The term basic rules comes from cricket, the sport that is played with a ball and bat. These are the same things you would use to play any other type of football (soccer) or field hockey. There are five main components of the game: bowler, batsman, pitch, goal and field.
The terms basics or first-time players refer to those parts of the game that do not change much. For example, there is a very standard way each team’s bowlers run between the wicket and their own batting side before bowling.
There are also very standard ways each team’s batsmen go into the crease, how many balls they get per over, and so on. And there are very standard ways each team uses the field, the pitch, for the whole match.
This article will talk about the different types of player in cricket and some tips for beginner players who want to learn more about the game. But first, what are the basic rules?
Basic rule number one: The aim of the game is to score as many runs as possible
That sounds simple enough, but it can be tricky at times for new players. Sometimes, instead of thinking “I need to make sure I have scored as many runs as I possibly can,” your mind starts working on the next thing: making sure your team wins!
Making sure your team wins is an excellent second thought.
Applying the rule book
The term “rule” is used very loosely in cricket. There are actually only five rules that apply during a match, but they seem like a lot at first! These are known as the laws of cricket, and you will learn them all here.
The Laws of Cricket were originally established by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) back in 1833. Since then, many different governing bodies have adapted these laws to make sure everything runs smoothly.
These include making changes to the law or leaving some out completely. Some say there should be no way to use your hands as a bat, while others disagree.
But overall, the laws have remained pretty much unchanged for over 150 years now! That’s quite an achievement when you think about it.
How to clock your runs
Clocking your runs is one of the most important things you will do as an aspiring cricket player. It can be tricky at first, but with practice, you will get faster!
There are two main ways to measure how quickly you reach top speed in cricket. They are called time trials and free-throw shooting. Both require you to have a good understanding of the game, so we will go into more detail about each one below.
Time trial
This is done during limited overs games (20–30 minutes per innings). The timing for this varies from club level up through national teams.
Usually there is a five minute warmup before the captain chooses a length of run you need to complete as fast as possible. This depends on what type of pitch it is and whether or not the ball bounces too much.
After the warmup, the bowler throws the ball towards where you normally start your run and then watches you make your way back down the pitch. This is timed and if you take longer than expected, they give out penalties such as no rest or even suspension.
The same goes for when you return the ball after hitting it away. If you pick it up early, you could lose points due to being slow. There is usually enough time given between returns for players to assess how hard they want to kick the ball.
Free throw
This happens during international matches and some domestic tournaments.
How to clock your balls
The next important thing for cricket fans to learn is how to time your ball. This will vary from player to player, but most professional cricketers have their own timing secrets they know about.
For example, some players use something called the front foot sweep as an effective way to take off and score quickly. They shift their weight forward slightly before stepping with the right leg, using their strong ankle as a pivot. Then they swing the back leg up and across in a sweeping motion, propelling them backwards and away from the batsman.
This technique works because the faster you are going, the more momentum you get when you hit the ground.
Keep your wicket down
The term “keep” refers to how you handle the ball when it is in the field of play, either as it comes off the bat or from a stroke. A good keeper will always try to keep his or her hands as close to the ground as possible while the ball is in the air.
This is because he or she wants to make sure that their hand is there to catch the ball no matter what kind of shot is taken. For example, if the batsman hits the ball hard and it goes extremely high, the keeper would run at a very fast speed to be able to catch it.
If they do not have enough time to react to the ball going up, then it can become difficult for them to retain control over it. This could result in a goal being scored or even a fumble which could cost the team the game.
The line and length
The important thing to remember about cricket is that the field is always changing size. The pitch, or playing area, gets bigger as the game goes on. This happens because the ball keeps bouncing off it- either due to bounce (the surface is hard) or runoff (the grass grows faster than the turf does). Thus, more space is needed for the players to move around the field.
The lines you measure your field in are what determines how big the field becomes. These include the boundaries, the middle, and the width of the pitch.
By the time a new batsman comes out, the last one has already been bowled or caught by a fielder. So, instead of having to change the position of the boundary or the centre line, they just make the other side of the field longer!
This way, there’s enough room for the same number of runs but they can be scored from farther away. Because of this, the scoring limit is determined not by the size of the field, but by the distance between the two sides. A very long pitch means you cannot score many runs per player unless the field is really large, so most countries have chosen a limited amount of runs per over to keep things interesting.
Know your opponent
In cricket, there are two types of players you will meet- good or bad. You must be able to tell which type of player someone is before you can determine if they are worth your time as a spectator or not.
A person’s style of play is an important factor in determining this. There are several rules that everyone agrees upon, but no one seems to know what exactly defines them. That is why it is so hard to say who is really good at criclbe!
Some people think fast bowlers are more talented than spinners because their field goes up when the ball is delivered. Others believe great batsmen are always successful even though some of the greatest never had enough success while bowling.
There is no single rule that determines if a bowler or batsman is better, but by studying the games of many different individuals you will eventually find patterns and learn how to apply those lessons to yourself.
By watching these masters and learning from their mistakes, you can improve your own game.
Use the conditions
The key to good cricket is knowing when to play your natural game style, and when to change it up. This is why there are so many different types of cricketers in sports like this!
There are very few constants in any sport, but one that you will find consistently across all versions of the game is condition – weather or not it’s playable.
If the field is too wet or muddy then normal rules don’t apply (for example, if it’s pitch-black outside, night time games come into effect). If it’s hot then batsmen can get out for being over heated, while bowlers may struggle to keep their hands cool enough.
And if it’s cold then balls take longer to bounce, run away more slowly and players feel less comfortable in their shoes!
So how does this relate to playing styles?
Well, some people have totally opposite ways of batting depending on what kind of ball they are facing. For instance, someone who plays spin could really do with having some fast bowling thrown in from time to time!
Similarly, some people just ‘play through the shot’ and therefore won’t try anything else unless they absolutely have to.
Play to your strengths
In cricket, players are given different roles based on what position they play. Some positions require you to be strong at batting or bowling, for example a batsman or a wicketkeeper/fielding specialist.
But there is one position that doesn’t rely too much on strength — goalkeeper. A good goal-keeper can save even the most poorly struck ball, so their team gives them chances to do just that!
If you are not naturally strong, don’t worry about it. You do not need to be the strongest person in order to enjoy this sport. Find a position that feels comfortable to you, and work from there.
