stress of swinging the arm around hyperextends the elbow joint. A guideline was introduced to allow extensions or hyperextensions of angles up to 15 degrees before deeming the ball illegally thrown.
Bowling actions are typically divided into side on and front on actions. In the side on action, the back foot lands parallel to the bowling crease and the bowler aims at the wicket by looking over his front shoulder. In the front on action, the back foot lands pointing down the pitch and the bowler aims at the wicket by looking inside the line of his front arm. Many bowlers operate with a mid-way action with the back foot landing at roughly 45 degrees and the upper body aligned somewhere between side on and front on. This is not to be confused with a mixed action, which mixes distinct elements of both side on and front on actions, and is generally discouraged amongst young bowlers as it can lead to problems in later life due to the twisting of the back inherent in the action.
Goals of bowling
In a game of cricket, the ultimate priority of the fielding side is to
restrict the total number of runs scored by the batting side, and the actions
of the bowlers will be fundamental to achieving this objective. The primary
means of achieving this is by dismissing the batting side by getting all ten of
the opposition wickets as quickly as possible. A secondary objective will be to
keep the batting side's run rate as low as possible. In fact, in most
forms of cricket, the twin aims of the fielding side are targeted concurrently,
as the achievement of one aim tends to have a positive effect upon the other.
Taking regular opposition wickets will remove the better batsmen from the
crease, typically leading to a slowing of the scoring rate. Conversely, slowing
the scoring rate can put additional pressure on the batsmen and force them into
taking extra risks, which will often lead to wickets.Depending upon the format of the match, these two strategies will be given different weights. In an unlimited, timed or declaration match, the main aim of the bowling attack will be to take wickets, so attacking bowling and fielding strategies will be used. In a limited overs match, this aim will also be supplemented by the secondary need to prevent the batting side from scoring quickly, so more defensive strategies will be used. In general, the shorter the number of overs per side, the more priority will be given to this secondary target of maintaining a low run-rate. It is also highly probable that the need for attacking or defensive strategies can switch frequently as a cricket match progresses. It is the sign of a good cricket captain to be able to tell which strategy is most appropriate in any set of circumstances and the best way of implementing it.
Bowling tactics
Jim Allenby in midflight, illustrating the
position of the body during a delivery at the end of a run up, prior to bowling
the ball.
The simultaneous twin objectives of bowling are to take wickets and prevent
run scoring opportunities. Both objectives are achieved through the underlying
aim of bowling the ball in such a way that the batsman is unable to connect
with the ball in the middle of the bat and control its movement after contact.
There are three distinct means of achieving this aim: by bowling the ball on a
good line and length, by bowling with sufficient pace that the
batsman struggles to react to the delivery, or by bowling the ball in such a
way that it has lateral movement as it approaches the batsman, either in
the air or off the ground. A good bowler may be able to combine two of these
skills, a truly great bowler may be able to combine all three.
Line and length
The fundamental skill of bowling on a good length incorporates the ability
to pitch the ball such a distance from the batsman that he is unable to move
forward and drive the ball on the half volley, and is also unable to step back
and play the ball on the back foot. This removes many of the batsman's
attacking options, and also increases the probability of him misjudging a
delivery and losing his wicket. A good length delivery is one in which the ball
has had sufficient time to move far enough off the pitch to beat the bat but
the batsman has not had time to react to the movement and adjust his shot. The
faster the bowler and the greater the movement he is able to generate, the
larger the area of the pitch that can be designated an effective
"good" length.Other areas of the pitch may also often be used as a variation to a good length delivery. Primarily these are the yorker, in which the ball is bowled directly at the batsman's feet as a surprise delivery intended to dismiss the batsman bowled, and the bouncer in which the ball is bowled on such a short length that it rises towards the batsman's throat or head as a means of physical intimidation. But the height of an attempted yorker or full toss must not be higher than the batsman's waist, or else it will be called a no ball beamer, which could have bowlers banned from the match.
The line a bowler chooses to bowl will depend on several factors: the movement he is generating on the ball, the shots the batsman is able to play, and the field the captain has set. The two most common tactics are to either bowl directly at the stumps, or to bowl 3 inches to 6 inches outside the line of off stump. Bowling at the stumps is an attacking tactic with the intention of dismissing the batsman bowled or lbw. It can also be used as a defensive tactic, as the batsman will feel less able to play risky shots knowing that he will be dismissed should he miss the ball. Bowling outside off stump is known as the corridor of uncertainty. When done well, this line may confuse the batsman into whether to defend the ball or leave it, and may tempt him to play away from his body with his head not in line with the ball. The main aim of this tactic is to dismiss the batman caught by the wicketkeeper or in the slips. Other bowling variations, such as bowling wide of off stump or bowling at leg stump are generally seen as negative and defensive tactics.
