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What is cricket? — Quick overview

Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 11 players. The contest happens on a circular or oval field centered on a rectangular pitch (22 yards). One team bats and attempts to score runs; the other team bowls and fields, aiming to dismiss batsmen and limit runs. When both teams have batted once (or twice in Tests), the team with more runs wins.

How scoring works — runs, boundaries & extras

Runs

The main unit of scoring is the run. Batsmen score runs by:

• Running between the wickets after hitting the ball (1, 2, 3 runs, etc.)
• Boundary scores: 4 runs (ball reaches boundary after touching ground) and 6 runs (ball clears boundary on the full)

Extras (not credited to the batsman)

• No-ball: Illegal delivery by the bowler—1 extra run + free hit in limited-overs
• Wide: Ball out of batsman’s reach—1 extra run
• Byes: Runs taken when ball misses bat and body but runs are completed
• Leg byes: Runs scored after the ball deflects off the batsman’s body (not the bat)

How an innings ends

An innings finishes when:

1. All 10 wickets are taken (only one batsman remains)
2. Allocated overs are completed (e.g., 20 overs in T20, 50 in ODI)
3. The batting team declares (in Tests) or is all out

How a batsman gets out (dismissal methods)

There are several legal ways a batsman can be dismissed. The most common are:

1. Bowled

The ball is delivered and hits the stumps, dislodging the bails. Even if the ball deflects off the bat or pad, if the stumps fall, the batsman is out.

2. Caught

If a fielder (including wicketkeeper) catches the ball before it touches the ground after the batsman hits it, the batsman is out.

3. Leg Before Wicket (LBW)

LBW occurs when the ball, delivered by the bowler, hits the batsman’s body (usually the pad) in line with the stumps and—according to the umpire or technology—would have hit the stumps if not intercepted. LBW decisions consider where the ball pitched, point of impact, and the ball’s projected path.

4. Run out

When batsmen attempt a run and a fielder breaks the stumps at the non-striker’s or striker’s end before the batsman reaches the crease, the batsman is run out.

5. Stumped

A wicketkeeper removes the bails while the batsman is out of their crease after stepping forward to play a delivery (commonly off spin bowling).

6. Hit wicket

A batsman dislodges his own bails with body, bat, or helmet during a delivery or while setting off for a run.

Less common dismissals

• Handled the ball (now subsumed under obstructing the field in many rulesets)
• Obstructing the field
• Timed out (rare: new batsman must be ready within a set time)

Match formats — Test, ODI and T20 (what’s the difference?)

Test Cricket

• Duration: up to 5 days
• Each team bats twice (two innings)
• No over limits — play until ten wickets fall or captain declares
• Emphasis on endurance, technique and strategy

One Day International (ODI)

• 50 overs per side (an over = 6 legal balls)
• Limited overs — each team bats once
• Bowling restrictions, powerplays and fielding limits

Twenty20 (T20)

• 20 overs per side — shortest mainstream format
• High scoring, entertainment-focused, fast gameplay
• Popular leagues: IPL, Big Bash, CPL

Basic fielding positions (simple map and why they matter)

Fielding positions are named by direction and distance from the batsman. Here’s a short, practical list you’ll hear often:

• Wicketkeeper — behind the stumps
• Slip — behind the bat, for edges
• Point — square of the wicket on off side
• Cover — between point and mid-off
• Mid-off / Mid-on — straighter positions near the bowler
• Square leg / Fine leg — leg side defensive positions
• Long on / Long off — near boundary straight down the ground

Field settings change by bowler type, batsman style and match situation.

Types of bowling — fast vs spin (short primer)

Fast Bowling

Fast bowlers rely on pace, swing (movement in the air) and seam movement off the pitch. Typical fast deliveries: bouncer, yorker, fuller pitch.

Spin Bowling

Spin bowlers bowl slower, imparting spin so the ball deviate on pitching. Main types: off-spin (turns into right-handed batsman), leg-spin (turns away) and variations like googly.

Key rules explained — LBW, No-ball, Wide, Byes & Free Hit

LBW (Leg Before Wicket) — simplified

1. Ball must pitch in line with stumps or on off side (not outside leg stump).
2. Impact (where ball hits pad) must be in line with stumps or in front of off stump if playing a shot.
3. Ball must be going on to hit the stumps (as judged by umpire/technology).

LBW decisions can be complex; modern matches often use ball-tracking technology for accuracy.

No-ball

A no-ball is an illegal delivery (overstepping the crease, dangerous bowling, throwing). The batting side gets one extra run and usually a free hit on the next delivery in limited-overs matches (batsman cannot be dismissed off normal modes except run-out).

Wide

A delivery out of the batsman’s reasonable reach is called a wide — one extra run is awarded and the ball must be re-bowled.

Byes and Leg Byes

When the ball misses the bat and the batsmen take runs, they are recorded as byes. If the ball hits the batsman’s body (not the bat) and runs are taken, they are leg byes (only count if the batsman attempted a shot).

DRS (Decision Review System) & umpire calls

Modern international cricket uses the DRS for close decisions. Teams have limited reviews each innings and can challenge on outs such as LBW and caught behind. DRS tools include:

• UltraEdge / Snickometer (sound to detect bat contact)
• Hawk-Eye (ball-tracking for LBW)
• Slow-motion replays and camera angles

Umpires remain central — DRS supports not replaces human decision making.

Equipment & protective gear (what beginners need)

• Bat: Willow bat (size depends on age)
• Ball: Hard leather ball (red for Tests, white for limited overs)
• Pads & Gloves: For batting protection
• Helmet: Protects head & face from fast bowling
• Abdominal guard: Mandatory for male batsmen
• Wicket-keeping gloves & pads: Specialized for keepers

Practical tips for beginners — watch, learn & play

1. Watch T20 highlights: Fast scoring helps you spot rules like boundaries and dismissals quickly.
2. Attend a local nets session: Experience batting, bowling and fielding hands-on.
3. Learn scoring basics: Understand how to read a scoreboard (runs, wickets, overs, required run-rate).
4. Start with simple roles: Try wicketkeeping or casual spin bowling to learn control.
5. Use apps & tutorials: Coaching apps and slow-motion videos help with grip and stance.