PROJECT FILE: ISHWAR DASS

PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROJECT ON

CRICKET

Cricket – “A magic word in the sphere of sports.”

INTRODUCTION
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players
on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard
long pitch. One team bat, trying to score as many runs as possible
while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen
and thus limit the runs scored by the batting team. A run is scored by
the striking batsman hitting the ball with his bat, running to the opposite
end of the pitch and touching the crease there without being dismissed.
The teams switch between batting and fielding at the end of an innings

In professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 20 overs of six

bowling deliveries per side to Test cricket played over five days. The
Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council(ICC)
and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard
Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals. [1]

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world behind soccer. The
ICC, the game's governing body, has ten full members. The game is
[3]

played particularly in Australasia, the Indian subcontinent, the West

Indies, Southern Africa and England.

HISTORY
The game of cricket has known as history spanning from the 16th
century to the present day, with international matches played since
1844, although the official history of international Test cricket began
in 1877. During this time, the game developed from its origins in
England into a game which is now played professionally in most of the
Commonwealth of Nations.
The first evidence of cricket being played was recorded in the year
1550, by the pupils of Royal Grammar School, Guildford. In the year
1611 it is reported that two young men from Sussex were punished for
playing cricket instead of going
to the church. The first match is recorded to have been played at
Coxheath in Kent in the year 1646.
Cricket was in fact a major gambling sport towards the end of the
17th century. It is recorded that in the year 1679, a 11-a- side
match was played with stakes as high as 50 guineas per side.
During the 18th century cricket survived and thrived due to the huge
amounts of money via monetary backing and gambling.

The first instance of a match to be played between counties in

England is recorded to be on 29th June in the year 1709. This match
was played between Surrey and Kent at Dartford Brent.

The 18th century also witnessed the emergence of two types of

cricket players. They were known as the retained player and the
individual player. Generally the retained player was the servant of
the lord and a cricketer as well. On the other hand the individual
player was free to play anywhere with his skills
 In the year 1787, the Marylebone Cricket Club also known MCC was
created.
The MCC has since then gone on to become one of the most prominent
bodies in world cricket. The late 18th century was a very crucial phase
for the development of the game, both within and outside Britain. The
game was spread far and wide mainly due to England’s imperialism.
The first official match was held between Canada and United States
was held in the year1844.
In the present times, cricket has its own following of loyal fans.
The International Cricket Council, better known as the ICC is the
governing body in world cricket. The ICC was founded on the 15th of
June in the year 1909. All laws relating to ODIs and Test Cricket are
framed and implemented by the ICC.

INDIAN CRICKET

Cricket was popularized by English settlers and the British army. The
Oriental Club was the first all-Indian cricket club, specifically for a
Indian religious sect. In 1906, a triangular match was played with the
Hindus, the Parsis, and the Europeans; however in 1912, it became a
quadrangular tournament with a Muslim team. The National
championship has been played since 1934 for the Ranji Trophy, named
for K.S. Ranjit singh, one of the most famous Indian cricketers

21ST-CENTURY CRICKET
Cricket remains a major world sport in terms of participants,
spectators and media interest.
Cricket's newest innovation is Twenty20, essentially an evening
entertainment. It has so far enjoyed enormous popularity and has
attracted large attendances at matches as well as good TV audience
ratings. The inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup tournament was held
in 2007 with a follow-up event in 2009. The formation of Twenty20
leagues in India – the unofficial Indian Cricket League,
which started in 2007, and the official Indian Premier League, starting
in 2008 – raised much speculation in the cricketing press about their
effect on the future of cricket.

HOW IS CRICKET PLAYED ?

In cricket, there are two teams, the batting and the non batting. Nine
members of the non batting team are in the field, one is the
wicketkeeper, and one is the bowler, for a total of 11 players. The
batting team designates the order of the batters, where the first batter
is called the striker. A batsman tries to guard his wicket, while the
bowler tries to hit it

The batsman tries to keep the bowler from hitting the wicket with the
ball, while also attempting to hit the ball hard enough to give him time
to run to the other end of the pitch, before any of the non batting team
picks up the ball and hits the wicket. If the wicket is broken, by a
thrown ball or by the wicketkeeper bowler, the batsman is dismissed.
The striker does not have to run after he hits the ball, and a miss does
not count against him. However, if he gets a hit and thinks he can
score a run, he runs for the opposite wicket while the second batsman
- the nonstriker - runs toward him. If they each reach the
opposite wicket before a wicket is broken, a run is scored. Also, if the
batsmen thing there is time, they may run back for two or more runs,
crossing each time. If They score an even number of runs, the striker is
the next to hit the ball. However, if an odd runs, the striker is the next
to hit the ball. However, if an odd number is scored, the nonstriker will
be facing the bowler and thus getting his chance to hit the ball. Any
runs scored in this manner go to his personal score for the game.
When a hit ball goes beyond the boundary, the game is paused and
four runs are added to the team's score. In order for the team's score
to go up, several other things may happen other than the batsman
scoring runs. A bye occurs when a ball from the bowler is missed
by the batsman, but he can still make a run. A leg bye happens when
the ball touches part of the batsman's body, but he can still make
good a run. A wide occurs when the ball is out of reach of the striker,
and this counts for a run. No balls occur when the ball is improperly
bowled. Each of these extras add points to a side's score.

