Cricket is a sport of English origin that, in some ways, outwardly resembles the American game of baseball. Instead of a pitcher, there's a "bowler," and pitch actually refers to the rectangular prepared grass on clay part of the field. The essence of the game is the attempt to bat a ball and score runs in a series of innings. While the bowler delivers balls to the batsman, teammates deploy around the field to field a hit. Behind the batsman is a wicket that the fielding team can break to "dismiss" the batsman.
History
According to Stickie Wicket, extensive research into the origins of cricket have produced several different theories, none of which can be conclusively established. In any event, there is evidence of games as early as 1550 at a grammar school in Guildford. The game thrived through the 18th century primarily as an opportunity for gambling. London's Marylebone Cricket Club, or MCC, founded in 1787, today keeps the official laws of the game.
Field
Cricketers play on an oval grass field. The outer limit is the "boundary." In the center of the field is a specially prepared rectangle area called the pitch, which according to Law 7 can be made of turf or artificial surfaces. The 10-by-66-feet pitch is where the bowling and batting occurs. At either end of the pitch are two sets of three spikes (stumps) which hold a pair of bails, collectively called a wicket.
Batting and Bowling
From one end of the pitch, the bowler delivers the ball towards a player at the other end, who wears padding and carries a bat. The goal of the striker is first to prevent the bowler's ball from hitting the wicket behind him. When the striker hits the ball, he and the batsman waiting at the other end may run to other end of the pitch if it is safe to do so. The fielders on the bowler's team attempt to field and "break" the wicket with the ball, by dislodging the bails before the runners get to their safe zone, at the ends of the pitch.
Innings and Overs
An "over" in cricket consists of six fair deliveries of the ball. The bowlers then rests and another bowler operates from the other end of the pitch. An "innings" in cricket may last until all the batsmen on one side have batted and 10 of the 11 dismissed -- one batsman is left "not out" because batsmen work in pairs. A striker is out in one of ten ways, some obscure, but most involve the breaking of the wicket either by the bowler, the fielders or the striker.
Member Comments