Though cricket has grown in popularity around the world, with 104 countries maintaining membership in the International Cricket Council as of 2010, the sport remains mysterious to many Americans. If you have grown accustomed to watching baseball, you might have trouble following this sport that resembles baseball in many ways but has completely different rules. Learn more about cricket and then try watching it or even playing it yourself.
History
According to ESPN's "Cricinfo," the sport of cricket has its beginnings somewhere in Northern Europe sometime before the Normans invaded England. By the 15th century, the sport had evolved into a popular leisure activity. In 1598, Florio's Italian-English dictionary mentioned the sport. ESPN's Cricinfo cites 1710 as the year of the first mention of cricket at the University of Cambridge. Canada and the United States played the first official match between two countries in 1844. The first cricket World Cup took place in 1975, with the West Indies beating Australia in the finals.
Basic Concept
Cricket requires two teams of 11 players, each and an oval field with a pitch in the middle. One batter, or batsmen, stands at either end of the pitch, and the bowler pitches, or "bowls," the ball to one of the batters. That batter tries to hit the ball in order to score runs for his team. Unlike American baseball, in which the batter must protect an invisible "strike zone," a cricket batter must protect the wicket behind him.
Equipment
Cricket requires wooden cricket bats and a ball made of cork and string and wrapped in leather. Three sticks of wood called "stumps," with two smaller pieces of wood called "bails" balanced between them, constitute the wickets. One wicket, each made of three stumps and two bails, sits behind each batter. You also need certain protective gear to play cricket, including padding, gloves and a helmet. Most cricket uniforms include all-white or solid-colored clothing and spiked shoes.
Runs
As a batter, you can score runs in a variety of ways. As soon as you hit the ball, you can begin to run to the opposite end of the pitch while the batter opposite you does the same. Each time you manage to reach the opposite end, you scores a run. However, a fielder can throw you out at any time by hitting the bails off of the wicket with the ball. You can also score runs by hitting the ball out of the field. If you hit a ball toward the edge of the field and it rolls out of bounds, you score four runs. If you hit the ball straight out of the field, you score six runs.
Outs
As a fielder, you can get the batters out multiple ways. You can hit the bails off of the stumps with the ball while the batters are running or catch the ball hit by the batter in the air before it bounces. As the bowler, you can also get the batter out. If you hit the stumps behind the batter before he hits the ball, you get the batter out. If the batter blocks the ball before with his body before it hits the wicket, this constitutes an out according to the Leg Before Wicket rule.
Countries
The International Cricket Council, or ICC, has 104 member countries. Ten of these countries have full membership and qualify to play at the Test Level, the highest level of international cricket competition. These 10 countries are Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
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