If a bowler bowls six balls, not counting wides and no balls, he

completes what is termed an over. A new over is then begun by a
different bowler at the opposite wicket. The field must also adjust
accordingly. If a bowler bowls a complete over without a batsman
personally scoring a run, it is called a maiden over.
A bowler may bowl either right or left armed, propelling the ball
overhand without bending his elbow. He is allowed any number of steps
to give a delivery, but he may not cross the bowling crease. A good
bowler must be able to control length and direction, which includes the
spin placed on the ball to attempt to deceive the batsman into being
dismissed.
A batsman may hit either right or left handed, based on a vertical bat
with its entire blade faced to the ball. There are many different batting
strokes, including the forward stroke, the back stroke, the leg glance,
and the cut.
A batsman may hit either right or left handed, based on a vertical bat
with its entire blade faced to the ball. There are many different batting
strokes, including the forward stroke, the back stroke, the leg glance,
and the cut.
Fieldsmen must be quick runners, with good hand-eye coordination and
the ability to throw a cricket ball far. He should be able to guess the
batsman's strokes, and act accordingly.
The wicketkeeper should have exceptionally good reaction time and
sharp sight. He must concentrate fully on every ball.

CRICKET EQUIPMENTS

WICKET AND CREASES - A wicket is three stakes or stumps placed

into the ground so that a cricket ball cannot pass between them. There
are Three wickets, which the bowler attacks and which the batsman
defends. The creases are lines
of whitewash that mark the ground at each wicket. The bowling and
return creases mark the area where the bowler's rear foot must be
placed when bowling the ball; the popping crease marks the area
which is the batsman'sground.

BAT AND BALL - The bat is paddle shaped made of willow and
approximately 11 centimeters wide. It, including the handle, may not
under regulation exceed 97 centimeters in length. The ball is made of
a core of cork encased in red leather. The two leather halves are sewn
together with a raised seam. A baseball is slightly heavier, softher, and
larger than a standard cricket ball.
DRESS - The players usually wear white flannel pants and shirt, white
canvas or buck shoes, a white woolen sweater (often times with their
club colours trimming it), and multicoloured club caps. A batsman
wears protective white pads, or leg guards, rubber or leather batting
gloves, and a body protector. The wicketkeeper also wears pads and
reinforced gloves. However, the fielders in cricket do not wear gloves
when fielding.
CRICKET LANGUAGE
CAPPED - A cricket player is"capped" when he is selected to play for
a representative team. This term comes from the use of club caps in
the game.
REPRESENTATIVE TEAM - A "representative team" is a team of
cricket players selected by their ability to represent a county, a country,
etc. These players are normally selected from among club teams or
minor teams.)
INNINGS - An innings has actually several term usages in cricket. (1) It
is a turn
of a batsman to bat, (2) a turn of a team to bat, or (3) when results are
being given, it is when oneteam still has a turn to bat but has scored
more runs than the opposing team (which has completed its two
innings.)
FOLLOW ON - To "follow on" occurs when a team bats out of turn (e.g.
second innings directly after first innings) after scoring less than the
opposing team in first innings by a certain number of runs.
HIT A SIX - To "hit a six" means to hit the ball over a
boundary without it touching the ground, thus scoring six
runs.
PITCH - A "pitch" can be used in several ways. (1) It is the area going
1.5 meters on either side of the center line between the wickets, (2) the
impact of a bowled ball on the ground, or (3) the distance from one
wicket to the other.
WICKET - The word "wicket" has four meanings in cricket. First, it is the
goal, consisting of three stakes, which two sticks layon top of. The
batsman defends them and the bowler attempts to hit. Secondly, it is a
turn to bat. Thirdly, a wicket is, in scoring, if a side is batting last, it is
the number of batsmen who
have to be put out (dismissed) when the opponent's score is passed.
And lastly, it is the area between two sets of stumps (also known as
pitch.)
STICKY WICKET - A "sticky wicket" is a wicket (pitch) that is drying
after a rain. Any soft soil - turf - makes playing more difficult for a
batsman.

LAWS OF CRICKET

The laws of cricket are a set of rules established by the

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which describe the laws of cricket
worldwide, to ensure uniformity and fairness. There are currently 42
laws, which outline all aspects of how the game is played.

The first four laws cover the players, the umpires and the scorers.

Law 1: The players. A cricket team consists of eleven players,

including a captain. Outside of official competitions, teams can agree
to play more than
eleven-a-side, though no more than eleven players may field.

Law 2: Substitutes. In cricket, a substitute may be brought on for an

injured fielder. However, a substitute may not bat, bowl, keep wicket or
act as captain. The original player may return if he has recovered. A
batsman who becomes unable to run may have a runner, who
completes the runs while the batsman continues batting. Alternatively,
a batsman may retire hurt or ill, and may return later to resume his
innings if he recovers.
Law 3: The umpires. There are two umpires, who apply the Laws,
make all necessary decisions, and relay the decisions to the scorers.
While not required under the laws of cricket, in higher level cricket a
third umpire (located off the ground and available to assist the on-field
umpires) may be used under the specific playing conditions of a
particular match or tournament.
Law 4: The scorers. There are two scorers who respond to the
umpires' signals and keep thescore.
EQUIPMENT AND LAYING OUT THE PITCH
Law 5: The ball. A cricket ball is between 8 13/16 and 9 inches (22.4
cm and 22.9 cm) in circumference, and weighs between 5.5 and 5.75
ounces (155.9g and 163g). Only one ball is used at a time, unless it is
lost, when it is replaced with a ball of similar wear. It is also replaced at
the start of each innings, and may, at the request of the fielding side,
be replaced with a newball, aftera
certain number of overs have been bowled (80 in Test matches, 34
inODIs). The gradual degradation of the ball through the innings is an
important aspect of the game.

