1154 lines
57 KiB
Markdown
1154 lines
57 KiB
Markdown
---
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created_at: '2015-09-08T17:18:54.000Z'
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title: An Explanation of Cricket (2009)
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url: https://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/hosking/cricket/explanation.htm?
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author: Bud
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points: 117
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story_text:
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comment_text:
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num_comments: 63
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story_id:
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story_title:
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story_url:
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parent_id:
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created_at_i: 1441732734
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_tags:
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- story
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- author_Bud
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- story_10186970
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objectID: '10186970'
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year: 2009
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---
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An Explanation of Cricket
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# An Explanation of Cricket
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## Contents
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**Cricket** is a team sport for two teams of eleven players each. A
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formal game of cricket can last anything from an afternoon to several
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days.
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Although the game play and rules are very different, the basic concept
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of cricket is similar to that of baseball. Teams bat in successive
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**innings** and attempt to score **runs**, while the opposing team
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fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting team's innings. After
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each team has batted an equal number of innings (either one or two,
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depending on conditions chosen before the game), the team with the most
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runs wins.
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(Note: In cricket-speak, the word "innings" is used for both the plural
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and the singular. "Inning" is a term used only in baseball.)
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- Cricket Ball:
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Hard, cork and string ball, covered with leather. A bit like a
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baseball (in size and hardness), but the leather covering is thicker
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and joined in two hemispheres, not in a tennis ball pattern. The
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seam is thus like an equator, and the stitching is raised slightly.
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The circumference is between 224 and 229 millimetres (8.81 to 9.00
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inches), and the ball weighs between 156 and 163 grams (5.5 to 5.75
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ounces). Traditionally the ball is dyed red, with the stitching left
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white. Nowadays white balls are also used, for visibility in games
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played at night under artificial lighting.
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- Cricket Bat:
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Blade made of willow, flat on one side, humped on the other for
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strength, attached to a sturdy cane handle. The blade has a maximum
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width of 108 millimetres (4.25 inches) and the whole bat has a
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maximum length of 965 millimetres (38 inches).
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- Wickets:
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There are two wickets - wooden structures made up of a set of three
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stumps topped by a pair of bails. These are described below.
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- Stumps:
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Three wooden posts, 25 millimetres (1 inch) in diameter and 813
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millimetres (32 inches) high. They have have spikes extending from
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their bottom end and are hammered into the ground in an evenly
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spaced row, with the outside edges of the outermost stumps 228
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millimetres (9 inches) apart. This means they are just close enough
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together that a cricket ball cannot pass between them.
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- Bails:
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Two wooden crosspieces which sit in grooves atop the adjacent pairs
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of stumps.
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A complete wicket looks like this: ![](wicket.gif)
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- Protective Gear:
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Pads, gloves, helmet, etc for batsmen to wear to prevent injury when
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struck by the ball.
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- Shoes:
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Leather, usually with spiked soles for grip on the grass.
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- Clothing:
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Long pants, shirt (long or short sleeved depending on the weather),
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possibly a sleeveless or long-sleeved woollen pullover in cold
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weather. For games played with a red ball, the clothing must be
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white or cream. With a white ball, players usually wear uniforms in
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solid team colours. Add a hat or cap to keep the sun off. There are
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no regulations regarding identifying marks or numbers on clothing.
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A cricket field is a roughly elliptical field of flat grass, ranging in
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size from about 90 to 150 metres (100-160 yards) across, bounded by an
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obvious fence or other marker. There is no fixed size or shape for the
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field, although large deviations from a low-eccentricity ellipse are
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discouraged. In the centre of the field, and usually aligned along the
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long axis of the ellipse, is the **pitch** , a carefully prepared
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rectangle of closely mown and rolled grass over hard packed earth. It is
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marked with white lines, called **creases**, like this:
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![](pitch.gif)
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The dimensions are in centimetres (divide by 2.54 for inches).
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The order in which the teams bat is determined by a coin toss. The
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captain of the side winning the toss may elect to bat or field first.
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All eleven players of the fielding team go out to field, two players of
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the batting team go out to bat. The remainder of the batting team wait
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off the field for their turn to bat. Each batsman wears protective gear
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and carries a cricket bat.
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The game progresses by the **bowling** of **balls**. The sequence of
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events which constitutes a ball follows:
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The fielding team disperses around the field, to positions designed to
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stop runs being scored or to get batsmen out. One fielder is the
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**bowler**. He takes the ball and stands some distance behind one of the
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wickets (i.e., away from the pitch). Another fielder is the
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**wicket-keeper**, who wears a pair of webbed gloves designed for
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catching the ball and protective pads covering the shins. He squats
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behind the opposite wicket. The rest of the fielders have no special
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equipment - gloves to assist catching the ball are not allowed to anyone
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but the wicket-keeper.
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One batsman stands behind each popping crease, near a wicket. The
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batsman farthest from the bowler is the **striker**, the other is the
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**non-striker**. The striker stands before his wicket, on or near the
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popping crease, in the batting stance. For a right-handed batsman, the
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feet are positioned like this:
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![](stance.gif)
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The batsman stands with his bat held down in front of the wicket, ready
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to hit the ball, which will be bowled from the other end of the pitch.
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The batsman usually rests the lower end of the bat on the pitch and then
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taps the bat on the pitch a few times as "warm-up" backswings.
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The non-striker simply stands behind the other popping crease, waiting
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to run if necessary. The bowler takes a run-up from behind the
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non-striker's wicket. He passes to one side of the wicket, and when he
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reaches the non-striker's popping crease he bowls the ball towards the
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striker, usually bouncing the ball once on the pitch before it reaches
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the striker. (The bowling action will be described in detail later.)
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The striker may then attempt to hit the ball with his bat. If he misses
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it, the wicket-keeper will catch it and the ball is completed. If he
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hits it, the two batsmen may score runs (described later). When the runs
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are completed, the ball is also considered completed. The ball is
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considered to be in play from the moment the bowler begins his run-up.
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It remains in play until any of several conditions occur (two common
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ones were just described), after which it is called **dead**. The ball
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is also dead if it lodges in the striker's clothing or equipment. Once
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the ball is dead, it is returned to the bowler for the next **delivery**
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(another name for the bowling of a ball). Between deliveries, the
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batsmen may leave their creases and confer with each other.
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When one bowler has completed six balls, that constitutes an **over**. A
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different member of the fielding team is given the ball and bowls the
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next over - from the opposite end of the pitch. The batsmen do not
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change ends, so the roles of striker and non-striker swap after each
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over. Any member of the fielding team may bowl, so long as no bowler
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delivers two consecutive overs. Once a bowler begins an over, he must
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complete it, unless injured or suspended during the over.
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Another possibility during a ball is that a batsman may get **out**.
