The Complete Guide to Cricket Rules

19 July 2024Afnan Rajwana

Cricket is a beloved sport enjoyed around the world, rich in history and intricate rules. Whether you are new to cricket or a dedicated fan, understanding its laws is essential for fully appreciating the game. This guide covers cricket rules from the basics to advanced points.

Cricket Introduction

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field, at the center of which is a 22-yard pitch where runs are scored by the batsman. The fundamental elements of the game are: batting, bowling, and fielding.

The Cricket Field

The field is usually oval in shape, with a rectangular 22-yard pitch at the center. The pitch is where the main actions happen — batting and bowling. Significant field areas include:

Creases: There are four creases on the pitch – two popping creases, a bowling crease, and two return creases. At either end of the pitch, there are three wooden stumps with two bails resting on top, creating wickets. Wickets are the target for bowlers and a guard for batsmen.

Basic Laws

Teams

Each team consists of 11 players.
Substitutes can replace fielders but cannot bat, bowl, or act as wicket-keeper.

An Innings

An innings is the period during which a team bats and tries to score runs while the opposing team bowls and fields to dismiss them.
In Test cricket, each team has two innings. In limited-overs cricket (ODI and T20), each team has one innings.
Runs are scored by hitting the ball and running between the wickets or by hitting boundaries (four runs if the ball hits the ground before crossing the boundary, six runs if it does not).

Dismissals

Batsmen can be dismissed in several ways:

Bowled: The ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails.
Caught: A fielder catches the ball on the full after the batsman hits it with the bat or gloves.
Leg Before Wicket (LBW): The ball hits the batsman’s body (not the hand holding the bat) and would have hit the stumps.
Run Out: A fielder breaks the stumps with the ball while the batsman is out of the crease attempting a run.
Stumped: The wicketkeeper puts down the wicket while the batsman is out of his ground and not attempting a run.
Hit Wicket: The batsman dislodges the bails with the bat or body after the bowler’s delivery stride.
Obstructing the Field: The batsman uses the bat or body to return the ball to a fielder without consent.
Handled the Ball: The batsman handles the ball with a hand not holding the bat without a fielder’s consent.
Timed Out: A new batsman takes more than three minutes to face the next ball after the previous batsman is dismissed.

Umpires

Umpires are the authoritative figures who make crucial decisions.
Generally, there are two on-field umpires (one at the bowler’s end and one at square leg) and a third umpire (TV umpire) in high-level matches. A fourth umpire supports the third umpire.

Umpire’s Signals

Out: Raising one finger.
No Ball: Extending one arm horizontally.
Wide Ball: Extending both arms horizontally.
Four Runs: Waving an arm back and forth.
Six Runs: Raising both arms above the head.
Bye: Raising one open hand above the head.
Leg Bye: Touching a raised knee with one hand.

Rules for Bowling

The bowler delivers the ball overarm from one end of the pitch to the other.
The delivery must be made within the crease. Overstepping the crease results in a no-ball, granting an extra run and a free hit in limited-overs cricket.

Kinds of Bowling

Fast Bowling: Focuses on speed and bounce. Variations include swing and seam bowling.
Spin Bowling: Aims to make the ball turn to deceive the batsman. Variations include off-spin and leg-spin.

Over

An over consists of six legal deliveries.
Bowlers can bowl any number of overs but cannot bowl consecutive overs. In limited-overs formats, restrictions apply to the number of overs a single bowler can bowl.

Batting Rules

The batsman takes a stance in front of the stumps, ready to face the bowler. They can play shots to score runs or defend their wickets.

Running Between the Wickets

Batsmen communicate to decide when to run and must reach the opposite crease to complete a run without getting out.

Protective Gear

Batsmen wear helmets, pads, gloves, and abdominal guards for protection against fast deliveries.

Fielding Rules

Fielders position themselves to prevent runs and dismiss the batsman. Popular positions include slip, gully, point, cover, mid-off, mid-on, square leg, and fine leg.

Fielding Restrictions

Limited-overs cricket has fielding restrictions to balance the game: Powerplays limit the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

Extras

Extras are runs awarded to the batting side due to errors by the bowling side, including:

No Ball: An illegal delivery, granting an extra run and a free hit in limited-overs formats.
Wide Ball: A delivery the batsman cannot reach, granting an extra run.
Bye: Runs scored when the ball passes the batsman and wicketkeeper, allowing the batsmen to run.
Leg Bye: Runs scored when the ball hits the batsman’s body, not the bat, allowing them to run.

Conclusion

To fully enjoy cricket, it’s important for both players and spectators to understand the game’s rules. From the basic elements like batting, bowling, and fielding to the intricacies of dismissals and umpire signals, these rules form the backbone of this fascinating sport. Staying updated with the rules ensures that the spirit of cricket lives on.

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