Law 6: The bat. The bat is no more than 38 inches (97 cm) in length,
and now more than 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) wide. The hand or glove
holding the bat is considered part of the bat. Ever since the Heavy
Metal incident, a highly publicized marketing attempt by Dennis Lillee,
who brought out an aluminium bat during an international game, the
laws have provided that the blade of the bat must be made of wood
(and in practice, they are made from WhiteWillowwood).
Law 7: The pitch. The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards
(20 m) long and 10 ft (3.0 m) wide. The Ground Authority selects and
prepares the pitch, but once the game has started, the umpires control
what happens to the pitch. The umpires are also the arbiters of whether
the pitch is fit for play, and if they deem it unfit, with the consent of both
captains can change the pitch. Professional cricket is almost always
played on a grass surface. However, in the event a non- turf pitch is
used, the artificial surface must have a minimum length of 58 ft (18 m)
and a minimum width of 6 ft (1.8 m).

Law 8: The wickets. The wicket consists of three wooden stumps that
are 28 inches (71 cm) tall. The stumps are placed along the batting
crease with equal distances between each stump. They are positioned
so they are 9 inches (23 cm) wide. Two wooden bails are placed on
top of the stumps. The bails must not project more than 0.5 inches (1.3
cm) above the stumps, and must, for men's cricket, be 4 inches (10.95
5
16

cm) long. There are also specified lengths for the barrel and spigots of
the bail. There are different specifications for the wickets and bails for
junior cricket. The umpires may dispense with the bails if conditions
are unfit (i.e. it is windy so they might fall off by themselves).

Law 9: Bowling, popping, and return creases. This law sets out
the dimensions and locations of the creases. The bowling crease, which
is the line the stumps are in the middle of, is drawn at each end of the
pitch so that the three stumps in the set of stumps at that end of the pitch
fall on it (and consequently it is perpendicular to the imaginary line
joining the centres of both middle stumps). Each bowling crease should
be 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m) in length, centred on the middle stump at
each end, and each bowling crease terminates at one of the return
creases. The popping crease, which determines whether a batsman is
in his ground or not, and which is used in determining front-foot no balls
(see law 24), is drawn at each end of the pitch in front of each of the
two sets of stumps. The popping crease must be 4 feet (1.2 m) in
front of and parallel to the bowling crease. Although it is considered to
have unlimited length, the popping crease must be marked to at least 6
feet (1.8 m) on either side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the
middle stumps. The return creases, which are the lines a bowler must
be within when making a delivery, are drawn on each side of each set
of the stumps, along each sides of the pitch (so there are four return
creases in all, one on either side of both sets of stumps). The return
creases lie perpendicular to the popping crease and the bowling crease,
4 feet 4 inches (1.32 m) either side of and parallel to the imaginary line
joining the centres of the two middle stumps. Each return crease
terminates at one end at the popping crease but the other end
is considered to be unlimited in length and must be marked to a
minimum of 8
feet (2.4 m) from the popping crease.

Law 10: Preparation and maintenance of the playing area. When a

cricket ball is bowled it almost always bounces on the pitch, and the
behaviour of the ball is greatly influenced by the condition of the pitch.
As a consequence, detailed rules on the management of the pitch are
necessary. This law contains the rules governing how pitches should
be prepared, mown, rolled, and
maintained.
Law 11: Covering the pitch. The pitch is said to be 'covered' when
the groundsmen have placed covers on it to protect it against rain or
dew. The laws stipulate that the regulations on covering the pitch
shall be agreed by both captains in advance. The decision concerning
whether to cover the pitch greatly affects how the ball will react to the
pitch surface, as a ball bounces differently on wet ground as
compared to dry ground. The area beyond the pitch where a bowler
runs so as to deliver the ball (the 'run-up') should ideally be kept dry
so as to avoid injury through slipping and falling, and the Laws
also require these to be covered wherever possible when there is wet
weather.

STRUCTURE OF THE GAME

Law 12: Innings. Before the game, the teams agree whether it is to be
over one or two innings, and whether either or both innings are to be
limited by time or by overs. In practice, these decisions are likely to be
laid down by Competition Regulations, rather than pre-game
agreement. In two-innings
games, the sides bat alternately unless the follow-on (law 13) is
enforced. An innings is closed once all batsmen are dismissed, no
further batsmen are fit to play, the innings is declared or forfeited by
the batting captain, or any agreed time or over limit is reached. The
captain winning the toss of a coin decides whether to bat or to bowlfirst.
Law 13: The follow-on. In a two innings match, if the side batting
second scores substantially fewer runs than the side batting first, the
side that batted first can force their opponents to bat again immediately.
The side that enforced the follow-on risks not getting to bat again and
thus the chance of winning. For a game of five or more days, the side
batting first must be at least
200 runs ahead to enforce the follow-on; for a three- or four-day game,
150 runs; for a two-day game, 100 runs; for a one-day game, 75 runs.
The length of the game is determined by the number of scheduled days
play left when the game actually begins.

Law 14: Declaration and forfeiture. The batting captain can declare
an innings closed at any time when the ball is dead. He may also forfeit
his innings before it has started.
Law 15: Intervals. There are intervals between each day's play, a ten-
minute interval between innings, and lunch, tea and drinks intervals.
The timing and length of the intervals must be agreed before the match
begins. There are also provisions for moving the intervals and interval
lengths in certain situations, most notably the provision that if nine
wickets are down, the tea interval is delayed to the earlier of the fall of
the next wicket and 30 minuteselapsing.
Law 16: Start of play; cessation of play. Play after an interval
commences with the umpire's call of "Play", and at the end of a session
by "Time". The last hour of a match must contain at least 20 overs,
being extended in time so as to include 20 overs if necessary.
Law 17: Practice on the field. There may be no batting or bowling
practice on the pitch except before the day's play starts and after the
day's play has ended. Bowlers may only have trial run-ups if the
umpires are of the view that it would waste no time.
SCORING AND WINNING
The laws then move on to discuss how runs can be scored and how
one team can beat the other.
Law 18: Scoring runs. Runs are scored when the two batsmen run to
each other's end of the pitch. Several runs can be scored from one
ball.
Law 19: Boundaries. A boundary is marked round the edge of the
field of play. If the ball is hit into or past this boundary, four runs are
scored, or six runs if the ball didn't hit the ground before crossing the
boundary.