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There are ten different methods of being out - these will be described
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in detail later. If a batsman gets out, the ball is dead immediately, so
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it is impossible to get the other batsman out during the same ball. The
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out batsman leaves the field, and the next batsman in the team comes in
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to bat. The **not out** batsman remains on the field. The order in which
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batsmen come in to bat in an innings is not fixed. The batting order may
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be changed by the team captain at any time, and the order does not have
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to be the same in each innings.
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When ten batsmen are out, no new batsmen remain to come in, and the
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innings is completed with one batsman remaining not out. The roles of
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the teams then swap, and the team which fielded first gets to bat
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through an innings. When both teams have completed the agreed number of
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innings, the team which has scored the most runs wins.
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Whenever a batsman hits the ball during a delivery, he may score runs. A
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run is scored by the batsmen running between the popping creases,
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crossing over midway between them. When they both reach the opposite
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crease, one run is scored, and they may return for another run
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immediately. The fielding side attempts to prevent runs being scored by
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threatening to **run out** one of the batsmen.
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If the batsmen are attempting to take runs, and a fielder gathers the
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ball and hits a wicket with it, dislodging one or both bails, while no
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batsman is behind that wicket's popping crease, then the nearest batsman
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is run out. Specifically, the batsman must have some part of his body or
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his bat (provided he is holding it) grounded behind (not on) the crease.
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The batsmen carry their bats as they run, and turning for another run is
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accomplished by touching the ground beyond the crease with an
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outstretched bat. The batsmen do not have to run at any time they think
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it is unsafe - it is common to hit the ball and elect not to run.
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If the batsmen run one or three (or five\! rare, but possible), then
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they have swapped ends and their striker/non-striker roles are reversed
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for the next ball (unless the ball just completed is the end of an
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over).
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In addition to scoring runs like this, if a batsman hits the ball so
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that it reaches the boundary fence, he scores four runs, without needing
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to actually run them. If a batsman hits the ball over the boundary on
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the full, he scores six runs. If a four or six is scored, the ball is
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completed and the batsmen cannot be run out. If a spectator encroaches
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on to the field and touches the ball, it is considered to have reached
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the boundary. If a fielder gathers the ball, but then steps outside or
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touches the boundary while still holding the ball, four runs are scored.
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If a fielder catches the ball on the full and, either during or
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immediately after the catch, steps outside or touches the boundary, six
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runs are scored.
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The batsmen usually stop taking runs when a fielder is throwing the ball
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back towards the pitch area. If no fielder near the pitch gathers the
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ball and it continues into the outfield again, the batsmen may take more
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runs. Such runs are called **overthrows**. If the ball reaches the
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boundary on an overthrow, four runs are scored *in addition to* the runs
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taken before the overthrow occurred.
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Runs scored by a batsman, including all overthrows, are credited to him
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by the scorer. The number of runs scored by each batsman is an important
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statistic.
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If, while running multiple runs, a batsman does not touch the ground
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beyond the popping crease before he returns for the next run, then the
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umpire at that end will signal **one short**, and the number of runs
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scored is reduced by one.
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Here is a full list of the ten different ways of getting out. But first,
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a few necessary definitions:
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The wicket is said to be **broken** if one or both of the bails have
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been dislodged and fallen to the ground. If the bails have fallen off
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for any reason and the ball is still in play, then breaking the wicket
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must be accomplished by pulling a stump completely out of the ground. If
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the wicket needs to be broken like this with the ball, the uprooting of
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the stump must be done with the ball in contact with the stump.
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The field is notionally split into two halves, along a line down the
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centre of the pitch. The half of the field in front of the striker is
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called the **off side**, the half behind is called the **leg side**, or
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sometimes the **on side**. Thus, standing at the bowler's wicket and
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looking towards a right-handed striker's wicket, the off side is to the
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left and the leg side to the right (and vice-versa for a left-handed
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striker). The stumps of the striker's wicket are called **off stump**,
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**middle stump**, and **leg stump**, depending on which side they are
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on.
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When a batsman gets out, no matter by what method, his wicket is said to
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have **fallen**, and the fielding team are said to have **taken a
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wicket**.
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Now, the ways of getting out:
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- Caught:
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If a fielder catches the ball on the full after the batsman has hit
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it with his bat. However, if the fielder catches the ball, but
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either during the catch or immediately afterwards touches or steps
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over the boundary, then the batsman scores six runs and is not out.
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- Bowled:
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If the batsman misses the ball and it hits and breaks the wicket
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directly from the bowler's delivery. The batsman is out whether or
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not he is behind his popping crease. He is also out bowled if the
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ball breaks the wicket after deflecting from his bat or body. The
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batsman is not out if the wicket does not break.
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- Leg Before Wicket:
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If the batsman misses the ball with his bat, but intercepts it with
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part of his body when it would otherwise have hit the wicket, and
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provided several other conditions (described below) are satisfied.
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An umpire must adjudicate such a decision, and will only do so if
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the fielding team **appeal** the decision. This is a question asked
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of the umpire, usually of the form "How's that?" (or "Howzat?"), and
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usually quite enthusiastic and loud. If the ball bounces outside an
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imaginary line drawn straight down the pitch from the outside edge
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of leg stump, then the batsman cannot be out LBW, no matter whether
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or not the ball would have hit the stumps. If the batsman attempts
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to play a shot at the ball with his bat (and misses) he may only be
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given out LBW if the ball strikes the batsman between imaginary
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lines drawn down the pitch from the outside edges of leg and off
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stumps (ie. directly in line with the wicket). If the batsman does
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*not* attempt to play the ball with his bat, then he may be given
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out LBW without satisfying this condition, as long as the umpire is
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convinced the ball would have hit the wicket. If the ball has hit
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the bat before the hitting the batsman, then he cannot be given out
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LBW.
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- Stumped:
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If a batsman misses the ball and in attempting to play it steps
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outside his crease, he is out stumped if the wicket-keeper gathers
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the ball and breaks the wicket with it before the batsman can ground
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part of his body or his bat behind his crease.
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- Run Out:
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If a batsman is attempting to take a run, or to return to his crease
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after an aborted run, and a fielder breaks that batsman's wicket
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with the ball while he is out of the crease. The fielder may either
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break the wicket with a hand which holds the ball, or with the ball
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directly. It is possible for the non-striker to be run out if the
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striker hits the ball straight down the pitch towards the
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non-striker's wicket, and the bowler deflects the ball on to the
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wicket while the non-striker is out of his crease. If the ball is
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hit directly on to the non-striker's wicket, *without* being touched
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by a fielder, then the non-striker is not out. If the non-striker
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leaves his crease (in preparation to run) while the bowler is
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running up, the bowler may run him out without bowling the ball.
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Batsmen cannot be run out while the ball is dead - so they may
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confer in the middle of the pitch between deliveries if they desire.
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- Hit Wicket:
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If, in attempting to hit a ball or taking off for a first run, the
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batsman touches and breaks the wicket. This includes with the bat or
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dislodged pieces of the batsman's equipment - even a helmet or
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spectacles\!