Some different types of bowling tactic:
Pace
and movement
Other than the ability to land the ball on a strategically optimum line and
length, the main weapons of the bowler are his ability to move the ball
sideways as it approaches the batsman and his ability to deliver the ball at a
high velocity.The velocities of cricket bowlers vary between 40 and 100 mph (64 and 161 km/h). In professional cricket, a bowler in the 40–60 mph range would be said to be a slow bowler, in the 60–80 mph range a medium pace bowler, and a bowler 80 mph+ a fast bowler. In the amateur game, these distinctions would be approximately 10 mph slower. Many professional fast bowlers are able to reach speeds of over 85 mph, with a handful of bowlers in the world able to bowl at 95 mph+. The ability to react to a cricket ball travelling at 85 mph is a skill that only professional and high level amateur cricketers possess. The pace of a bowler not only challenges the reaction speed of the batsman, but also his physical courage. Fast bowlers are able to exploit this by bowling bouncers, either regularly or as an occasional surprise delivery.
Bowlers are also able to get the ball to move sideways by using either spin or swing. Adding a spin to a cricket ball will make it deviate due to the Magnus effect in its flight, and then produce sideways movement off the ground. Swing is obtained by using air pressure differences caused by angling the seam of the cricket ball to produce a lateral movement in the air. Fast bowlers will generally only use swing to obtain movement, but medium pace and slow bowlers will often use a combination of the two. The intention is that in creating movement in the delivery, the batsman will misjudge the line of the ball as it arrives, causing him to miss it entirely, in which case he may be dismissed bowled or lbw, or miss-hit it, in which case he may be out caught.
In order to prevent from becoming predictable, a bowler will typically bowl a variety of different deliveries with different combinations of pace and movement. A tactically astute bowler may be able to spot a potential weakness in a batsman that a particular delivery may be able to exploit. Bowlers will often also bowl deliveries in preplanned sets, with the intention of dismissing the batsman with the final delivery in the set. This is known as "setting a trap" for the batsman. Batsmen and bowlers will often also engage in a game of "cat and mouse", in which the bowler varies his tactics in order to try and trap and dismiss the batsman, but the batsman also keeps adjusting his tactics in response.
Bowling restrictions
In limited overs cricket, there is a limitation on
the number of overs each bowler can bowl. This number depends on the match
length, and is usually 20% of the total overs in the innings.
For example, the usual limit for twenty-over cricket is four overs per bowler,
for forty-over cricket eight per bowler and for fifty-over cricket ten per
bowler. There is, however, no limit on the number of overs each bowler may bowl
in first-class cricket matches, except that no two
overs can be bowled consecutively thus restricting any one bowler from a
maximum of 50% (plus 1 over) of each innings total. The rule also applies in
terms of breaks within a Test innings (Drinks, Lunch and Tea breaks, end of day
and beginning of next day). The rule can only been broken if one finishes the
end of the previous match starts the next match.
Fielding
(cricket)
Fielding in the sport of cricket
is the action of fielders in collecting the ball
after it is struck by the batsman, to limit the number of runs
that the batsman scores and/or to get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or by running
the batsman out. There are a number of recognised fielding positions, and they
can be categorised into the offside and leg side of the field.A fielder or fieldsman may field the ball with any part of his body. However, if while the ball is in play he wilfully fields it otherwise (e.g. by using his hat), the ball becomes dead and five penalty runs are awarded to the batting side, unless the ball previously struck a batsman not attempting to hit or avoid the ball. Most of the rules covering fielders are in Law 41 of the Laws of cricket.
In the early days of Test cricket, fielding was not a priority and many players were sloppy when it came to fielding.[citation needed] Fielding later became more professional, and much later, with the advent of One Day International matches, saving runs became even more important.
Fielding position names and locations
Fielding positions for
a right-handed batsman. The outfield is shown in light green, the infield in
mid green, and the close catching positions in dark green.