Law 20: Lost ball. If a ball in play is lost or cannot be recovered, the
fielding side can call "lost ball". The batting side keeps any penalty
runs (suchasno balls and wides) and scores the higher of six runs and
the number of runs actually run.
Law 21: The result. The side which scores the most runs wins the
match. If both sides score the same number of runs, the match is tied.
However, the match may run out of time before the innings have all
been completed. In this case, the match is drawn.
Law 22: The over. An over consists of six balls bowled, excluding wides
and no balls. Consecutive overs are delivered from opposite ends of
the pitch. A bowler may not bowl two consecutive overs.
Law 23: Dead ball. The ball comes into play when the bowler begins
his run up, and becomes dead when all the action from that ball is over.
Once the ball is dead, no runs can be scored and no batsmen can be
dismissed. The Ball becomes dead for a number of reasons, most
commonly when a batsman is dismissed, when a boundary is hit, or
when the ball has finally settled with the bowler or wicket keeper.
Law 24: No ball. A ball can be a no ball for several reasons: if the
bowler bowls from the wrong place; or if he straightens his elbow during
the delivery; or if the bowling is dangerous; or if the ball bounces more
than twice or rolls along the ground before reaching the batsman; or if
the fielders are standing in illegal places. A no ball adds one run to the
batting team's score, in addition to any other runs which are scored off
it, and the batsman can't be dismissed off a no ball except by being run
out, or by handling the ball, hitting the ball twice,
or obstructing the field.

Law 25: Wide ball. An umpire calls a ball "wide" if, in his or her
opinion, the batsman did not have a reasonable opportunity to score
off the ball. A Ball is called wide when the bowler bowls a bouncer that
goes over the head of the batsman. A wide adds one run to the batting
team's score, in addition to any other runs which are scored off it, and
the batsman can't be dismissed off a wide except by being run out or
stumped, or by handling the ball, hittinghiswicket, or obstructing the
field.
Law 26: Bye and Leg bye. If a ball that is not a no ball or wide passes
the striker and runs are scored, they are called byes. If a ball that is not
a no ball hits the striker but not the bat and runs are scored, they are
called leg-byes. However, leg-byes cannot be scored if the striker is
neither attempting a stroke nor trying to avoid being hit. Byes and leg-
byes are credited to the team but
not the batsman's total.

MECHANICS OF DISMISSAL
Law 27:Appeals.If The fieldersbelieveabatsmanisout,they may ask the
umpire "How's That?", commonly shouted emphatically with arms
raised, before the next ball is bowled. The umpire then decides
whether the batsman is out. Strictly speaking, the fielding side must
appeal for all dismissals, including obvious ones such as bowled.
However, a batsman who is obviously out will normally leave the pitch
without waiting for an appeal or a decision from the umpire.
Law 28: The wicket is down. Several methods of being out occur when
the wicket is put down. This means that the wicket is hit by the ball, or
the batsman, or the hand in which a fielder is holding the ball, and at
least one bail is removed.
Law 29: Batsman out of his ground. The batsmen can be run out or
stumped if they are out of their ground. A batsman is in his ground if
any part of him or his bat is on the ground behind the popping crease.
If both batsmen are in the middle of the pitch when a wicket is put
down, the batsman closer to that end is out.
Law 30: Bowled. A batsman is out if his wicket is put down by a ball
delivered by the bowler. It is irrelevant whether the ball has touched the
bat, glove, or any part of the batsman before going on to put down the
wicket, though it may not touch another player or an umpire before
doing so.
Law 31: Timed out. An incoming batsman must be ready to face a ball
(or be at the crease with his partner ready to face a ball) within 3
minutes of the outgoing batsman being dismissed, otherwise the
incoming batsman will be out.
Law 32: Caught. If a ball hits the bat or the hand holding the bat and
is then caught by the opposition within the field of play before the ball
bounces, then the batsman is out.
Law 33: Handled the ball. If a batsman willfully handles the ball with
a hand that is not touching the bat without the consent of the
opposition, he is out.
Law 34: Hit the ball twice. If a batsman hits the ball twice, other than
for the sole purpose of protecting his wicket or with the consent of the
opposition, he is out.
Law 35: Hit wicket. If, after the bowler has entered his delivery stride
and while the ball is in play, a batsman puts his wicket down by his bat
or his body he is out. The striker is also out hit wicket if he puts his
wicket down by his bat or his body in setting off for a first run. "Body"
includes the clothes and equipment of the batsman.
Law 36: Leg before wicket (LBW). If the ball hits the batsman without
first hitting the bat, but would have hit the wicket if the batsman was
not there, andthe ball does not pitch on the leg side of the wicket, the
batsman will be out. However, if the ball strikes the batsman outside the
line of the off-stump, andthe batsman was attempting to play a stroke,
he is not out.
Law 37: Obstructing the field. If a batsman willfully obstruct the
opposition byword or action, he is out.
Law 38: Run out. A batsman is out if at any time while the ball is in play
no part of his bat or person is grounded behind the popping crease and
his wicket is fairly put down by the opposing side.
Law 39: Stumped. A batsman is out when the wicket-keeper (see
Law 40) puts down the wicket, while the batsman is out of his crease
and not attempting arun.
Law 40: The wicket-keeper. The keeper is a designated man from the
bowling side allowed to stand behind the stumps of the batsman. He is
the only player from his side allowed to wear gloves and external
legguards.
Law 41: The fielder. A fielder is any of the eleven cricketers from the
bowling
side. Fielders are positioned to field the ball,
to stop runs and boundaries, and to get batsmen out by catching or
running them out.

