Cricket

Cricket

A beginners guide to Cricket, somewhat more or less aimed at Americans. G'day :)

Cricket is a sport played primarily by Commonwealth (as in, once was the English Empire) nations.

Rules

Cricket is played on ovals which may vary in size and proportions. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is large and almost circular, the Adelaide Cricket Ground is long but narrow, while Lords (the 'home of cricket' is relatively small by Australian standards, and has a measurable slope between the east and the west sides!)

Cricket shares with baseball the basic aim of hitting the ball with a bat, and not getting caught out. The accumulation of points is made by running. Unlike baseball, there are two batsmen in the field at all times, and they stay there untill they are out. The innings is over when there are 10 outs (there are 11 in a team, but 10 outs means you can't put two batsmen out there) The captain of the batting team can 'declare' and end the innings early.

Test matches can last 5 days (is there any other multi-day sport anywhere in the world? Let alone one played at an international level?) and each day is divided into 3 sessions. (there is a lunch break, and a tea break). A test match is not over untill each team has two complete innings - or the five days is up. A one-day match on the other hand is simply one innings per team, with a 50over limit.

Terminology

Hat trick

To do something in triple without interruption. Used almost exclusively for the bowler in terms of outs achieved. ie, 3 outs in 3 balls. After the second, the bowler would be said to 'be on his hattrick'.

Duck

For a batsman - to be out without making a score.

Golden Duck

To be out without making a score on your first ball.

LBW

Leg Before Wicket - to be judged out because according to the umpire, you would have been bowled had your body not gotten in the way.

Caught Behind

To be caught by the wicket keeper after a swing-and-a-touch. A slightly larger touch may deflect the ball out of the wicket keepers reach - in which case the ball will travel to the slips positions.

Run out

When the batsman does not achieve the safety of