There are 11 players in a team: one of them is
the bowler and another is the wicket-keeper,
so only nine other fielding positions can be occupied at any time. Where
fielders are positioned is a tactical decision made by the captain of the fielding team. The captain
(usually in consultation with the bowler and sometimes other members of the
team) may move players between fielding positions at any time except when a
bowler is in the act of bowling to a batsman.There are a number of named basic fielding positions, some of which are employed very commonly and others that are used less often. However, these positions are neither fixed nor precisely defined, and fielders can be placed in positions that differ from the basic positions. The nomenclature of the positions is somewhat esoteric, but roughly follow a system of polar coordinates – one word (leg, cover, mid-wicket) specifies the angle from the batsman, and is sometimes preceded by an adjective describing the distance from the batsman (silly, short, deep or long). Words such as "backward", "forward", or "square" can further indicate the angle.
The image shows the location of most of the named fielding positions based on a right-handed batsman. The area to the left of a right-handed batsman (from the batsman's point of view – facing the bowler) is called the leg side or on side, while that to the right is the off side. If the batsman is left-handed, the leg and off sides are reversed and the fielding positions are a mirror image of those shown.
Catching
positions
Some fielding positions are used offensively.
That is, players are put there with the main aim being to catch out the batsman rather than to stop or
slow down the scoring of runs. These positions include Slip
(often there are multiple slips next to each other, designated First slip,
Second slip, Third slip, etc., numbered outwards from the
wicket-keeper—collectively known as the slips cordon) meant to catch
balls that just edge off the bat; Gully; Fly slip; Leg slip;
Leg gully; the short and silly positions. Short leg, also
known as bat pad, is a position specifically intended to catch balls
that unintentionally strike the bat and leg pad, and thus end up only a metre
or two to the leg side.
Other
positions
Other positions worth noting include:- Wicket-keeper
- Long
stop, who stands behind the wicket-keeper towards the boundary (usually
when a wicket-keeper is believed to be inept and almost never seen in
professional cricket). This position is sometimes euphemistically referred
to as very fine leg.[1]
- Sweeper,
an alternative name for deep cover, deep extra cover or deep
midwicket (that is, near the boundary on the off side or the on side),
usually defensive and intended to prevent a four being
scored.
- Cow
corner, an informal jocular term for the position on the boundary between deep
midwicket and long on.
- on
the 45. A position on the leg side 45° behind square, defending the
single. An alternative description for backward short leg or short fine
leg.
Modifiers
Example of two close
fielders: a short leg and a silly point stand close to the
batsmen on either side of the pitch. They are both wearing protective equipment
(helmets and leg pads). The wicket keeper is 'standing up' to the
stumps, and the square leg umpire is also visible.
Saving one
or On the single
As
close as the fielder needs to be to prevent the batsmen from running a quick
single, normally about 15–20 yards (14–18 m) from the wicket.
Saving two
As
close as the fielder needs to be to prevent the batsmen from running two runs,
normally about 50–60 yards (46–55 m) from the wicket.
Right on
Literally,
right on the boundary.
Deep,
long
Farther
away from the batsman.
Short
Closer
to the batsman.
Silly
Square
Fine
Closer
to an extension of an imaginary line along the middle of the pitch bisecting
the stumps, when describing a fielder behind square.
Straight
Closer
to an extension of an imaginary line along the middle of the pitch bisecting
the stumps, when describing a fielder in front of square.
Wide
Further
from an extension of an imaginary line along the middle of the pitch bisecting
the stumps.
Forward
In
front of square; further towards the end occupied by the bowler and
further away from the end occupied by the batsman on strike.
Backward
Behind
square; further towards the end occupied by the batsman on strike and
further away from the end occupied by the bowler.
Additionally, commentators or spectators
discussing the details of field placement will often use the terms for
descriptive phrases such as "gully is a bit wider than normal"
(meaning he is more to the side than normal) or "mid off is standing too
deep, he should come in shorter" (meaning he is too far away and should be
positioned closer to the batsman).
Restrictions on field placement
Fielders may be placed anywhere on the field,
subject to the following rules. At the time the ball is bowled:- No
fielder may be standing on or with any part of his body over the pitch (the
central strip of the playing area between the wickets). If his body casts
a shadow over the pitch the shadow must not move until after the batsman
has played (or had the opportunity to play) at the ball.
- There
may be no more than two fielders, other than the wicket-keeper, standing
in the quadrant of the field behind square leg. See Bodyline for
details on one reason this rule exists.
- In
some one-day matches:
- During
designated overs of an innings (see Powerplay), there may be no more than two
fielders standing outside an oval line marked on the field, being
semicircles centred on the middle stump of each wicket of radius 30
yards, joined by straight lines parallel to the pitch. This is known as
the fielding circle.
- For
overs no. 11-40(powerplay 2), no more than four fielders should be
outside 30 yard circle.
- For
overs no. 41-50(powerplay 3) maximum of five fielders could be outside 30
yard circle.