Fair and unfair play

Law 42: Fair and unfair play.

OBJECTIVES OF CRICKET
The objective of each team is to score more runs than the other team
and to completely dismiss the other team. In limited overs cricket,
winning the game is achieved by scoring the most runs within the
overs allowed, even if the opposition has
not been completely dismissed. In Test cricket, it is necessary to score
the most runs and dismiss the opposition twice in order to win the
match, which would otherwise be drawn.

DISTINCTIVE DECISIVE ELEMENTS

1. Individual focus
2. Spirit of theGame
3. Influence of weather
4. Uniqueness of each field

TYPES OF MATCHES
Cricket is a multi-faceted sport which, in very broad terms, can be
divided into major cricket and minor cricket based on playing
standards. A more pertinent division, particularly in terms of major
cricket, is between matches in which the teams have two innings
apiece and those in which they have a single innings each. The former,
known as first-class cricket, has a duration of three to five days (there
have been examples of "timeless" matches too); the latter, known as
limited overs cricket because each team bowls a limit of typically 50 or
20 overs, has a planned duration of one day only (a match can be
extended if necessary due to bad weather, etc.).
Typically, two-innings matches have at least six hours of playing time
each day. Limited overs matches often last six hours or more. There
are usually formal intervals on each day for lunch and tea with brief
informal breaks for drinks. There is also a short interval between
innings. Historically, a form of cricket known as single wicket had been
extremely successful. In this form, although each team may have from
one to six players, there is only one batsman at a time and he must face
every delivery bowled while his innings lasts.
Test cricket

.
Test cricket is the highest standard of first-class cricket. A Test match
is an international fixture between teams representing those countries
that are Full Members of the ICC.
Although the term "Test match" was not coined until much later, Test
cricket is deemed to have begun with two matches between Australia
and England in the 1876–77 Australian season. Subsequently, eight
other national teams have achieved Test status: South Africa (1889),
West Indies (1928), New
Zealand (1929), India(1932), Pakistan (1952),Sri
Lanka (1982), Zimbabwe (1992) and Bangladesh(2000). Zimbabwe
suspended its Test status in 2006 due to its inability to compete against
other Test teams, and returned in 2011.
[38]

[39]

Test matches between two teams are usually played in a group of

matches called a "series". Matches last up to five days and a series
normally consists of three to five matches. Test matches that are not
finished within the allotted time are drawn. In the case of Test and first-
class cricket: the possibility of a draw often encourages a team that is
batting last and well behind to bat defensively, giving up any faint
chance at a win to avoid a loss.

Since 1882, most Test series between England and Australia have
been played
for a trophy known as The Ashes. Some other bilateral series have
individual trophies too: for example, the Wisden Trophy is contested
by England and West Indies; the Frank Worrell Trophy by Australia
and West Indies and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and
Australia.

LIMITED OVERS

Standard limited overs cricket was introduced in England in the 1963

season in the form of a knockout cup contested by the first-class county
clubs. In 1969, a national league competition was established. The
concept was gradually introduced to the other major cricket countries
and the first limited overs international was played in 1971. In 1975, the
first Cricket World Cup took place in England. Limited overs cricket has
seen various innovations including the use of multi-coloured kit and
floodlit matches using a whiteball.
A "one day match", named so because each match is scheduled
for completion in a single day, is the common form of limited overs
cricket played on an international level. In practice, matches sometimes
continue on a second day if they have been interrupted or postponed
by bad weather. The main objective of a limited overs match is to
produce a definite result and so a conventional draw is not possible,
but matches can be
undecided if the scores are tied or if bad weather prevents a result.
Each team plays one innings only and faces a limited number of overs,
usually a maximum of 50. The Cricket World Cup is held in one day
format and the last World Cup in 2011 was won by the co-hosts, India.
The next World Cup will hosted by Australia and New Zealand in2015.
Twenty20 is a new variant of limited overs itself with the purpose being
to complete the match within about three hours, usually in an evening
session. The original idea, when the concept was introduced in
England in 2003, was to provide workers with an evening
entertainment. It was commercially successful and has been adopted
internationally.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1895. The team won the first of its 30
County Championship titles in 1893.
First-class cricket includes Test cricket but the term is generally used to
refer to the highest level of domestic cricket in those countries with full
ICC membership, although there are exceptions to this. First-class
cricket in England is played for the most part by the 18 county clubs
which contest the
County
Championship. The concept of a champion county has existed since
the 18th century but the official competition was not established until
1890. The most successful club has beenYorkshire County Cricket
Club with 30 official titles.
Australia established its national first-class championship in 1892–93
when the Sheffield Shield was introduced. In Australia, the first-class
teams represent the various states. New South Wales has won the
maximum number of titles with 45 to2008.
National championship trophies to be established elsewhere included
the Ranji Trophy (India), Plunket Shield (New Zealand), Currie Cup
(South Africa) and Shell Shield (West Indies). Some of these
competitions have been updated and renamed in recent years.
Domestic limited overs competitions began with England's Gillette
Cup knockout in 1963. Countries usually stage seasonal limited overs
competitions in both knockout and league format. In recent years,
national Twenty20competitions have been introduced, usually in
knockout form though some incorporate mini-leagues.

