Cricket originated in England and is reportedly the second most popular sport in the world, according to an article in The New York Times titled "Playing a Sport With Balls and Bats, but No Pitcher." Cricket is similar to baseball in many ways. Two teams compete during a match using bats and a ball with the goal of scoring as many runs as possible.
History
The first recorded cricket match took place in 1646, and the sport became popular in England during the 1700s. The official rules of the game were adopted in 1744. Initially, no regulations covered the shape or size of bats and players didn't wear protective padding.
Function
Each team of 11 players competes on a pitch, or a grass field. Players bat or bowl on a length of grass called a wicket, located in the center of the pitch. Each end of the wicket has three sticks called stumps that are placed upright and adjacent to each other. Two smaller sticks called bails are played on top of both sets of stumps. A crease, or a chalk outline, is drawn in front of each stump. Batters play in pairs and line up at each end of the wicket as one team bowls the ball to the opposing team. A player called the wicket keeper stands behind the batter to retrieve balls that come across from the bowler, according to the website ABC of Cricket. An inning is complete when all batters are dismissed or the team's captain closes the inning.
Scoring
Batters score by hitting the ball and then running between the wickets before the ball touches the stumps. Four runs are awarded when a ball successfully travels outside of the playing field after touching the ground. Six runs are given if the ball leaves the field without touching the ground. When a player bowls the ball incorrectly, the opposing team receives a number of runs based on where the ball stops on the field.
Player Dismissal
A batter is dismissed when he is unable to stop the ball from hitting the stumps or if he hits the ball and the ball is caught before it touches the ground. Dismissal also occurs when a player runs to the wicket and the ball strikes the wicket prior to his arrival at the crease. When the wicket keeper is able to remove the bails from the wicket with the ball after the batter steps forward without leaving any part of the bat behind in the crease, the batter is dismissed.
Lack of Popularity in America
While cricket is popular in nations that were once ruled by Britain, including Jamaica, Pakistan and India, the sport lacks a large following in the United States. The New York Times article reports that many Americans find cricket difficult to understand because of its differences with baseball, primarily balls being bowled rather than pitched and athletes running with the bat. Cricket also differs from baseball in that fielders are prohibited from wearing gloves. Also, there is no foul territory in cricket.
Member Comments