The
restriction for one-day cricket is designed to prevent the fielding team from
setting extremely defensive fields and concentrating solely on preventing the
batting team from scoring runs.
If any of these rules is violated, an umpire will call the delivery a no ball.
Additionally a player may not make any significant movement after the ball
comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker. If this happens, an
umpire will call and signal 'dead ball'. For close fielders anything other than
minor adjustments to stance or position in relation to the striker is
significant. In the outfield, fielders may move in towards the striker or
striker's wicket; indeed, they usually do. However, anything other than slight
movement off line or away from the striker is to be considered significant.
Tactics of field placement
With only nine fielders (apart from the bowler
and wicket-keeper), the captain of the fielding team must decide which fielding
positions to cover, and which to leave vacant. The placement of fielders is one
of the major tactical considerations for the fielding captain.
Attacking
and defending
The main decision for a fielding captain is to
strike a balance between setting an attacking field and a defensive
field. An attacking field is one in which fielders are positioned in such a way
that they are likely to take catches, and thus likely to get the batsman out.
Such a field generally involves having many fielders close to the batsman,
especially multiple slips (in what is termed a cordon) and a gully:
common positions for catching mishit shots.A defensive field is one in which most of the field is covered by a fielder; the batsman will therefore find it hard to score large numbers of runs. This generally involves having many fielders far from the batsman and in front of him, in the positions where he is most likely to hit the ball.
Many elements govern the decisions on field placements, including: the tactical situation in the match; which bowler is bowling; how long the batsman has been in; the wear on the ball; the state of the wicket; the light; or even how close you are to an interval in play.
Some general principles:
Attack…
…
new batsmen
Lack
of familiarity means a batsman early in his innings is more likely to make a
miscalculated or rash shot, so it pays to have catching fielders ready.
…
with the new ball
Fast bowlers
get the most swing and bounce with a newer ball,
factors that make it harder to bat without making an error.
…
when returning from a break in play
Batsmen
must settle into a batting rhythm again when resuming play after a break (new
session, bad weather, injury etc.). While doing so, they are more likely to
make mistakes.
…
with quality bowlers
A
team's best bowlers tend to deliver the most difficult balls to hit, so they
get the most benefit from the support of an attacking field.
…
when the pitch helps the bowler
A
moist pitch helps fast bowlers get unpredictable seam-movement of the ball,
while a dry, crumbling pitch helps spin bowlers get unpredictable spin and
damp, overcast conditions help swing bowlers. All three situations can lead to
catches flying to close attacking fielders.
…
when the batting team is under pressure
If
the batting team is doing poorly or has low morale, increase the pressure by
attacking with the field.
…
when the batting side are playing for a draw
when
a team is a long way behind in a first-class game and there is not much time
left to play, it becomes more important to bowl out the side and finish the
game than to control runs.
Defend…
…
when batsmen are settled in
It
is difficult to get batsmen out when they have been batting for a long time and
are comfortable with the bowling. The best tactic is often to defend and force
the run scoring rate to slow down, which can frustrate the batsman into playing
a rash shot.
…
when the batting team needs to score runs quickly
In
situations where the batting team must score quickly in order to win or press
an advantage (e.g. the "death overs" at the end of a
limited-over innings), slowing down the scoring becomes more important than
trying to dismiss the batsmen.
…
when the batting team is scoring quickly
If
the batsmen are managing to score runs quickly, it is unlikely they are
offering many chances to get them out, so reduce the run scoring rate.
…
when the ball and pitch offer no help to the bowlers
If
there is no movement of the ball and the batsmen can hit it comfortably every
time, there is little point in having lots of close catching fielders.
…
when using weak bowlers
If
a relatively poor bowler must bowl for any reason, the best tactic is often to
limit the potential damage by containing the free scoring of runs.
Off-
and leg-side fields
Another consideration when setting a field is how
many fielders to have on each side of the pitch. With nine fielders to place,
the division must necessarily be unequal, but the degree of inequality varies.When describing a field setting, the numbers of fielders on the off side and leg side are often abbreviated into a shortened form, with the off side number quoted first. For example, a 5–4 field means 5 fielders on the off side and 4 on the leg side.
Usually, most fielders are placed on the off side. This is because most bowlers tend to concentrate the line of their deliveries on or outside the off stump, so most shots are hit into the off side.