There are numerous variations of the sport played throughout the world
that include indoor cricket, French cricket, beach cricket, Kwik
cricket and all sorts of card games and board games that have been
inspired by cricket. In These Variants, the rules are often changed to
make the game playable with limited resources or to render it more
convenient and enjoyable for the participants.
Indoor cricket is played in a netted, indoor arena, and is quite formal
but many of the outdoor variants are very informal.
Families and teenagers play backyard cricket in suburban yards or
driveways, and the cities of India and Pakistan play host to countless
games of "Gully
Cricket" or "tape ball" in their long narrow streets.

In Samoa a form of cricket called Kilikiti is played in which hockey

stick shaped bats are used. In Estonia, teams gather over the winter
for the annual Ice Cricket tournament.

INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURE-ICC
ICC member nations. The (highest level) Test playing nations are
shown in orange; the associate member nations are shown in yellow;
the affiliate member nations are shown in purple.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), which has its headquarters
in Dubai, is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded
as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from
England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket
Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.
Indies Cricket Board which consists of members appointed by four
national boards and two multi-national boards.
Vision of Success
As a leading global sport , cricket will captivate and inspire
people of every age, gender, background and ability, while
building bridges between continents, countries and
communities.

Strategic Direction
A Bigger Better Global Game
Targeting more players, more fans, more competitive teams. Our
long-term success will be judged on growth in participation and
public interest and the competitiveness of teams participating in
men's and women's international cricket.
 The ICC has 104 members: 10 Full Members that play official Test
matches, 34 Associate Members, and 60 Affiliate Members. The ICC [41]

is responsible for the organization and governance of cricket's major

international tournaments,
notably the Cricket World Cup. It also appoints the umpires and referees
that officiate at all sanctioned Test matches, One Day International and
Twenty20 Internationals. Each nation has a national cricket board
which regulates cricket matches played in its country. The cricket board
also selects the national squad and organizes home and away tours
for the national team. In the West Indies these matters are addressed
by the West
Indies Cricket Board which consists of members appointed by four
national boards and two multi-national boards.
Vision of Success
As a leading global sport , cricket will captivate and inspire
people of every age, gender, background and ability, while
building bridges between continents, countries and
communities.

Strategic Direction
A Bigger Better Global Game
Targeting more players, more fans, more competitive teams. Our
long-term success will be judged on growth in participation and
public interest and the competitiveness of teams participating in
men's and women's international cricket.

Mission Statement - Leading World Cricket by: *

Providing a world class environment for international

cricket * Delivering "major' events across three formats

* Providing targeted support toMembers

* Promoting the global game.

The Way Forward for International Cricket

The ICC Strategic Plan 2011-15 was launched at the ICC's Annual
Conference in Hong Kong in June 2011.
After a two-year consultation period with the game's stakeholders,
including
Members, players, media and supporters, the plan sets out a By
following through on our commitment to develop new competition
structures and meritocratic pathways for men's and women's teams
across Test, ODI and T20I cricket, supported by effective targeting, the
ICC will be well-placed to achieve a truly global game with more
players, more fans and more competitive teams.

The ICC vision for 2011-15 is to create ‘A bigger, better, global game'
aimed at ‘Targeting more players, more fans, more competitive
teams.'

ICC WORLD CUP

The ICC Cricket World Cup is the showpiece event of the cricket
calendar and takes place every four years, with matches contested in
a 50 overs per side format.

There have been ten events so far, with the first tournament taking
place in England in1975.
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed
by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it is a full member
of the International Cricket Council(ICC) with Test and One Day
International (ODI) status.
The Indian cricket team is currently ranked third by the ICC in Tests,
second in ODIs and seventh in T20s. On 2 April 2011, the team won
[1]

the 2011 Cricket World Cup, its second after 1983. It thus became only
the third team after West Indies and Australia to have won the World
Cup more than once. Currently Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the captain
in all forms of the game .
Under the leadership of Dhoni, the Indian team has set a national record
for most back-to-back ODI wins (9 straight wins) and has emerged as
one of the mostformidable teams in international cricket. [4]
 CRICKET BATTING TIPS

FOR BEGINNERSStanding Sideways

Always stand facing the bowler with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Bend your body with your hips, keeping your back straight. As you
hold the bat ready, point your non-dominant shoulder towards the
bowler and make sure to keep your eyes on the ball. Your
shoulders shouldn’t drop and must be at eye level at all times. If
you are right-handed, you stand on the right side of the stump and
if left-handed, you stand on the right side of the stump.

Hold the bat

Always hold your bat tight and firmly. If you are right-handed, your
left hand should be holding the end of the bat with the knuckles
facing the bowler and your right hand should be placed above your
left hand and hold the bat with 2 fingers and your thumb. Your
thumb and the index finger should be in a V position for a better
and a tighter grip. The opposite for left-handed batsmen. Make
sure your hands are close to each other and the paddle of the bat
should feel comfortable in your hands.
Distance between the bat and the stump

Draw a line in your turf from the middle wicket. This will help you to

make sure where your wickets are while batting. Draw the line

using your bat’s end and make sure that the line is parallel to the

middle wicket. This line is called a guard line. If you are practicing

indoors, use tape to draw the guard line.

Tapping the bat on the ground line
If you tap on the guard line, this indicates the bowler that you are
ready to bat. Do not tap excessively hard on the ground. Make
sure your bat is as straight as possible at all times to maintain
your body form.