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- Handle The Ball:
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If a batsman touches the ball with a hand not currently holding the
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bat, without the permission of the fielding side. This does not
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include being hit on the hand by a delivery, or any other
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non-deliberate action.
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- Obstructing The Field:
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If a batsman deliberately interferes with the efforts of fielders to
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gather the ball or effect a run out. This does not include running a
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path between the fielder and the wicket so that the fielder cannot
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throw the stumps down with the ball, which is quite legal, but does
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include any deliberate attempt to swat the ball away.
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- Hit The Ball Twice:
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If a batsman hits a delivery with his bat and then deliberately hits
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the ball again for any reason other than to defend his wicket from
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being broken by the ball. If the ball *is* bouncing or rolling
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around near the stumps, the batsman is entitled to knock it away so
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as to avoid being bowled, but not to score runs.
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- Timed Out:
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If a new batsman takes longer than two minutes, from the time the
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previous wicket falls, to appear on the field.
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These methods of getting out are listed in approximate order of how
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commonly they occur. The first five are reasonably common, the last five
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quite rare. The last three methods are almost never invoked.
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If a batsman is out caught, bowled, LBW, stumped, or hit wicket, then
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the bowler is credited with taking the wicket. No single person is
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credited with taking a wicket if it falls by any other method.
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The game is adjudicated by two **umpires**, who make all decisions on
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the field and whose word is absolutely final. One umpire stands behind
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the non-striker's wicket, ready to make judgements on LBWs and other
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events requiring a decision. The other umpire stands in line with the
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striker's popping crease, about 20 metres (20 yards) to one side
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(usually the leg side, but not always), ready to judge stumpings and
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run-outs at his end. The umpires remain at their respective ends of the
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pitch, thus swapping roles every over.
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If the technology is available for a given match, a third umpire is
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sometimes used. He sits off the field, with a television replay monitor.
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If an on-field umpire is unsure of a decision concerning either a run
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out or a stumping attempt, he may signal for the third umpire to view a
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television replay. The third umpire views a replay, in slow motion if
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necessary, until he either reaches a decision or decides that he cannot
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make a clear decision. He signals the result to the on-field umpire, who
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must then abide by it. If the equipment fails, the replay umpire signals
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no decision. The replay umpire cannot be used for any decisions other
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than run outs and stumpings.
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Whenever any decision is in doubt, the umpire must rule in favour of the
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batsman.
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If the ball hits an umpire, it is still live and play continues. If it
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lodges in an umpire's clothing, then it is dead.
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The game is also presided over by a **match referee**, who watches from
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outside the field. The referee makes no decisions of relevance to the
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outcome of the game, but determines penalties for breaches of various
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rules and misconduct. In professional games, these penalties are
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monetary fines.
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Arguing with an umpire's decision is simply not tolerated. Anything more
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than a polite question to the umpires is heavily frowned upon and could
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attract a penalty from the referee. The most serious misconduct in a
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cricket match is of the order of a rude gesture to an opponent or
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throwing the ball into the ground in disgust. Such gross misbehaviour
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would attract large fines and possibly match suspensions. Penalties for
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physical violence can only be guessed at, but would possibly be a career
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suspension.
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**Extras** are runs scored by means other than when the ball is hit by a
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batsman. Extras are not credited to any batsman, and are recorded by the
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scorer separately. The total number of runs for the innings is equal to
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the sums of the individual batsmen's scores and the extras. There are
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four types of extras: **no balls, wides, byes, and leg byes**.
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The bowler must bowl each ball with part of his frontmost foot behind
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the popping crease. If he oversteps this mark, he has bowled a **no
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ball**. The umpire at that end calls "no ball" immediately in a loud
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voice. The batsman may play and score runs as usual, and may not be out
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by any means except run out, handle the ball, hit the ball twice, or
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obstructing the field. Further, if the batsman does not score any runs
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from the ball, one run is added to the batting team's score. Also, the
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bowler must bowl an extra ball in his over to compensate. A no ball is
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also called if any part of the bowler's back foot is not within the area
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between the return creases.
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If the bowler bowls the ball far to one side or over the head of the
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batsman, so making it impossible to score, the umpire will signal the
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ball as a **wide** . This gives the batting team one run and the bowler
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must rebowl the ball. The striker may not be out hit wicket off a wide
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ball.
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If the striker misses a ball and the wicket-keeper fails to gather it
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cleanly, the batsmen may take runs. These runs are called **byes** and
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are scored as extras.
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If the striker, in attempting to play a shot, deflects the ball with
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part of his body, the batsmen may attempt to take a run. Such runs are
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called **leg byes** . If the striker did not attempt to play a shot with
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his bat, leg byes may not be taken. The umpire adjudicates by signalling
|
|
a dead ball if the batsmen attempt to run when, in his opinion, no
|
|
attempt was made to play a shot.
|
|
|
|
Batsmen may be run out as usual while running byes and leg-byes. If,
|
|
while running either form of bye, the ball reaches the boundary, four
|
|
byes (of the appropriate type) are scored.
|
|
|
|
The bowling action itself has to conform to several restrictions. The
|
|
bowler's arm must be straight when the ball is bowled (so no "throwing"
|
|
is allowed). The ball must be bowled overarm, not underarm.
|
|
|
|
The difference between 'bowling' and 'throwing': When you throw the
|
|
ball, the elbow is cocked and used to impart energy to the ball by
|
|
straightening. When a ball is bowled, the elbow joint is held extended
|
|
throughout. All the energy is imparted by rotation of the arm about the
|
|
shoulder, and possibly a little by wrist motion. For a right-handed
|
|
bowler, the action goes roughly as follows:
|
|
|
|
After the run-up, the right foot is planted on the ground with the
|
|
instep facing the batsman. The right arm is extended backwards and down
|
|
at this stage. The left foot comes down on the popping crease as the
|
|
bowler's momentum carries him forward - he is standing essentially
|
|
left-side on to the batsman. As the weight transfers to the left foot,
|
|
the right arm is brought over the shoulder in a vertical arc. The ball
|
|
is released near the top of the arc, and the follow-through brings the
|
|
arm down and the right shoulder forward rapidly.
|
|
|
|
Bouncing the ball on the pitch is not mandatory. It's usually done
|
|
because the movement of the ball off the pitch makes it much harder to
|
|
hit. Unbounced deliveries, or **full tosses** are almost always much
|
|
easier to hit, and mostly they are bowled accidentally. A full toss
|
|
above hip height is no ball, and an umpire who suspects that such a ball
|
|
was deliberate will give the bowler an official warning. A warning is
|
|
also given if the umpire believes the bowler is bowling at the body of a
|
|
batsman in a deliberate attempt to injure the batsman. After two
|
|
warnings a bowler is barred from bowling for the rest of the innings.
|
|
|
|
If any rule governing the bowling action is violated, a no ball results.