When attacking, there may be 3 or 4 slips and 1 or 2 gullies, potentially using up to six fielders in that region alone. This would typically be accompanied by a mid off, mid on, and fine leg, making it a 7–2 field. Although there are only two fielders on the leg side, they should get relatively little work as long as the bowlers maintain a line outside off stump. This type of field leaves large gaps in front of the wicket, and is used to entice the batsmen to attack there, with the hope that they make a misjudgment and edge the ball to the catchers waiting behind them.
As fields get progressively more defensive, fielders will move out of the slip and gully area to cover more of the field, leading to 6–3 and 5–4 fields.
If a bowler, usually a leg spin bowler, decides to attack the batsman's legs in an attempt to force a stumping, bowl him behind his legs, or induce a catch on the leg side, the field may stack 4–5 towards the leg side. It is unusual to see more than 5 fielders on the leg side, because of the restriction that there must be no more than two fielders placed behind square leg.
Sometimes a spinner will bowl leg theory and have seven fielders on the leg side, and will bowl significantly wide of the leg stump to prevent scoring. Often the ball is so wide that the batsman cannot hit the ball straight of mid-on while standing still, and cannot hit to the off side unless they try unorthodox and risky shots such as a reverse sweep or pull, or switch their handedness. The batsman can back away to the leg side to hit through the off side, but can expose their stumps in doing so.
The reverse tactic can be used, by fast and slow bowlers alike, by placing seven or eight fielders on the off side and bowling far outside off stump. The batsman can safely allow the ball to pass without fear of it hitting the stumps, but will not score. If they want to score they will have to try and risk an edge to a wide ball and hit through the packed off side, or trying and drag the ball from far outside the stumps to the sparsely-populated leg side.
Another attacking placement on the leg side is the leg side trap, which involves placing fielders near the boundary at deep square and backward square leg and bowling bouncers to try to induce the batsman to hook the ball into the air. For slower bowlers, the leg trap fieldsmen tend to be placed within 10–15 m from the bat behind square, to catch leg glances and sweeps.
Welcome
to the greatest game of all – Cricket. This topic will help explain to an
absolute beginner some of the 17 basic rules of cricket.
Although
there are many more rules in cricket than in many other sports, it is well
worth your time learning them as it is a most rewarding sport. Whether you are
looking to play in the backyard with a mate or join a club Cricket-Rules will
help you learn the basics and begin to enjoy one of the most popular sports in
the world.
The
game is ever popular, with many fans attending to watch their local and
national teams, the craze is always growing. With a number of big tournaments
like The Ashes, IPL League and the granddaddy of them all, the ICC World Cup
Cricket 2019! The game of cricket is highly
popular, and the number of cricket betting fans who place bets on their national and local
teams is also growing. Cricket is a game played with a bat and ball on a large
field, known as a ground, between two teams of 11 players each.
The
object of the game is to score runs when at bat and to put out, or dismiss, the
opposing batsmen when in the field. The cricket rules displayed on this page
here are for the traditional form of cricket which is called “Test Cricket”.
However
there are other formats of the game eg. 50 over matches, Twenty20 Cricket etc
where the rules differ slightly.
Player:
Official Cricket Rules
Cricket
is a game played between two teams made up of eleven players each. There is
also a reserve player called a “twelfth man” who is used should a player be
injured during play. The twelfth man is not allowed to bowl, bat, wicket keep
or captain the team. His sole duty is to act as a substitute fielder.The
original player is free to return to the game as soon as they have recovered
from their injury. To apply the law and make sure the cricket rules are upheld
throughout the game there are two umpires in place during games. Umpires are
responsible for making decisions and notifying the scorers of these decisions.
Two umpires are in place on the playing field while there is also a third
umpire off the field who is in charge of video decisions. This is where the
call is too close for the on field umpires and they refer it to the third
umpire who reviews slow motion video replays to make a decision.
Game Structure
Test
cricket is a game that spans over two innings. This means that one team needs
to bowl the other team out twice and score more runs then them to win the
match. Another key difference between test cricket and other forms of cricket is
the length of the innings. In test cricket there is no limit to the innings
length. Whereas in one day cricket & Twenty20 cricket there are a certain
amount of overs per innings. The only limits in test cricket is a 5 day length.
Before the game begins an official will toss a coin. The captain who guesses
the correct side of the coin will then choose if they want to bat or field
first. One team will then bat while the other will bowl & field. The aim of
the batting team is to score runs while the aim of the fielding team is to bowl
ten people out and close the batting teams’ innings. Although there are eleven
people in each team only ten people need to be bowled out as you cannot have
one person batting alone. Batting is done in pairs.