While batting

When the ball is coming at you and you have to hit it, always keep
your lead leg in the front and swing your bat backward for
momentum. While lifting your bat, it should point straight in the air
and should come up till your back shoulder. If the ball is low, step
forward to hit it and if it is high, step blackboard. Make sure that
when you lift your bat to hit the ball, your forearm should line up
with your shoulder.

Eye on the ball

Always, eye on the ball. If you follow the ball till it pitches, you can
figure out the position you have to take to hit the ball. As the ball
comes towards you, think about which shot to hit. If the ball
pitches at a sweet spot, you can drive to take long shots but if the
ball pitches too high or low, take a defence shot. This is one of the
most important cricket batting techniques for beginners to
remember and follow.

Swing the bat downward

Push your bat downward to hit the ball after it bounces. Keep your
lead leg in the front and lead elbow facing the bowler. Follow
through with your bat to hit the ball as far as possible. This cricket
batting technique is the most common and is called a straight
drive.

Short Pitch

Swing the bat to the side, if the pitch is short. If the ball bounces
early, then it is known as a short pitch. Move backwards with your
back foot to hit a long defensive swing. Swing the bat to the side
like a baseball bat instead of swinging it directly down. This will
make the ball go higher and longer. This shot is called a pull shot
and will cause the ball to go to the side of the field.

If the ball is aimed at the wicket

Make contact with the ball if it is aimed at the wicket. If the ball is
fast and low, this means that it is mainly to hit your wicket and get
you out. When this happens, you have to hit a straight drive as a
defensive shot. But, this
shot is not to make runs or score high, but to protect your
wickets. Make sure that you hit your ball short by concentrating
on the ball.

Follow-through
You can refine your skills by following through with your swing. A
good follow-through is critical. Make sure you follow through your
bat for the whole swing even if you miss the ball. This is done to
hit the ball as far as possible. Keep practicing so that even if you
miss the ball, you do not pop the ball in the air and get out
easily.
Stay calm

Being nervous during the game can throw you out of focus and
off your game. You will tend to make mistakes while nervous.
Always practice regulating your breathing and visualize the
trajectory of the ball. Try to block out all the excitement and
nervousness coming from others and concentrate on the ball.

Practice in front of your mirror

Practicing your swing in front of a mirror before practicing with a

ball will make you perfect. This is known as shadow cricket. This
will help you see your swing and help to make adjustments to your
stance accordingly.

Practice batting with a tennis ball

If you want to practice your swing, pitch a tennis ball right in front
of you and hit it with full swings. This will make your swings
better. Doing the swing will make your bottom hand grip better as
your dominant hand will be on the bat.
Bat at waist height

Position your bat at waist height before swinging. Keep the bat
pointed up or down and parallel to the ground. The exact position
does not matter as you should be comfortable with your position
and should be able to quickly move. Make sure that the flat surface
of the bat is facing the bowler to make a good hit.
Teamwork

Make sure to always attend your practice sessions with your team.
Drill work and playing with them makes you stronger and prepared
for your big game. Always listen to your coach or team members if
they give you any input on your batting.

Practice is the key to master anything. Keep practicing with the

cricket batting techniques for beginners mentioned and become
the batsman you wanted to be.

HOW TO BAT
Every cricketer should know how to bat. The important thing to
remember about batting is to protect your wickets/stumps. Batting
can be perfected by knowing a few simple and important cricket
batting basics. Below are some tips you can follow to perfection
your batting skills -

1. Perfect your grip on the bat

Place the bat on the ground with its end facing you. Pick up the
bat by placing your dominant hand above your non-dominant
hand. Put your thumbs in the opposite direction along with your
fingers. Make sure you
wear gloves for batting and place your thumb in V shape. Hold
the bat according to your comfort.

2. Facing the bowler

While batting, your non-dominant side should be facing the bowler.

This is done so that your dominant hand pushes the bat with full
force to hit the ball far and high and away from the bowler.

3. Feet should be at a comfortable distance

Placing your feet 1-foot separate from one another gives stability
to your batting. Bend your knees a bit so that you can run after
hitting the ball. Distribute your weight equally on both your legs
and look directly at the ball.

4. Alignment

Make sure your toes are in a straight line from the middle stump
to your dominant feet. The bowler tries to aim at your wickets
and so stand in front of them while covering half of the wicket to
protect it from falling.

5. Reading the bat

Hold the bat horizontally away from the bowler and at your
thigh level which is perpendicular to the ground. In this
position, you can easily make a defensive hit.
6. Swinging the bat

Tap the bat twice on the ground to indicate the bowler that you are
ready to hit. While doing this, try to move your strength from your
body to the bat and keep your eye on the ball at all times. The
strength will help you make a long and far shot.

7. Ready to hit

Lift your bat backward while going in for a hit. This is called a
backlift. Choose your direction and strength according to the pitch
of the ball. If you move your head or shoulder, you can distract
yourself from the ball. That’s why to move your shoulder in front a
bit and bend to keep your head and body straight throughout.
8. Move backward or forward
 Move accordingly to the shot you wanna hit. Wait for the swing and
then move accordingly either by taking a small step back or front.
Shift your weight to the back leg so that you get the balance while
taking a swing. Shifting weight enables you to adjust to the ball
which bounces higher after the pitch and takes a longer time to
reach you. Move forward to make a full pitch.

9. Lead shoulder followed by front foot

While making the swing, begin with moving the lead shoulder
first and then followed by your front foot. This movement
maintains the balance and strength in your body and with the
bat.
10. Choose the shot

Decide which shot to take according to the ball. Keep your eye on
the ball as it can move straight towards the wicket or sideways.
This will help you decide your shot and strength.

