The sport of cricket is played professionally around the world; it is very popular in South Africa, India and Europe. Cricket is similar to baseball in the fact that offensive players score runs by hitting the ball out into the field. Just like in baseball, the defensive team in cricket has a designated player who pitches the ball to the batter. The objective in cricket is to score more runs than the opposing team.
History
The exact date and location of the invention of cricket remains unknown. According to the Cricket Records website, the earliest known reference to the sport of cricket can be found in a document that was exchanged between Prince Edward of England and his friend Piers Gaveston. This early document dates back to the year 1300. The first recorded cricket match took place in Kent, England, in the year 1646. The primitive bats used in the early years of cricket had a crude, club-like design. Cricket Records states that the earliest known photograph of a cricket match was taken in 1857.
Batting
In cricket, each team scores runs after hitting the ball with the flat barrel of the bat. Instead of running around designated bases like in baseball, the players in cricket must run to where the pitcher stands and then back again to score one run. Both the batter and pitcher stand in front of a wooden structure known as a wicket. The batter must guard his wicket as he attempts to hit the ball. If the pitcher hits the batter's wicket, the batter is out. Each cricket team has a standard size of 11 players. Unlike conventional baseball (which has three outs), the pitcher must get 11 outs to rotate his team from defense to offense.
Fielding
Cricket takes place on grassy outdoor fields as well as carpeted indoor playing arenas. The defensive team in cricket is commonly referred to as the fielding team. The fielding team tries to retrieve the cricket ball as quickly as possible to prevent the opposing team from scoring runs. A fielder tries to catch the ball out of the air once it has made contact with the cricket bat. A batter whose ball is caught in the air by a fielder is out.
Innings
The game of cricket consists of a specified number of innings; the number of innings is decided before the game begins. Cricket games are comprised of either two or four innings. One inning is completed after the fielding team gets every player on the offensive team out. Each team has an equal number of batting opportunities. Innings do not have a specified length, and professional cricket matches have been known to last up to five days.
Prevention/Solution
Professional and amateur cricket players use safety equipment to prevent injuries. Pitchers often make the mistake of hitting the batter with the hard ball while aiming at the wicket. Common safety equipment seen in cricket includes a protective helmet that protects the face, padded chest protectors and shin guards to shield the body from stray pitches.
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