How To Play Cricket Game

While there are many similarities between baseball and cricket, this is how to play a cricket game. Be sure to read all the rules before playing. The cricket game is played on an oval field with a strip that runs down the middle of the field lengthwise. This line is the pitch where the bowler will bowl the ball to the batsman, which should be 22 yards long. The field should have a boundary line around the outside. The cricket game starts out with the captains doing a coin toss to see who goes first.

Things you will need:

• Bat
• Cricket Ball
• 2 Wickets
• 2 Gloves
• 2 Teams of 11 Players

1. Positions.  The cricket game starts out with the fielding team out in the field to stop runs or get outs. The bowler stands behind the wicket, and takes the ball. The wicket-keeper, the only player who wears protective gear, squats behind the wicket on the opposite side. There are two batsmen, one is the striker and the other the non-striker. The striker stands in front of his wicket in a batting stance warning up, and the non-striker stands behind the popping crease waiting to run.
2. Bowling. The bowler (pitcher) runs up from behind the non-striker’s wicket and goes past one side of the wicket. When the bowler reaches the non-striker’s popping crease, he bowls the ball toward the striker, often allowing the ball to bounce once on the pitch before it gets to the striker.
3. Striker (batsman).  The striker attempts to hit the ball.  If he misses it is caught by the wicket-keeper. If he hits it, the two batsmen may score runs. Either way, the ball is completed. The ball remains in play until it is missed, a run is made or it hits the striker’s clothing or equipment after which it is considered dead. It then goes back to the bowler for the next delivery to the striker. When six balls are completed it is considered an over and it goes to the next batsman at the opposite end of the pitch and the process is repeated.
4. Innings. If a batsman gets out, the ball is dead and play passes to the next batsman, until ten batsmen are out and one remains not out. This constitutes an inning. The number of innings to be played is determined before the game.
5. Runs. When a batsman hits the ball, runs between the popping creases and crosses over midway between them, a run is scored. They can then come back for another run. The fielders try to prevent runs by running out one of the batsmen. The batsmen carry their bats with them. The batsman is out if the fielder hits a wicket with the ball and dislodges one or both bails. The nearest batsman is then out. The batsman can also elect not to run.
6. Scores. If the ball reaches the boundary fence he scores four runs without having to run. If the ball goes over the boundary on the full side, six runs are scored. Either one completes the ball. In either instance if the fielder gathers the ball and steps outside or touches the boundary the runs are also scored. Runs can be added or subtracted by overthrows or one shorts.
7. Outs. There are ten ways to get out in the cricket game, but the most common ones are: by the fielder catching the ball, if the batsman misses the ball and the wicket gets broken, if the batsman misses the ball but it hits his body, if the batsman misses the ball and steps outside his crease allowing the wicket-keeper to get the ball and break the wicket, or if the fielder breaks the batsman’s wicket while he is out of the crease.
8. Officials. There are two umpires that make all the field decisions for the cricket game and their word is final. A third umpire may be used at an offside location with a television monitor for replays. If there is any doubt, the umpire must rule in favor of the batsman. There is also a match referee who presides over the cricket game and determines penalties when certain rules are broken.