TEN WAYS IN WHICH A BATSMAN CAN

BE DISMISSED IN CRICKET
#1 Bowled
A batsman is adjudged out if the delivery bowled by bowler hits the stumps/bail
behind him, and at least one bail is dislodged permanently off the wickets.
The batsman won't be regarded as bowled if the ball is not legitimate, like a no-
ball. If the ball is touched by the umpire or wicket-keeper before the ball hits the
stump, the batsman may not be given out.
The batsman won't be given out if both bails stay on the top of stumps despite the
ball hitting the wicket. However, the batsman may be given out if the stump is
struck off the ground and somehow bails remain on the top.
#2 Caught
A batsman can be caught out in three different ways

Being caught out is the most common mode of dismissal for the
batsman. There are three sub categories of being caught out.
i). Caught Behind
This is when a legitimate delivery by bowler hits at least one of the bat or
gloves of the batsman and is caught by the wicket-keeper without touching
the ground.
ii). Caught & Bowled
When the bowler catches the ball after it is hit by the bat and/or gloves of the
batsman, it is a caught-and-bowled dismissal. These catches are difficult, more so
since they are held on to by the bowler in his/her the follow through.
iii). Caught by fielder
The rules are similar to caught-and-bowled, except that the fielder taking the
catch is not bowling at the time
#3 Stumped
This is the only form of dismissal where the bowler can get a wicket even after
bowling an illegal delivery
If batsman steps out leaving no part of his bat or body behind the crease and the
wicket-keeper dislodges the bails, he/she is termed out. In case the keeper
dislodges the bail before the ball reaches him/her, the batsman will not be given
out.

Stumped is the only form of dismissal which goes to bowler's tally even when the
delivery is not legitimate.
#4 Leg before wicket (LBW)
LBW occurs when the ball is pitched in line and would've gone on to hit the stumps
A batsman can be given out LBW if the ball hits his/her body or any sports
equipment other than the bat or gloves, and the ball was assumed to hit the
stumps.

For the batsman to be out, the ball should have an impact outside the off-stump and
by judging its bounce, spin or swing, it should have gone hit the stumps if not for the
interception.
The batsman won't be given out if the ball hits bat or glove before touching the body
or if the ball is pitched outside leg-stump. However, the batsman can be given out if
the ball is outside off stump and the batsman doesn't offer a shot.

#5 Run-Out
It is mandatory for a fielder to touch the ball before it hits the wicket for the
run-out to be legitimate
If the fielder dislodges the bails while either of the batsmen fails to make his/her
ground while running between the wickets, the batsman is regarded run-out.

The batsmen must have something behind the line to be safe unless they are on the
same side, in that case, the batsman further away from the stumps adjudged run-
out.
It is mandatory for a fielder to touch the ball before it hits the wicket for the run-out to
be legitimate. If the striker hits the ball and it strikes the stumps on the other end
while the non striker is out of the crease, it will be marked run-out only if the bowler
has touched the ball before it hits the wicket.
#6 Hit-wicket
Hit-wicket is one of the most unfortunate ways to get out
If a batsman dislodges the stumps with his body or any sports equipment while
attempting to play a shot or beginning his run, he is deemed hit-wicket.
The batsman won't be given out if he blazed into the stumps to avoid a run-out. A
famous hit wicket incident occurred in a Test match in Headingley, when a
bouncer by Dwayne Bravo hit the helmet of Kevin Pietersen and the helmet fell
on the stumps, KP had to go back to the pavilion.

#7 Obstructing the field

A batsman cannot knowingly obstruct the field on
If a batter consciously obstructs the play by his/her words or action, he/she may
be given out under the law 37 of obstructing the field. A batsman knowingly
running in such a way that it prevents the ball from hitting stumps can be given
out by the umpire on appeal from fielding team.
After the amendments of laws of cricket in 2017, all the offences under the
handling of the ball fell under this law. If a batsman touches the ball with the
hand, not in contact with the bat for any purpose other than to protect himself
from any injury or to return the ball to the fielder, the batter is found guilty of this
charge.

#8 Retired out
The batsman can resume his innings only with consent from the opposition skipper A
batsman is considered retired out if he leaves the field without the prior
acquiescence of umpire apart from any injury and fails to resume the innings.
The batsman can resume the innings only with consent from fielding team
skipper. Also, if a batsman who is retired hurt fails to return to the crease during
the play, is not deemed retired out when calculating his batting average. Only two
batsmen have been given out retired hurt in international cricket – Mahela
Jayawardhane and Marvan Atapattu, Interestingly, it was in the same innings
against Bangladesh in 2001.
#9 Hit the ball twice
Hitting the ball twice will lead to a batsman's immediate dismissal
If a batsman hits the ball twice, he is given out under the law.34. The first touch
is when the ball strikes the bat. The second touch has to be deliberate and not
necessarily with the bat, but the body of the batsman as well.
The batter can stop the ball from hitting the stumps by his/her body and bat but
not with his hands. No batsman has been given out till date pursuant to this
rule.

#10 Timed Out

An umpire can give a batsman out if he/she fails to arrive at the crease ahead of the set
limit, provided the fielding time appeals for the same
This is one of the rarest modes of dismissal in cricket. If a batsman fails to arrive
at the crease within a certain time limit, he is given out by the umpire on an
appeal from opposition team.
The time limit is three minutes for ODI and Test cricket and two minutes for
T20Is. Also, if a batsman doesn't resume his play after a break, he can be timed
out as well. An incident took place in a test match between India and South
Africa where Sourav Ganguly took nearly five minutes to arrive at the crease,
but the Protease didn't appeal and hence, Ganguly was allowed to carry on.