Cricket is one of the world’s most beloved sports, with massive followings across the Indian Subcontinent, the U.K., Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. Whether you’ve dreamed of playing yourself or simply live somewhere (like the U.S.) where cricket isn’t as common, this guide will walk you through the basics.
Things You Should Know
- Play takes place on a large, oval field with three wooden stakes (wickets) set up on the central pitch.
- Bowlers must deliver the ball overhand with a straight arm—it can bounce once before reaching the batter or go straight through. Deceptive bowling is key to getting batters out.
- Score runs by hitting the ball and sprinting between wickets. The team with the most runs after all innings wins.
Part 1: Setting Up
1. Gather the Equipment
Cricket requires specific gear for safe play. At minimum, you’ll need:
- 6 stumps & 4 bails (wooden pieces forming the wickets).
- 2 cricket bats (made of willow, flat on one side for hitting).
- 1 cricket ball (similar to a baseball but with a straight seam, traditionally red but sometimes white for better visibility in night games).
- Uniforms (long pants and a shirt, usually white for red-ball matches; colored for white-ball games).
Key Notes:
- The bat’s flat side must strike the ball—hits with the bulged side don’t count.
- Only the wicket-keeper (catcher) wears protective gear like gloves, shin guards, and a helmet. Fielders near the batter may also wear helmets.
2. Understand the Field
- Cricket is played on an oval field with a central 22-yard-long pitch.
- A boundary line marks the field’s outer edge.
3. Mark the Creases
The pitch has four key lines:
- Popping crease (batting crease): The safe zone for batters—step beyond it, and you risk being run out.
- Two return creases: Run parallel to the pitch’s sides.
- Bowling crease: Where the bowler must stay behind before delivering the ball.
4. Set Up the Wickets
- Each wicket consists of three stumps (28.5 inches tall) with two bails balanced on top.
- Place one wicket at each end of the pitch. Batters stand in front to defend them.
Part 2: Rules & Gameplay Basics
1. The Objective
Score runs by hitting the ball and sprinting between wickets before the fielding team gets you out.
2. Player Roles
- Batting team: Two batters (striker & non-striker) are on the field at once.
- Fielding team: All 11 players, including the bowler (pitcher) and wicket-keeper (catcher).
3. Game Structure
- Matches have 1-2 innings per team, divided into overs (sets of 6 bowls).
- Bowlers alternate after each over.
- An innings ends after 10 outs or a set number of overs (e.g., 20 in Twenty20).
4. Ways to Get Out
- Bowled: Ball hits the striker’s wicket.
- Caught: Fielder catches the ball before it bounces.
- Run Out: Fielder breaks the wicket while a batter is mid-run.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket): Batter blocks the ball with their body.
- Stumped: Wicket-keeper breaks the wicket after the batter misses and steps out.
5. Extra Runs
- No ball/wide ball: Illegal deliveries award bonus runs.
- Byes/leg byes: Runs scored when the batter misses but still makes it safely.
Part 3: Playing the Game
1. Starting Play
- Bowler delivers the ball (must keep arm straight).
- Striker hits it (or not) and decides whether to run.
2. Scoring Runs
- Each completed run (swapping ends) = 1 point.
- Hitting the boundary:
- 4 runs if the ball bounces before crossing.
- 6 runs if it clears the boundary without bouncing.
3. Winning
The team with the most runs after all innings wins!