What Is Cricket? How Is It Played?

Cricket is a very popular game in many countries. It is the 2nd most popular sport after FOOTBALL in the world. So, now it interests you and you want to play cricket, too. But you don't know how to play. What is this game? And what it is all about. Don't worry. I am here to help you.
Now let me explain you some important terms in Cricket.

Bat - It is a long woody stick that is used to hit the ball (see below).

Ball - It is a spherical ball made of leather.

Batsman - The person with the bat is called the batsman.

Bowler - The person who has the bowl with him and pitches it for the batsman is known as the Bowler.

Umpire - Referee in cricket. He has all the powers. His decision is the last decision.

Pitch - A straight 22 yard ground especially made for all the main action.

Stumps - A long woods stick which the bowler mostly aims at. If this falls, the batsman is out.

Out - The fall of a batsman. The batsman has to go back to the pavilion.

Wicket Keeper - You must already be knowing it. Just as a goal keeper, his main work is to stop the balls that miss the stumps from crossing the boundary. He stays just behind the wicket.

Run - Every time the two batsman cross ends, one run is scored.

Four Runs - If the ball crosses the boundary ropes after bouncing inside it is a four.

Six Runs - If the ball crosses the boundary ropes without falling inside, it is a six.

Now that you know some of the terms, lets get to the game.

The team that wins the toss elects either to bat or field. The fielding teams captain sets his fielders in the specific positions he wants them to be in. The 2 batsman step on the field and take their positions.
The bowler pitches the ball to the batsman and the batsman has to hit it.
This goes on till the specified overs or till all the batsman are out.

Then the players of the other team come in to bat and they try to score more than the team that has batted before.



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