|
|
|
|
Bowlers are allowed to polish the ball by rubbing it with cloth (usually
|
|
on their trouser legs) and applying saliva or sweat to it. Any other
|
|
substance is illegal, as is rubbing the ball on the ground. Usually one
|
|
side of the ball is polished smooth, while the other wears, so that the
|
|
bowler can achieve **swing** (curving the ball through the air). It is
|
|
also illegal to roughen the ball by any means, including scraping it
|
|
with the fingernails or lifting the seam. A bowler who illegaly tampers
|
|
with the ball is immediately suspended from bowling for the rest of that
|
|
innings.
|
|
|
|
The bowler may bowl from either side of the wicket, but must inform the
|
|
umpire and the batsmen if he wishes to change sides. Bowling with the
|
|
bowling arm closest to the wicket is called **over the wicket**, and is
|
|
most common. Bowling with the non-bowling are closest to the wicket is
|
|
called **around the wicket**.
|
|
|
|
The bowler may abort his run-up or not let go of the ball if he loses
|
|
his footing or timing for any reason. The umpire will signal dead ball
|
|
and the ball must be bowled again. If a bowler loses his grip on the
|
|
ball during the delivery action, it is considered to be a live ball only
|
|
if it is propelled forward of the bowler. If such a ball comes to rest
|
|
in front of the striker, but any distance to the side, the striker is
|
|
entitled to walk up to the ball and attempt to hit it with his bat. The
|
|
fielding team must not touch the ball until the striker either hits it
|
|
or declines to do so.
|
|
|
|
A delivery may also be aborted by the striker stepping away from his
|
|
stumps, if distracted by an insect or dust in the eye, for example.
|
|
|
|
Field placements in cricket are not standardised. There are several
|
|
named field positions, and the fielding captain uses different
|
|
combinations of them for tactical reasons. There are also further
|
|
descriptive words to specify variations on the positions labelled by
|
|
simple names, so that any position in which a fielder stands can be
|
|
described.
|
|
|
|
The following diagram shows the rough positions of all of the simply
|
|
named field positions. In this diagram, the pitch is indicated by three
|
|
'\#' marks; the striker's end is at the top. The bowler is not shown,
|
|
but would be running upwards towards the bottom end of the pitch. The
|
|
approximate field positions are marked with numbers or letters,
|
|
according to the key on the right of the diagram. The three marks: '+',
|
|
'\*', and '~' indicate that the adjective shown at the bottom of the
|
|
list can be used to describe a modification of that position, as shown
|
|
in the example.
|
|
|
|
```
|
|
--------------------------------- 1 wicket keeper
|
|
/ \ 2 first slip
|
|
/ e h \ 3 second slip
|
|
/ \ 4 third slip
|
|
/ \ 5 gully +
|
|
/ \ 6 point +*~
|
|
/ \ 7 cover +
|
|
/ 2 j \ 8 extra cover +
|
|
| 43 1 d | 9 mid-off +*
|
|
| 5 | a mid-on +*
|
|
| 6 # i c | b mid-wicket +
|
|
| # | c square leg +~
|
|
| 7 # b | d leg slip
|
|
| 8 | e third man
|
|
| | f long off
|
|
\ 9 a / g long on
|
|
\ / h fine leg
|
|
\ / i bat-pad
|
|
\ / + deep (near boundary)
|
|
\ / * silly (near batsman)
|
|
\ f g / ~ backward (more 'up')
|
|
\ / eg.
|
|
--------------------------------- j deep backward square leg
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
(This picture will be replaced with an inline image when I have time.)
|
|
|
|
Other modifiers used to qualify positions:
|
|
square: close to a line perpendicular to the pitch, through the
|
|
batsman;
|
|
fine: close to a line straight along the pitch;
|
|
short: close to the batsman.
|
|
|
|
The only restriction on field placements is that, at the time the ball
|
|
is delivered, there must be no more than two fielders in the quadrant of
|
|
the field backward of square leg. (This rule exists mainly for
|
|
historical reasons - see the **Bodyline** section below.)
|
|
|
|
Sometimes fielders close to the bat wear helmets for safety. When not in
|
|
use, the helmet (or any other loose equipment) may be placed on the
|
|
field (usually behind the wicket-keeper, where it is unlikely to be hit
|
|
by the ball). If any such loose fielding equipment is hit with the ball,
|
|
five runs are scored, either to the batsman who hit the ball or as the
|
|
appropriate form of byes. The ball is then considered dead and no
|
|
further runs can be taken, nor can a batsman be run out.
|
|
|
|
If a fielder is wearing a protective helmet, and the striker hits the
|
|
ball so that it bounces off the helmet, he may not be out caught off the
|
|
rebound. If a ball rebounds from any other part of the body of a
|
|
fielder, he may be out caught if another fielder (or the same one) then
|
|
catches the ball before it hits the ground.
|
|
|
|
In case of injury, substitutes may replace any number of fielders. A
|
|
substitute may only field - he may not bowl, nor bat. A substitute may
|
|
not keep wicket. A substituted player must return to the field as soon
|
|
as he is able to resume playing without danger.
|
|
|
|
If a batsman is injured, he may retire and resume his innings when fit
|
|
again, so long as his team's innings is not over. If a batsman is too
|
|
injured to bat when no other batsmen remain to come in after a wicket
|
|
falls, his innings must be forfeited and his team's innings ends. If a
|
|
batsman is able to bat, but not run, then another player may run for
|
|
him. The runner must wear the same equipment as the batter, and performs
|
|
all his running. The injured non-runner must remain behind his crease at
|
|
all times when the ball is in play or risk being run out, even if his
|
|
runner is safely behind a crease.
|
|
|
|
If a bowler is injured during an over and cannot complete it, another
|
|
bowler must bowl the remaining deliveries in that over. The bowler
|
|
chosen to finish the over must not be the bowler who bowled the previous
|
|
over, and must not bowl the over immediately following either.
|
|
|
|
A player may not leave the field for injury unless the injury is
|
|
sustained on the field. An injured player who takes the field may not
|
|
leave because of his pre-existing injury, unless it is clearly
|
|
aggravated further on the field.
|
|
|
|
Play is suspended at the umpires' discretion for rain. Light rain is
|
|
usually tolerated, though nothing heavier, because of the possibility of
|
|
damage to the pitch. If the players are off the field, they must remain
|
|
off until the rain has stopped completely. During rain the pitch is
|
|
covered with waterproof material to protect it. Often the bowlers'
|
|
run-ups and an area around the pitch are also covered.
|
|
|
|
During very windy conditions, sometimes the bails will tend to blow off
|
|
the top of the stumps. If this becomes a problem, the umpires can decide
|
|
to play without bails. In this case, the wicket does not need to be
|
|
broken by uprooting a stump, and the umpires must take full
|
|
responsibility for deciding, in a reasonable manner, whether the wicket
|
|
is broken or not.