Once
the first team has been bowled out the second team would then go into bat. Once
the second team is then bowled out it would normally return to the first team
batting again. However there is an exception to this in the cricket rules, it
is called the follow-on. The follow-on is when the first team makes at least
200 runs more than the second team made (in a 5 day test match). This then
gives the first team the option to make the second team bat again. This is
particularly useful if the game is progressing slowly or affected by bad
weather and there might not be enough time for both teams to play a full
innings. Should this be the case the batting team’s captain also has the right
to forfeit their innings at any time. This is called a declaration. Some may
wonder why a captain would forfeit the opportunity for his team to bat. However
if the game is coming close to a close and it looks like they will not be able
to bowl the other team out again this could be an option. If one team is not
bowled out twice and a winner determined in the five days of play the game is
declared a draw. Therefore it may be worth declaring an innings to creat the
possibility of a win rather than a draw.
Ways
to score runs
The
aim of the batsmen is to score runs. One of the main cricket rules is that for
batsmen to score runs they must run to each other’s end of the pitch (from one
end to the other). In doing this one run is scored. Cricket rules state they
may run multiple runs per shot. As well as running they can also score runs by
hitting boundaries. A boundary scores the batsmen either 4 or 6 runs. A four is
scored by hitting the ball past the boundary after hitting the ground while a
six is scored by hitting the ball past the boundary on the full (before it hits
the ground). Cricket rules also state that once a 4 or 6 has been scored any
runs physically ran by the batsman are null & void. They will only obtain
the 4 or 6 runs. Other ways runs can be scored according to the cricket rules
include no balls, wide balls, byes & leg byes. Cricket rules state that all
runs scored by these methods are awarded to the batting team but not the
individual batters.
- A “No Ball” can be
declared for many reasons: If the bowler bowls the ball from the wrong
place, the ball is declared dangerous (often happens when bowled at the
batsmen’s body on the full), bounces more than twice or rolls before
reaching the batsman or if fielders are standing in illegal positions. The
batsman can hit a no ball and score runs off it but cannot be out from a
no ball except if they are ran out, hit the ball twice, handle the ball or
obstruct the field. The batsman gains any runs scored off the no ball for
his shot while the team also gains one run for the no ball itself.
- A “Wide Ball” will be
declared if the umpire thinks the batsman did not have a reasonable
opportunity to score off the delivery. However if the delivery is bowled
over the batsmen’s head it will not be declared a wide but a no ball.
Umpires are much stricter on wide deliveries in the shorter format of the
game while being much more relaxed in test cricket. A wide delivery will
add one run to the batting team and any runs scored by the batsman. The
batsman is not able to get out off a wide delivery except if they are
stumped, run out, handle the ball, hit their wicket or obstruct the field.
- A “Bye” is where a ball
that isn’t a no ball or wide passes the striking batsman and runs are
scored without the batsman hitting the ball.
- A “Leg Bye” is where
runs are scored by hitting the batsman, but not the bat and the ball is not
a no ball or wide. However no runs can be scored if the striking batsman
didn’t attempt to play a shot or if he was avoiding the ball.
Ways
Batsmen can be given out according to cricket rules
There
are a number of different ways a batsman can be given out in the game of
cricket. When a bowler gets a batsman out it is said that the bowler gets a
“wicket”. Following are the different ways a batsman can be given out according
to the rules of cricket:
- Bowled – Cricket rules state that if the ball is bowled and
hits the striking batsman’s wickets the batsman is given out (as long as
at least one bail is removed by the ball). It does not matter whether the
ball has touched the batsman’s bat, gloves, body or any other part of the
batsman. However the ball is not allowed to have touched another player or
umpire before hitting the wickets.
- Caught – Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits the ball
or touches the ball at all with his bat or hand/glove holding the bat then
the batsman can be caught out. This is done by the fielders, wicket keeper
or bowler catching the ball on the full (before it bounces). If this is
done then cricket rules state the batsman is out.
- Leg Before Wicket (LBW) – If the ball is bowled and it hits the batsman first
without the bat hitting it then an LBW decision is possible. However for
the umpire to give this out he must first look at some of the factors
stated in the cricket rules. The first thing the umpire need to decide is
would the ball have hit the wickets if the batsman was not there. If his
answer to this is yes and the ball was not pitched on the leg side of the
wicket he can safely give the batsman out. However if the ball hits the
batsman outside the line of off stump while he was attempting to play a
stroke then he is not out.
- Stumped – A batsman can be given out according to cricket
rules when the wicketkeeper puts down his wicket while he is out of his
crease and not attempting a run (if he is attempting a run it would be a
runout).
