Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, played by over 1 billion people around the globe. There are three major tournaments that determine which country will win the championship season every year – The ICC World Cup, The ICC Champions Trophy, and The ICC Cricket World League (CCWL).
The winner of each tournament gets to represent their national cricket team at the next level. For example, if England wins the ICC World Cup this summer then they get to play in the 2019-20 ICC Cricket World Cup as an OIympic nation! If India or Australia win either of the two competitions mentioned above then they automatically go into the CCWL Championship where they compete against other teams in different leagues depending on how big the competition is.
This article will talk you through all the different ways that points are awarded for cricket matches and what difference these small changes can make towards determining who the champion is!
We’ll also look at some strategies that can be used when trying to reduce your side’s score, and tips for betting on games.
Laws of cricket
The laws of the game are not limited to the field or the pitch, but also include what happens before the match starts. These rules cover everything from how players should dress while coming onto the field, to what kind of equipment they can use, to whether you can drop a ball in your house.
The most important rule is that there must be a umpire present at all times during a cricket match. This person’s job is to check if any of the other laws have been broken and to give out the correct number of runs for each player.
It is very difficult to play cricket without breaking one of the many rules about how the game should be played.
Playing cricket
As we mentioned before, there are five main positions in cricket – wicketkeeper, batsman, bowler, goalkeeper and fielders. The term position applies to all of these players, but only one person can be assigned to a given position at once.
The number 5 fielder is usually referred to as a “close” fielder because he or she is supposed to watch close games and get out if needed. A more advanced player might be able to play other positions, but not many do.
Most professional teams have an assistant coach who handles different roles for the team. This may include being the head coach of the fielding group, organizing practice with the individual positions, etc.
Running through the drills with each position takes time so most coaches just use trained professionals where they can find them. There are several leagues that require people to know how to field, so this is probably your best bet unless you are very skilled.
The field
A cricket ground consists of three main components: the pitch, the boundary lines, and the circle or ‘field’ that is in between them. This field is referred to as the cricket field or simply the field.
The size of this field depends on the type of match you are watching. For example, a test will have a much larger field than a one-day game. That is why test matches can feel more dramatic — there is more space for play.
However, outside of the international games, most domestic tournaments use what is called a 50 over game format. These games last fifty balls per team with twenty minutes of stoppage time at a half-time.
This gives each side enough time to rest before they go onto the next ball. There are also ten minutes at the end of the game where teams can make their changes and/or discuss strategy.
The batsman
As we know, in cricket there are two main players; you have either got to play as a batter or a wicket-keeper. A batter has to run around a field for a while, trying to get a piece of the bat onto a ball so that they can hit it with their hands.
The most common way to score a goal in soccer is through a goalkeeper, but in cricket it’s via what’s called an extra-wicket. That happens when someone other than a bowler bowls a fast (ball faster than a normal one) bouncer at a batsman who isn’t ready for it. If the batsman fails to defend themselves from it then it becomes his wicket.
If a player scores a goal by using this technique then they will usually go up against the referee to see if they should be awarded the win because it was not due to bad luck.
The bowler
As we mentioned before, the type of person to play cricket is very different from the kind that plays football or rugby. With the exception of bowling, which is similar in some ways to being a goalkeeper in soccer, there are no positions in cricket. A cricketer can be either a batter (or player) or a bowler, but not both at the same time.
This is part of what makes cricket unique. Even though there are only two main positions, you get to see a wide variety of players take the field. Some people are really good at batting, while others focus more on bowlers.
There are many things about the game that depend on who you are as a player and how well you perform in your position. This is why it’s important to know the basics of each position.
The basics of the batsman
Team captain: The team captain is always one person short during a match. He goes out with the rest of his teammates, but he does not field. Instead, he usually sits behind the wicket and calls the shots for the other end.
Fielding: While most teams have an all-rounder position like ours, they do not necessarily make him the final decision maker when it comes to balls in the air.
The wicketkeeper
As we mentioned before, the wicket-keeper is an integral part of cricket. They do not simply keep the ball in the field for as long as possible, but they are also very important players.
The position of wicket-keeper changes from country to country and even within individual teams! That’s why it can be tricky to know what role someone plays in the team aside form just keeping the balls out.
Usually you have one person who keeps taking responsibility of the gloves while the other does something else. It depends on which positions are vacant at that time and how well these people play their jobs!
There are five different types of wicketkeepers in cricket: (GK) gloveman, (IG) infielder/halfback, (CBU or CWB) close-behind-the-bowler, (WI) wide receiver, and (RV) run-and-catch.
Each type has its own specialisation and responsibilities. For example, the glove man must take good care of the batsmen’s hands whereas the half back needs to know where every player is on the pitch so he can relay information to his teammates.
A few countries use more than one type of wicket keeper at once, like England with both Ian Gould and Jonny Bairstow being used during international matches.
The ball
The cricket ball is one of the most important pieces in the game. It is what you will spend the majority of time with while playing the sport, so it makes sense to get the right one.
The size and weight of the ball can have a big impact on how well your ball goes where you want it to go. This includes whether or not you are able to hit a straight shot nor do you find yourself getting stuck as the ball comes down harder and thus takes longer to reach the field of play.
The types of balls used in the game vary slightly depending on the type of cricket. For example, test match balls are heavier and faster than limited-overs (or ODI) balls which are usually bouncier. Test matches last three days, so the balls need to be heavy enough to handle all that action!
There are different made-up layers within each ball that affect its performance. These include leather, cloth, and cork. Changing the material composition of the ball alters how hard it bounces and how aerodynamic it is. Bouncy balls are better for pro players because they allow them to work the ball more during batting and bowling runs.
But too much bounce can also prove frustrating for the player using it because the ball doesn’t hold a good line very long before bouncing away.
How the game is scored
The final score of a cricket match is determined by how many runs each team gets during the course of the competition. A run in cricket means one player goes around the field and hits or throws the ball into the stands, or kicks it using their feet. These are all considered to be running with the ball so they contribute a run to your total.
A couple things happen when a team reaches its half-way mark of ten innings. They stop counting their own runs and start adding up the other teams’ runs instead. This is called scoring negative points because you lose credit for making an offensive play against them!
The number of positive points a team earns depends on whether or not they win the match. If they do, then they get a certain amount of points based on how much time has been added onto the end of their current period (the season or tournament). For example, if they won a three-match series, they would get three times the number of points as if they lost the last game of the series.