|
|
|
|
The umpires signal various events with gestures, as follows:
|
|
|
|
- Out:
|
|
When a batsman is out, the umpire making the decision raises one
|
|
hand above his head, with the index finger extended.
|
|
- Not Out:
|
|
There is no formal signal to indicate that a batsman is not out. The
|
|
umpire can either shake his head 'no' or not signal at all.
|
|
- Four:
|
|
A four scored by the ball reaching the boundary is signalled by an
|
|
arm extended horizontally and waved briefly back and forth in a
|
|
horizontal arc.
|
|
- Six:
|
|
A six is signalled by raising both arms straight over the head.
|
|
- No Ball:
|
|
A no ball is signalled by holding an arm out horizontally.
|
|
- Wide:
|
|
A wide is signalled by holding both arms out horizontally.
|
|
- Byes:
|
|
Runs scored as byes are signalled by raising one arm over the head,
|
|
palm open.
|
|
- Leg Byes:
|
|
Leg byes are signalled by raising one leg and tapping the knee with
|
|
one hand.
|
|
- Dead Ball:
|
|
If the umpire has to signal dead ball to prevent the players from
|
|
assuming that the ball is still alive, he waves both arms across
|
|
each other in front of his abdomen.
|
|
- One Short:
|
|
One short is signalled by touching the tip of one hand to the same
|
|
shoulder.
|
|
- TV Replay:
|
|
If an umpire wishes the third umpire to make a decision based on a
|
|
TV replay, he signals by drawing a large square shape in the air
|
|
with both hands, spreading them out high in the air in front of him,
|
|
bringing them down, and then together again.
|
|
|
|
Cricket is played in two very distinct forms. The first is limited
|
|
duration, in which a specific number of hours of playing time are
|
|
allocated and each team plays two innings.
|
|
|
|
The second is limited overs, in which each team plays one innings of a
|
|
pre-determined number of overs.
|
|
|
|
First class cricket matches are the most prestigious games, played at a
|
|
professional level. The top level games are international **Test
|
|
matches**, played between countries. There are also domestic first class
|
|
cricket competitions. First class matches are of limited duration. Test
|
|
matches will be described first, then any differences for other first
|
|
class matches will be described.
|
|
|
|
Test matches are played over five days, with six hours of play each day.
|
|
Each day's play is divided into three **sessions** of two hours each,
|
|
with a 40 minute break between the first two session for lunch, and a 20
|
|
minute tea break between the last two sessions. A short drinks break is
|
|
taken once an hour, or more often in very hot weather. Play usually goes
|
|
from 11:00 local time to 18:00, although this may be varied if sunset
|
|
occurs early. The scheduled close of play time is called **stumps**.
|
|
Test matches are never played under artificial lighting.
|
|
|
|
Each team has two innings, usually played in alternating order. Each
|
|
innings is over when either ten batsmen are out, or the captain of the
|
|
batting side **declares** the innings closed (for strategic reasons,
|
|
more later). When all the innings are completed, the team with the most
|
|
runs wins. If there is a tie, the result stands (this is rare - it has
|
|
only ever happened twice).
|
|
|
|
If by the end of the final day's play all the innings are not completed,
|
|
the game is a **draw**, no matter who appeared to be "winning". Thus the
|
|
strategic importance of sometimes declaring an innings closed, in order
|
|
to have enough time to dismiss the other team and so win the game.
|
|
|
|
The order of the innings alternates except when the **follow-on** is
|
|
enforced. This can occur if the second team to bat in the first innings
|
|
scores 200 or more runs fewer than the first team. The captain of the
|
|
first team may then ask the second team to follow on: to bat its second
|
|
innings immediately, and defer his own team's second innings until
|
|
afterwards.
|
|
|
|
Whenever a change of innings occurs during a session, a ten minute break
|
|
is taken. If the end of an innings occurs within ten minutes of the end
|
|
of the first or second sessions, the ten minute break is lost and the
|
|
scheduled interval is shifted to begin immediately. If the end of an
|
|
innings occurs within ten minutes of stumps, the day's play ends early.
|
|
|
|
Test matches are played with a red cricket ball. A new ball is used for
|
|
the beginning of each innings. The same ball must be used throughout the
|
|
innings, being replaced only in the following cases:
|
|
|
|
1. The captain of the bowling team may elect to take a new ball at any
|
|
time after 80 overs have been bowled with the previous ball.
|
|
2. If the ball is lost, it is replaced.
|
|
3. If the ball is damaged, either by the stitching coming undone or the
|
|
ball becoming clearly non-spherical, it is replaced.
|
|
|
|
In cases 2 and 3, the ball must be replaced by a previously used ball of
|
|
similarly worn condition to the old ball, as chosen by the umpires. If
|
|
the ball is ever hit so that a spectator gathers it, the spectator must
|
|
return it so that play can continue.
|
|
|
|
On each day of play in a Test match, a minimum of 90 overs must be
|
|
bowled. If the bowling team has not bowled the required minimum by the
|
|
scheduled stumps time, play is extended until the required number of
|
|
overs have been bowled. Whenever an innings ends, the number of overs to
|
|
be bowled is recalculated, disregarding the number of overs bowled so
|
|
far during the same day. The required minimum is calculated to be the
|
|
number of minutes of play remaining, divided by 4 and rounded up. On the
|
|
last day of play, this formula is used up until one hour before stumps,
|
|
then fifteen overs are added to the result. If extra overs are bowled
|
|
before the time one hour before stumps on the final day, then there
|
|
still must be a minimum of fifteen overs bowled after the time one hour
|
|
before stumps. All of these conditions are recalculated for time lost
|
|
due to poor weather, at a rate of one over per 4 minutes of lost time.
|
|
If a day's play ends early because of poor weather conditions, all
|
|
calculations are reset for the next day.
|
|
|
|
If there is heavy cloud cover, the umpires may decide that the ambient
|
|
light level is too low and that the batsmen may be in danger because of
|
|
difficulty in sighting the ball. If so, they **offer the light** to the
|
|
batsmen, who may agree to leave the field or may decide to play on. If
|
|
the light deteriorates further, the umpires will offer again. If the
|
|
batsmen decide to leave the field and the light improves, the umpires
|
|
make the decision to resume play.
|
|
|
|
If a fielder leave the field for any reason and then returns during the
|
|
same innings, he may not bowl until he has been on the field again for
|
|
as much time as he spent off the field.
|
|
|
|
Test matches are played in Series between two of the official Test
|
|
nations. A Test Series consists of a set number of matches, from one to
|
|
six, all of which are played to completion, even if one team gains an
|
|
unassailable lead in the Series. Series of three or five matches are
|
|
most common. Some pairs of nations compete against one another for a
|
|
perpetual trophy. If a Series between two such nations is drawn, the
|
|
holder of the trophy retains it.
