Cricket Rules
Cricket rules specify that cricket is played by two teams, each of which have eleven players. A cricket game can last anywhere from part of a day to several complete days. Cricket is similar to baseball in that there are innings and teams try to score runs but other than that, the equipment, the player positions, and the cricket rules are entirely different.
Cricket rules determine the materials and dimensions of the equipment used. The ball, for instance, is red and must have a circumference of 8.81 to 9 inches. White balls can be used during night games. A ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces. The cricket bat is nothing like a baseball bat. It is made of willow with a blade that is flat on one side and humped on the other. It has a handle made of cane. The blade on the bat is 4.24 inches wide and overall, the bat is 38 inches long.
There are two wickets used in the game and cricket rules define how they are made. Each wicket is wooden and built of three stumps topped with two bails. A stump is defined as a wooden post, 32 inches high and 1 inch in diameter. These three wooden posts are pounded into the ground so close together that a cricket ball cannot pass between them. Bails are wooden crosspieces that sit on top of the stumps.
A playing field, according to cricket rules, is elliptical and can measure anywhere from 100 to 160 yards across. The pitch is in the middle of the field and is the spot from which the batsman bats on one end and the bowler bowls on the other. The cricket rules specify the game begin with a coin toss. The fielding team with all eleven players will take the field. The fielding team does not have required positions but position themselves where they think they can get a batter, known as a striker, out.
The batting team sends out two players at a time, a striker and a non striker. The bowler bowls the ball to the striker who tries to hit it. If he misses, it is caught by the wicket-keeper (similar to a baseball catcher). If he hits the ball, he and the other batsman try to score runs by running back and forth. If a fielder gets the ball he tries to get the batsmen out. If he hits a wicket with the ball and knocks it down, the striker is out. If the batsman hits the ball and it reaches the boundary fence he scores four runs.
There are many cricket rules about ways to get out--the two most common are the striker hitting the ball and it being caught by a fielder, or the striker missing the ball and the ball hitting and breaking the wicket. When a bowler has completed six balls it is called an “over” and the fielding team comes in to bat. Whoever scores the most runs during a game of cricket is the winner.
Cricket rules indicate that every game of cricket must have two umpires and that they are responsible for calling plays on the field.