On the first part of our discussion for the terminology of this most complicated sport, we addressed the basic concepts of the pitch and the player positions. Now it is time to begin the discussion on some deeper issues that actually create the excitement and allow bettors to understand what it is that they are watching and placing their bets on.
The format of a match
Just like the half times of a football match or the periods of a basketball match, cricket is separate into innings. Typically, a day match lasts for six hours and is divided into four innings. However, this is dependent upon the number of strikers that have been eliminated, the decision of the captain of the team, or the number of overs that have been completed.
That last term refers to the process of switching sides and players during the game. An over is completed when the bowler has delivered six consecutive deliveries. Another player must then become the bowler. Teams also switch sides when ten out of the eleven players on the batting side have been taken out.
Scoring points
The objective of each side competing is to score points. In cricket, this is done by making runs, i.e. the striker must cover the distance between the line he stands and the line the bowler through the ball from after they have hit it with their bat. Depending on the circumstances, for each shot up to six runs can be scored. However, this is not the only way to put points on the board. Here are the rest:
- No ball
Actually this is a penalty call and it occurs when the bowler either aims the throw directly to the body of the striker or they are out of position, or if the players in the field are standing in illegal positions. A no ball cannot be called against a striker. - Wide ball
This is a call that is made if the ball has been thrown too far away from the striker giving them no chance to hit it. - Bye
If a bowler throws and the call is neither for a “no ball” nor for a “wide ball”, nevertheless, the ball goes behind the striker without them hitting it with their bats and without the wickets being disturbed, then a “bye” run is scored. - Leg bye
This is also essentially a penalty call and it is made when the ball has hit the body of the striker. A prerequisite here is that the batman did make an attempt to touch the ball with the bat. If this has not been the case, then runs are not scored.
Taking a striker out
If scoring runs is the offense, then what the other side needs to do to prevent them from doing so, is the defense. Let’s see how you can take strikers off the crease:
- Bowled
The bowler should always attempt to strike the wicket behind the striker. When this happens and at least one bail is removed by the touch, then the batsman is taken out. - Caught
After a striker has touched the ball either with their hand, or with the bat, or with the glove, if the ball is caught by any fielder before it touches the ground, the batsman leaves the pitch. - Leg before wicket
The bat holder must not be blocking the path of the ball to the wicket with his body. If that happens then a call us made against them by the umpire. - Stumped
The wicket behind the striker can be taken down by the wicket keeper if they notice that the batsman is out of the crease but not attempting to score a run. - Run out
If the striker has not completed the distance they need to cover to score a run and a fielder manages to hit the wicket with the ball, then the runner is out. - Hit wicket
The bat holder must not disturb the wicket. If they do so while preparing to hit the ball or during a run, it’s a penalty that takes them off the pitch. - Timed out
There is a time limit of three minutes between the instance when the previous striker was ousted, until the next one takes up the position. If it is exceeded, then the new batsman is also taken out. - Out Hit the ball twice
Strikers are only supposed to touch the ball once after it has been thrown. If they do so for a second time before any other fielder has touched it, then they are taken off the crease. There is only one exception and it happens when they do so to protect their wicket. - Obstructing the field
Any word or action that a striker takes that disrupts or obstructs the free play of any fielder is punishable and results in the player taken out.
Cricket is a sport that includes plenty of rules and terms. We brought some of those forth to get you more acquainted with the intricacies involved in our first two discussions. On the next one we will introduce the fouls and the penalties so that the big picture is complete. Meanwhile, you can, of course, go ahead and open an account via agent and reap the benefits of what you have learned so far.