|
|
|
|
Non-Test first class cricket differs from Test cricket in only a few
|
|
respects. A non-Test first class match is usually three or four days
|
|
long, not five. In a four-day game, the cut-off figure for enforcing the
|
|
follow-on is 150 or more runs behind the first team. The formula used to
|
|
determine the minimum number of overs bowled in a non-Test first class
|
|
match may be different to that used for a Test match; there is no
|
|
standard regulation.
|
|
|
|
Non-Test first class competitions are usually round-robins amongst
|
|
several domestic teams. Other first class matches include single games
|
|
between visiting international sides and domestic first class teams.
|
|
|
|
One-day cricket differs significantly from first class cricket. A
|
|
one-day match is played on a single day. Either a red or a white cricket
|
|
ball may be used, and play under artificial lighting is common.
|
|
|
|
Each team gets only one innings, and that innings is restricted to a
|
|
maximum number of overs. Usual choices for the number of overs are 50,
|
|
55, or 60. Recently, an abbreviated form of the games has been developed
|
|
called Twenty20, with a maximum of 20 overs per innings. Each innings is
|
|
complete at the end of the stipulated number of overs, no matter how
|
|
many batsmen are out. If ten batsmen are out before the full number of
|
|
overs are bowled, the innings is also over. If the first team's innings
|
|
ends in this manner, the second team still has its full number of overs
|
|
to score the required runs. The timing of the innings and the break
|
|
between them are not regulated.
|
|
|
|
Whichever team scores the most runs wins. A tied score stands. There is
|
|
no draw result. If the match is washed out, so that the innings are not
|
|
played, the game is declared a no-result.
|
|
|
|
In each innings, each bowler is restricted to bowling a maximum number
|
|
of overs equal to one fifth of the total number of overs in the innings.
|
|
Either a single new ball is used for each innings, or two new balls
|
|
which are alternated between overs. (This is often done with white balls
|
|
because they wear much faster than red balls.) New balls are never taken
|
|
during an innings, but replacements for lost or damaged balls are taken
|
|
as in first class matches.
|
|
|
|
In case of rain interruption to the first innings, the number of overs
|
|
for each innings is recalculated so that they will be the same. If rain
|
|
interrupts the second innings, making it impossible for an equal number
|
|
of overs to be bowled, the number of runs scored by the first team is
|
|
adjusted to compensate. The standard adjustment formula now used is the
|
|
"Duckworth-Lewis method", which is arcane even for cricket aficionados
|
|
and too complicated to describe here. There is also a predetermined
|
|
number of overs that must be bowled in each innings for any result to be
|
|
considered valid; if this limit is not reached the game is a no-result.
|
|
|
|
Because of the emphasis on scoring runs quickly, wide balls and high
|
|
balls (called as no ball) are enforced much more strictly in one-day
|
|
cricket.
|
|
|
|
One-day competitions are played either as Series between pairs of
|
|
international teams, round-robin competitions among groups of
|
|
international teams, or round-robins among domestic teams. A World Cup
|
|
one-day competition is played between all the Test nations every four
|
|
years.
|
|
|
|
All of the rules of cricket have been described above, as well as some
|
|
other information which is not "rules", such as names of fielding
|
|
positions. The rest of this file concerns other information that is
|
|
useful to know, but not actually "rules".
|
|
|
|
There are two basic approaches to bowling: fast and spin. A fast bowler
|
|
bowls the ball as fast as practicable, attempting to defeat the batsman
|
|
with its pace. If the ball also swings in the air, or **seams** (moves
|
|
sideways) off the pitch because of bouncing on the seam, it can be very
|
|
difficult to play. A spin bowler has a more ambling run-up and uses
|
|
wrist or finger motion to impart a spin to the ball. The ball then spins
|
|
to one side when it bounces on the pitch, thus also hopefully causing it
|
|
to be hard to hit. Fast bowlers are generally used with a new ball,
|
|
while spin bowlers get more spin with a worn ball. There is also medium
|
|
pace bowling, which concentrates more on swing and seam than pace.
|
|
|
|
A swing bowler will hold the seam of the ball at a certain angle and
|
|
attempt to release the ball so that it spins with the seam at a constant
|
|
angle. With one side of the ball polished and the other rough,
|
|
differential air pressure will cause it to swing in the air.
|
|
|
|
A seam bowler attempts to keep the seam vertical, so that the ball hits
|
|
the seam when it bounces on the pitch and deflects in its path either to
|
|
the right or left.
|
|
|
|
A fast bowler can also pull his fingers down one side of the ball as he
|
|
lets it go, imparting a small amount of sideways spin to the ball. This
|
|
can cause the ball to move sideways off the pitch. Such a delivery is
|
|
called a **leg-cutter** if the ball moves from the leg side to the off
|
|
side of a right-handed batsman, or an **off-cutter** if moves from the
|
|
off to the leg. A specialist spin bowler can get a lot more spin that a
|
|
fast bowler bowling cutters, however.
|
|
|
|
There are two types of spin bowling: **off-spin**, and **leg-spin**.
|
|
Imagine holding a ball in your right hand and, for simplicity's sake,
|
|
throwing it. If you twist your hand in a clockwise direction on release,
|
|
then the spin on the ball will be such that when it bounces it will spin
|
|
to your right. This is essentially off-spin bowling (so called because,
|
|
to a right-handed batsman, the ball spins *from* the off side to the leg
|
|
side). The off-spin delivery itself is called either an **off-spinner**
|
|
or an **off-break**. An off-spin bowler will sometimes not spin the ball
|
|
so much, putting more pace on the delivery. Such a delivery is called an
|
|
**arm-ball**.
|
|
|
|
Now imagine twisting the ball anticlockwise and releasing it from the
|
|
palm so that it 'rolls' over the base of the little finger. This gives
|
|
the ball spin in the opposite direction, so it spins left when it
|
|
bounces. This is basic leg-spin (because to a right-handed batsman it
|
|
spins from leg to off). The basic leg-spin delivery is called a
|
|
**leg-spinner** or **leg-break**.
|
|
|
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The interesting thing about leg-spin is that if you cock your wrist at
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various angles you can in fact, with the same basic bowling action,
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produce spin in different directions. With the wrist cocked a little
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towards the inside of the arm, you can produce **top-spinners**. Go
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further and you actually end up producing spin in the same direction as
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an off-spinner. A ball bowled in this way by a leg-spin bowler is called
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a **wrong 'un**, or sometimes a **googly** . Probably trickiest of all
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is a ball bowled with the hand in the same position as a top-spinner,
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but released from *under* the hand, thereby gaining back-spin. This ball
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is called a **flipper**.
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(Mike Whitaker tells me that a flipper is actually bowled from the back
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of the hand like a normal leg-spinner, but with the forearm twisted
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outwards, so the ball spins about a vertical axis. I'm not sure which of
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these is correct, so I'm mentioning both here\!)
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Mike has also kindly supplied a graphic which attempts to show the arm
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and wrist action of the different leg-spin deliveries. Sorry for those
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with only ASCII browsers, but this is too difficult to show in ASCII\!