- Run Out – Cricket rules state that a batsman is out if no part
of his bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease while the ball is
in play and the wicket is fairly put down by the fielding side.
- Hit Wicket – Cricket rules specify that if a batsman hits his
wicket down with his bat or body after the bowler has entered his delivery
stried and the ball is in play then he is out. The striking batsman is
also out if he hits his wicket down while setting off for his first run.
- Handled The Ball – Cricket rules allow the batsman to be given out if
he willingly handles the ball with the hand that is not touching the bat
without the consent of the opposition.
- Timed Out – An incoming batsman must be ready to face a ball or
be at the non strikers end with his partner within three minutes of the
outgoing batsman being dismissed. If this is not done the incoming batsman
can be given out.
- Hit The Ball Twice – Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits a ball
twice other than for the purpose of protecting his wicket or with consent
from the opposition he is out.
- Obstructing The Field – A batsman is out if he willingly obstructs the
opposition by word or action
Major Cricket competition in
Bangladesh
ü National Cricket League (NCL)
ü Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL)
ü Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)
ü Bangladesh Domestic Cricket League
o
1st
Division Cricket League
o
2nd
Division Cricket League
o
3rd
Division Cricket League
o
Age
Level Cricket Tournament
o
Inter-School/College/University
Cricket League.
National Cricket
League (NCL)
The National Cricket League was inaugurated in the
1999–2000 season but was not then first-class. Bangladesh became the tenth Full
Member of the ICC in 2000 and the league became first-class in the 2000–01
season. Limited-overs and Twenty20 tournaments with the same name have also
been played in the past.
Since 2011-12 there have been eight teams in the
league, which usually runs from October to December. From 2011–12 to 2014–15
each team played each other team once over the course of the season. In 2015–16
and 2016-17 there was a two-tier league: Rangpur, Khulna, Dhaka Division and
Dhaka Metropolis were in the first tier in 2015-16, and Rajshahi, Sylhet,
Barisal and Chittagong in the second for the 2016-17 season Barisal were
promoted to tier 1 and Rangpur demoted to tier 2.
The league is also known under its main sponsor's
name. In 2015–16 it was officially the "Walton LED TV 17th National
Cricket League"
Team
|
Home
Ground
|
Participation
|
Titles
|
from
1999–2000
|
0
|
||
2000–01
only
|
1
|
||
from
1999–2000
|
1
|
||
from
1999–2000
|
5
|
||
2000-01
and from 2011–12
|
0
|
||
from
1999–2000
|
5
|
||
from
1999–2000
|
5
|
||
from
2011–12
|
1
|
||
from
1999–2000
|
0
|
Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL)
The
Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) was inaugurated in the 2012-13 season as a
four-team first-class tournament comprising the best-performing players from
the eight-team National Cricket
League (NCL).
The aim was to raise the level of the nation's top first-class competition and
so prepare players better for Test cricket.[1]
The BCL
consists of four zonal teams, each made up of players from teams representing
two adjacent regions in the NCL. The teams are as follows:
- Central Zone:
players from Dhaka Division
and Dhaka Metropolis
- South Zone:
players from Khulna Division
and Barisal Division
- East Zone:
players from Sylhet Division
and Chittagong Division
- North Zone:
players from Rajshahi Division and Rangpur Division
Each team
is owned and officially named as a franchise: Walton Central Zone, Prime Bank
South Zone, Islami Bank East Zone, and BCB North Zone. The owners have remained
unchanged since the beginning. The Bangladesh Cricket
Board (BCB) has
been unable to find a buyer for the North Zone franchise.The matches are played
on a limited number of nominally neutral grounds, without home and away
matches.
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)
The Bangladesh
Premier League (BPL) is a professional cricket league consisting of seven teams, based on
the seven largest cities of Bangladesh. The BPL is one of the three professional
cricket leagues
in Bangladesh. The BPL starts in November and each team face each other twice
in the league stage. Following the conclusion of the regular season, four teams
advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination game and two qualifier games
culminating in the Championship game, between the winner of Eliminator and
Qualifier two.
The
Bangladesh Premier League was formed in 2011 by the Bangladesh Cricket Board,
after the suspension of its predecessor organization, National Cricket
League. The
first season was held during February 2012, and the games were held across Dhaka and Chittagong. Today, the BPL is one of the most
popular T20 leagues in the world. The BPL is headed by the chairman of the
Governing Council.
