Few sports have such a long and rich history like cricket. Even fewer people know that is is a representation of the early colonial settlements, where homes had to be defended from external threats. It belongs to the list of “club and ball” athletics, where one team tries to score points by hitting the ball with a long stick (paddle shaped in this case) and the other wants to take the stick holders out of the game. What we will do here, is present the basics so that people who want to partake into the excitement through wagering at the best Asian and European bookmakers, can reduce the risk of losing because of ignorance and make the endeavor as profitable as can be.
The area where the game is played
The diagram includes a lot of references that need explaining. Especially since the terms do not correspond to similar concepts of other sports such as baseball. Let’s begin:
There are no specific rules for the total playfield area. It may vary depending on the local or international character of the game. However, the inner rectangle where most of the action is carried out, needs to be 22 yards (20.12 meters) long, by 10 feet (3.04 meters) wide. It’s actually this inner rectangle that’s called “the pitch”.
Let’s examine the details of the pitch itself:
- The stumps
Also called “wickets”. It’s the wooden structures of three vertical posts and two horizontal connectors atop. The latter are called “bails” - As you can see in the image on the right, the inner lines that form the partitions for each area are called “creases” The lines forming the outer layout are called “boundaries”.
Now let’s explain the positions that are depicted in the total playarea diagram:
- The bowler is the person that throws the ball to the batter in an effort to either hit the stumps behind them or get him caught on foul shots. If the person is also good as a hitter, then the term is “all-rounder“.
- The striker is the person holding the bat and tries to score points by hitting the ball as far and as high as possible.
- The non-striker is another batman that stands on the bowler’s side of the pitch. Essentially he takes the position of the striker at the end of an over.
- The wicket keeper is the player that stands behind the batter with the intention of catching the ball and sending it back to the bowler in an effort to prevent base runs.
- The slips stand to the “off” side of the wicket keeper and need to catch the ball after it has been hit by the striker and comes to their area. Their number is a matter of the team captain’s discretion. Usually 2 or 3.
- The gully is also supposed to catch the ball when its direction lies at an angle between 100 and 140 degrees between the two sets of stamps.
- The point, the cover and the extra cover form the outer “off” side if the infield. Players in those positions are also meant to catch the ball and throw it back to the bowler.
- The mid-on, mid-off, long-on and long-off positions intend to catch the ball when it is thrown on the half circle are behind the bowler
- Leg gullies, leg slips, long legs and backward square legs perform the same function as their opposite numbers on the other side of the pitch.
- Fly and deep fly slips, fine and deep fine legs, deep extra covers, deep covers and deep points, form the rest of the positions on the outfield, each one with the task to catch the ball when it is hit hard and goes their way.
During play, each team competes with 11 players while a 12th is used a substitute. Since there are more than 11 fieldings that can be used, it is the team Captain’s choice to assign which player should go to which position.
In the diagram there are also positions that are preceded by the term “silly”. These refer to placements closer to the striker than what is customary.
In this section we covered the subject matter of where players can be positioned around the area of play to achieve their objectives. Sometimes “silly” placements have no other purpose than to create pressure to the opponent so that they make a mistake. In the next chapter of this journey we will examine aspects of the rules of the game and other critical issues that may help those who want to open a betting account via agent, maximize their profits.