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For those of you with graphical browsers, the following diagram shows a
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view of a (right-handed) leg-spinner's arm, from in front (i.e.,
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batsman's point of view). The rotation of the ball out of the hand is
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the same in each case, with the ball spinning with the seam as an
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"equator".
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![](legspin.gif)
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So right handed spinners fall into two classes: off-spinners, with their
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simple off-spin and arm-ball deliveries; and leg-spinners, with their
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leg-spinners, top-spinners, wrong 'uns, and flippers. Leg-spinners are
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|
naturally much more difficult to bat against, because of the great
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variety of balls they can produce, but they are actually rarer than
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off-spinners because it is so much more difficult to bowl reasonably
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accurately with the leg-spin hand action.
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For left-handed spin bowlers there is a whole different system of
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nomenclature\!
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A left-handed bowler who uses the same action as an off-spinner is
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called an **orthodox** spinner. Such bowlers are not uncommon. A
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left-hander who bowls with the same action as a leg-spinner is called an
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**unorthodox** spinner - and these are the rarest bowlers in cricket.
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The left-handed analogue of the leg-spin delivery (which spins the
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|
opposite way, of course) is called an unorthodox spinner. The
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top-spinner and flipper retain their names. And the left-handed analogue
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of the wrong 'un is called a **Chinaman** .
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Typical bowling speeds are:
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- Fast bowler:
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130-140 km/h (80-90 mph)
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- Medium pace bowler:
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100-130 km/h (60-80 mph)
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|
- Spin bowler:
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70-90 km/h (45-55 mph)
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Bowlers also make use of the state of the pitch, which is quite crucial
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|
to the game, and is one of the things the commentators look at in great
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|
detail before the game begins. Because it's a natural surface, there are
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|
usually small inconsistencies in its flatness, hardness and elasticity.
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|
Over a multi-day game, or even over a single day, these become more
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|
pronounced, so it often gets more difficult to bat as the game
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|
progresses. Spin bowlers in particular often find that they get much
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|
more spin from an old pitch than a freshly prepared one.
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|
Some of the different types of balls bowled have special names:
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|
- Bouncer:
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A ball bounced short so that it bounces high, usually chest height
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|
or higher as it passes the batsman.
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|
- Yorker:
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|
A ball bounced very close to the batsman's crease. This is difficult
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|
to score from and often gets batsmen out, but is difficult to bowl
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|
without accidentally bowling a full toss.
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|
The different types of shots a batsman can play are described by names:
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|
- Block:
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|
A defensive shot played with the bat vertical and angled down at the
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|
front, intended to stop the ball and drop it down quickly on to the
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|
pitch in front of the batsman.
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|
- Drive:
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|
An offensive shot played with the bat sweeping down through the
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|
vertical. The ball travels swiftly along the ground in front of the
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|
striker. A drive can be an **on drive**, **straight drive**, **off
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|
drive**, or **cover drive**, depending in which direction it goes.
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|
- Cut:
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|
A shot played with the bat close to horizontal, which hits the ball
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|
somewhere in the arc between cover and gully.
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|
- Edge, or Glance:
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|
A shot played off the bat at a glancing angle, through the slips
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|
area.
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|
- Leg Glance:
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|
A shot played at a glancing angle behind the legs, so that it goes
|
|
in the direction of fine leg.
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|
- Pull:
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|
A horizontal bat shot which pulls the ball around the batsman into
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|
the square leg area.
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|
- Sweep:
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|
Like a pull shot, except played with the backmost knee on the
|
|
ground, so as to hit balls which bounce low.
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|
- Hook:
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|
Like a pull shot, but played to a bouncer and intended to hit the
|
|
ball high in the air over square leg - hopefully for six runs.
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|
- French Cut:
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|
An attempt at a cut shot which hits the bottom edge of the bat and
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|
goes into the area behind square leg.
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|
- Reverse Sweep:
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|
A sweep with the bat reversed, into the point area.
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|
Most of these shots can also be **lofted**, in an attempt to hit the
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|
ball over the close fielders (or the boundary). The batting strokes can
|
|
be divided into two categories: **Straight bat** and **cross bat**. The
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|
straight bat shots are played with the bat held close to the vertical,
|
|
and are the blocks, drives and glances. Cross bat shots are played with
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|
the bat held more horizontally, like a baseball bat. These include cuts,
|
|
pulls, sweeps and hooks.
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|
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|
The following terms are used more informally and are not standard:
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|
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|
- Hoik:
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|
A wild swing intended only to hit the ball as hard and as far as
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|
possible, usually with little or no control.
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|
- Agricultural Shot:
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|
Any shot played with very little skill.
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|
|
|
If a bowler completes an over without any runs being scored from it, it
|
|
is termed a **maiden**.
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|
|
|
If a batsman gets out without scoring any runs, he is said to be out for
|
|
a **duck** . The origin of this term is unclear, but commonly rumoured
|
|
to be because the '0' next to his name on the scorecard resembles a duck
|
|
egg. A batsman out for a duck while facing his first delivery of the
|
|
innings is out for a **golden duck**.
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|
|
|
The runs scored while two batsmen bat together are called their
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|
**partnership**. There are ten partnerships per completed innings,
|
|
labelled from **first-wicket partnership** to **tenth-wicket
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|
partnership**, in order.
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|
|
|
A **nightwatchman** is a batsman who comes in to bat out of order
|
|
towards the end of a day's play in a multi-day game, in order to
|
|
'protect' better batsmen. To elucidate, the batting order in an innings
|
|
is usually arranged with two specialists **openers** who begin the
|
|
innings, then the rest of the batsmen in order of skill, best to worst.
|
|
The job of the openers is to bat for a while against the new ball. A
|
|
brand new ball is very hard and bouncy, and fast bowlers can use this to
|
|
great advantage and can often get batsmen out. So it is harder to bat
|
|
against a new ball. It is also somewhat difficult to begin batting. A
|
|
new batsman is more likely to get out than one who has been on the field
|
|
and scoring runs for a while.
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|
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|
Now, in a multi-day game, it sometimes happens that a team's innings
|
|
will have only a few men out towards the end of the day's play. If a
|
|
batsman gets out with about half an hour or less until stumps, the
|
|
batting captain will sometimes send in a poor batsman next instead of a
|
|
good one. The idea is that the poor batsman (the nightwatchman) will
|
|
last 20 minutes and so protect the good batsman from having to make a
|
|
fresh start that evening and again the next morning. It is essentially a
|
|
sacrifice ploy. Of course, it can backfire dangerously if the
|
|
nightwatchman does get out before stumps. The nightwatchman is a tactic
|
|
that is used about 50% of the time when the appropriate situation arises
|
|
(which itself occurs perhaps once every 4 or 5 games). It just depends
|
|
on how the captain feels at the time.