The team
with the most BPL titles are the Dhaka Dynamites with three titles, including
two consecutive titles during the first two seasons of the tournament. Comilla
Victorians are the only other team to win a championship. The current champions
are the Dhaka Dynamites, who defeated the Rajshahi Kings in BPL
IV. The league draws many highly
skilled professional cricketers from all over the world, and currently has
players from approximately 11 countries.
History….
Following
the success of franchise Twenty20
cricket leagues such as the Indian Premier League around the world, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced a plan to replace the National Cricket League
with a franchise based league. On 18 January 2012 the board entered into a
6-year, 350-crore deal with Game On Sports Group to establish a franchise
tournament. The deal gave the group exclusive management rights to the
tournament. The league founded with six franchises from the largest cities of
Bangladesh. During the franchise auction 13 companies took part in the bidding
process, with six winning the rights of each clubs. The auction fetched 305-crores,
with Chittagong Kings
being the most expensive.
The
first edition of the league was officially launched on 9 February 2012, in a
lavish opening ceremony at , home of Bangladesh Cricket. The initial player
auction was held on 18 and 19 January 2012 and the first match in the
tournament staged on 9 February 2012 at the Sher-e-Bangla
National Cricket Stadium between Sylhet
Royals and Barisal
Burners. The first championship game was
between Dhaka Gladiators
and Barisal Burners, with Dhaka Gladiators emerging as champions after winning
by eight wickets. All matches in the first edition of the league were held at the
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium and Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Rangpur
Riders were added as a seventh team for
the 2012–13 season following the addition of Rangpur as the seventh
administrative division of Bangladesh. Dhaka Gladiators again emerged as
champions beating Chittagong Kings in the final by 43 runs. Sher-e-Bangla
Cricket Stadium in Dhaka hosted most matches while the MA Aziz Stadium replaced
the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in
Khulna hosted matches of the tournament for the time in 2013.
Following
accusations of match fixing during the 2012–13 season, the owners of all six
original franchises were suspended in 2013 due to constant violations of the
league regulations and delays in making payments to players. The owners of Dhaka
Gladiators were handed a lifetime suspension
by the governing committee. A number of players and administrators were handed bans for
match fixing, including the captain of Bangladesh Mohammad
Ashraful.
Following
the match fixing scandal, the league was not played in either the 2013–14 or
2014–15 season. It returned in the 2015–16 season with six new franchises and matches played in the run up to
the Victory Day national holiday in mid December. Comilla Victorians
won the competition, beating Barisal Bulls by three wickets. In advance of the 2016–17 edition of
the league one franchise, the Sylhet Super Stars,
was suspended following breaches of disciplinary regulations[2] and two new franchises, Khulna
Titans and Rajshahi
Kings, were introduced bringing the
number of teams in the competition back to seven.
In
the 2017–18 edition of
the league, the Sylhet franchise returned
under the Surma Sixers Sylhet
with new ownership and management bringing back the number of teams to eight.
As a result Sylhet was also listed as a third venue. The Barisal
Bulls franchise was suspended due to
financial issues
League organization
|
At
a corporate level, the Bangladesh Premier League considers itself an
association made up of and financed by its member teams. All income
generated through television rights, licensing agreements, sponsorship,
ticket sales and other means is earned and shared between the Bangladesh
Cricket Board and the participating
franchises. The league is controlled by a Governing Council (GC). As the
parent organisation, the Bangladesh
Cricket Board appoints the GC's members.
As
of the 2017–18 season,
the league consists of seven franchises. Each team players every other team
twice in the round-robin stage of the competition with the teams with the
best record advancing to a series of play-off matches. These lead to a
championship match which the decided the league champion.
|
|
|
Trophies
and Awards
The Bangladesh Premier
League has used three different trophies during its existence. The first
trophy, the Destiny-BPL Trophy, was awarded during the first season of the
tournament. The trophy was named after the initial sponsor of the tournament.
The trophy was changed during the second season of the league when the main
sponsor changed. In 2015, A permanent design was unveiled, and titled BRB-BPL
Championship Trophy. This trophy was used from the 2015–16 season.
Bangladesh Cricket Board procured a brand new trophy from England for season
four 2016–17 season
and this trophy will be the signature trophy of BPL and winning team will get
replica trophy.
Bangladesh Domestic Cricket League
Bangladesh Domestic Cricket League
o
1st
Division Cricket League
o
2nd
Division Cricket League
o
3rd
Division Cricket League
o
Age
Level Cricket Tournament
·
U-
18
·
U-16
·
U-14
o
National
age level cricket Tournament
·
U-
19
·
U-17
·
U-15
o
Inter-School/College/University
Cricket League.
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