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|
|
|
A **sightscreen** is a large screen positioned on the boundary so that
|
|
it forms a backdrop behind the bowler, so that the striker can see the
|
|
ball clearly. Sightscreens are white when a red ball is used, and black
|
|
for a white ball.
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|
|
|
A **rabbit** is a player (almost invariably a bowler, but sometimes a
|
|
wicket-keeper) who is a very poor batsman. A **ferret** is an
|
|
*extremely* poor batsman (so called because he "goes in after the
|
|
rabbits").
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|
|
|
The following statistics are recorded:
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|
|
|
- Batsmen:
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|
number of runs scored, time spent batting, number of balls faced,
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|
how out (and by which bowler and catcher if appropriate).
|
|
- Bowlers:
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|
number of overs bowled, number of maidens bowled, number of wickets
|
|
taken, number of runs conceded (i.e., scored off his bowling).
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|
- Team:
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|
extras, total runs, wickets fallen, overs bowled, total at each fall
|
|
of wicket.
|
|
|
|
A single innings scorecard might look like this:
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|
|
Australia - 1st Innings
|
|
M. Taylor c Richardson b Snell 12
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|
M. Slater lbw Donald 57
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|
D. Boon b de Villiers 68
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|
M. Waugh not out 184
|
|
A. Border c Rhodes b Donald 0
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|
S. Waugh c Snell b de Villiers 34
|
|
I. Healy c Snell b de Villiers 6
|
|
S. Warne run out 35
|
|
M. Hughes st Richardson b Cronje 10
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|
C. McDermott b de Villiers 41
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|
G. McGrath lbw de Villiers 9
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|
Extras 16
|
|
Total 141 overs 10 for 472
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|
|
Bowling - South Africa
|
|
O M R W
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|
A. Donald 40 5 106 2
|
|
F. de Villiers 37 7 85 5
|
|
R. Snell 32 3 126 1
|
|
C. Simons 15 0 82 0
|
|
H. Cronje 17 2 73 1
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|
FOW: 25, 99, 164, 164, 225, 238, 315, 345, 446, 472
|
|
|
|
The abbreviations are:
|
|
b bowled by
|
|
c caught by
|
|
st stumped by
|
|
O overs
|
|
M maidens
|
|
R runs
|
|
W wickets
|
|
FOW fall of wicket
|
|
|
|
The team score is usually given as "(number of wickets) for (number of
|
|
runs)" in Australia. In England, New Zealand, and some other countries
|
|
it is given as "(number of runs) for (number of wickets)". Bowling
|
|
figures are sometimes printed in shortened form, for example: Donald
|
|
40-5-106-2, de Villiers 37-7-85-5, etc.
|
|
|
|
The partnership scores can be seen from the differences between
|
|
successive fall of wicket scores.
|
|
|
|
Good performances are considered to be:
|
|
|
|
- A batsman scoring 50, or 100, or multiples thereof.
|
|
- A partnership adding 50, or 100, or multiples thereof.
|
|
- A bowler taking five wickets in a single innings.
|
|
- A bowler taking ten wickets in a two innings match. (This is an
|
|
excellent performance and a relatively rare feat.)
|
|
- A bowler taking a **hat trick**, i.e., three wickets in three
|
|
successive balls (perhaps in different overs). This is even more
|
|
rare.
|
|
|
|
Each of these tasks is usually greeted with enthusiastic applause from
|
|
the spectators. The crowd also usually applauds significant events such
|
|
as: any wicket falling, a six, a four, a good over from a bowler (one
|
|
that the batsmen have great difficulty playing safely), a good athletic
|
|
effort from a fielder to gather the ball, the innings total reaching a
|
|
multiple of 50.
|
|
|
|
The number of runs scored in an innings average about 3 per over for a
|
|
first class match, and 4 per over in a one-day match. The variation in
|
|
these numbers can be quite large, differences of up to one run per over
|
|
being not uncommon. In a first class match, a captain makes his decision
|
|
on declaring the innings closed based on the remaining time in the match
|
|
and the size of his team's lead. He will try to allow as much time as
|
|
possible to bowl the opposition out, while ensuring they do not have
|
|
enough time to score enough runs to win.
|
|
|
|
Over a single player's career, the two most important statistics are:
|
|
|
|
- Batting Average:
|
|
The aggregate number of runs scored divided by the number of times
|
|
the batsman has been out. The higher, the better.
|
|
- Bowling Average:
|
|
The aggregate runs scored against a bowler divided by the number of
|
|
wickets taken. The lower, the better.
|
|
|
|
Each of these averages is kept separately for Test cricket, first class
|
|
cricket in general, and one-day cricket. A batting average above 30 is
|
|
very good, 40 excellent, and 50 is legendary. Mention must be made of
|
|
the Australian batsman Sir Donald Bradman, whose career average was a
|
|
record 99.94, far and away the greatest batsman ever to play the game. A
|
|
bowling average below 25 is considered excellent.
|
|
|
|
The official Test Cricket nations are currently: England, Australia,
|
|
West Indies, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka,
|
|
Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh.
|
|
|
|
The West Indies is actually a consortium of Caribbean countries:
|
|
Barbados; Jamaica; Guyana; The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua
|
|
and Barbuda; St. Kitt's-Nevis; Dominica; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the
|
|
Grenadines; Montserrat; and Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
|
|
|
|
Minor cricketing nations (which do not play Test cricket, but do compete
|
|
for a place in the World Cup One-Day competition) include: Ireland,
|
|
Kenya, Fiji, Canada, The Netherlands, USA.
|
|
|
|
The most famous Test cricket Series is The Ashes, played every two years
|
|
between Australia and England. The Ashes trophy is a small urn
|
|
containing "the ashes of English cricket" (in reality the ashes of a set
|
|
of bails), which "died" in a match in 1882 when Australia beat England
|
|
for the first time. The Ashes are currently held by Australia, although
|
|
the physical trophy is kept permanently in a room at Lord's Cricket
|
|
Ground in London.
|
|
|
|
The most infamous event in cricket was the 1932-33 English tour of
|
|
Australia - the **Bodyline** tour. The English team used a new tactic to
|
|
get batsmen out, by bowling at their bodies and placing many fielders in
|
|
short fielding positions backward of square leg. As the batsmen fended
|
|
the ball away in an effort to protect themselves, the ball often flew
|
|
off the edge of the bat into the waiting hands of the fielders, getting
|
|
the batsman out caught. The English referred to this tactic as "Leg
|
|
Theory", but the Australians, angry that the English bowlers were aiming
|
|
at their bodies, christened it "Bodyline".
|
|
|
|
Several Australian batsmen were injured because of this, some seriously.
|
|
The English tactics cause a diplomatic row between the countries. After
|
|
the tour was over, cricket officials introduced the rules against
|
|
dangerous bowling, and the restriction of no more than two fielders
|
|
backward of square leg.
|
|
|
|
Last updated: 1-Dec-2009.
|