http://www.myworldcupinfo.com/laws-of-cricket.

shtml

Welcome to the greatest game of all - Cricket. This site will help explain to an absolute beginner some of the basic rules of cricket. Although there are many more rules in cricket than in many other sports, it is well worth your time learning them as it is a most rewarding sport. Whether you are looking to play in the backyard with a mate or join a club Cricket-Rules will help you learn the basics and begin to enjoy one of the most popular sports in the world. The cricket rules displayed on the home page here are for the traditional form of cricket which is called "Test Cricket". However there are other formats of the game eg. 50 over matches, Twenty20 Cricket etc where the rules differ slightly. Player/Official Cricket Rules Cricket is a game played between two teams made up of eleven players each. There is also a reserve player called a "twelfth man" who is used should a player be injured during play. The twelfth man is not allowed to bowl, bat, wicket keep or captain the team. His sole duty is to act as a substiture fielder. The original player is free to return to the game as soon as they have recovered from their injury. To apply the law and make sure the cricket rules are upheld throughout the game there are two umpires in place during games. Umpires are responsible for making decisions and notifying the scorers of these decisions. Two umpires are in place on the playing field while there is also a third umpire off the field who is in charge of video decisions. This is where the call is too close for the on field umpires and they refer it to the third umpire who reviews slow motion video replays to make a decision. Game Structure Test cricket is a game that spans over two innings. This means that one team needs to bowl the other team out twice and score more runs then them to win the match. Another key difference between test cricket and other forms of cricket is the length of the innings. In test cricket there is no limit to the innings length. Whereas in one day cricket & Twenty20 cricket there are a certain amount of overs per innings. The only limits in test cricket is a 5 day length. Before the game begins an official will toss a coin. The captain who guesses the correct side of the coin will then choose if they want to bat or field first. One team will then bat while the other will bowl & field. The aim of the batting team is to score runs while the aim of the fielding team is to bowl ten people out and close the batting teams' innings. Although there are eleven people in each team only ten people need to be bowled out as you cannot have one person batting alone. Batting is done in pairs. Once the first team has been bowled out the second team would then go into bat. Once the second team is then bowled out it would normally return to the first team batting again.

However there is an exception to this in the cricket rules, it is called the follow-on. The follow-on is when the first team makes at least 200 runs more than the second team made (in a 5 day test match). This then gives the first team the option to make the second team bat again. This is particularly useful if the game is progressing slowly or affected by bad weather and there might not be enough time for both teams to play a full innings. Should this be the case the batting team's captain also has the right to forfeit their innings at any time. This is called a declaration. Some may wonder why a captain would forfeit the opportunity for his team to bat. However if the game is coming close to a close and it looks like they will not be able to bowl the other team out again this could be an option. If one team is not bowled out twice and a winner determined in the five days of play the game is declared a draw. Therefore it may be worth declaring an innings to creat the possibility of a win rather than a draw. Ways to score runs The aim of the batsmen is to score runs. One of the main cricket rules is that for batsment to score runs they must run to each other's end of the pitch (from one end to the other). In doing this one run is scored. Cricket rules state they may run multiple runs per shot. As well as running they can also score runs by hitting boundaries. A boundary scores the batsmen either 4 or 6 runs. A four is scored by hitting the ball past the boundary after hitting the groud while a six is scored by hitting the ball past the boundary on the full (before it hits the ground). Cricket rules also state that once a 4 or 6 has been scored any runs physically ran by the batsman are null & void. They will only obtain the 4 or 6 runs. Other ways runs can be scored according to the cricket rules include no balls, wide balls, byes & leg byes. Cricket rules state that all runs scored by these methods are awarded to the batting team but not the individual batters.
y

A "No Ball" can be declared for many reasons: If the bowler bowls the ball from the wrong place, the ball is declared dangerous (often happens when bowled at the batsmen's body on the full), bounces more than twice or rolls before reaching the batsman or if fielders are standing in illegal positions. The batsman can hit a no ball and score runs off it but cannot be out from a no ball except if they are ran out, hit the ball twice, handle the ball or obstruct the field. The batsman gains any runs scored off the no ball for his shot while the team also gains one run for the no ball itself. A "Wide Ball" will be declared if the umpire thinks the batsman did not have a reasonable opportunity to score off the delivery. However if the delivery is bowled over the batsmen's head it will not be declared a wide but a no ball. Umpires are much stricter on wide deliveries in the shorter format of the game while being much more relaxed in test cricket. A wide delivery will add one run to the batting team and any runs scored by the batsman. The batsman is not able to get out off a wide delivery except if they are stumped, run out, handle the ball, hit their wicket or obstruct the field. A "Bye" is where a ball that isn't a no ball or wide passes the striking batsman and runs are scored without the batsman hitting the ball.

A "Leg Bye" is where runs are scored by hitting the batsman, but not the bat and the ball is not a no ball or wide. However no runs can be scored if the striking batsman didn't attempt to play a shot or if he was avoiding the ball. Ways Batsmen can be given out according to cricket rules

There are a number of different ways a batsman can be given out in the game of cricket. When a bowler gets a batsman out it is said that the bowler gets a "wicket". Following are the different ways a batsman can be given out according to the rules of cricket:
y

Bowled - Cricket rules state that if the ball is bowled and hits the striking batsman's wickets the batsman is given out (as long as at least one bail is removed by the ball). It does not matter whether the ball has touched the batsman's bat, gloves, body or any other part of the batsman. However the ball is not allowed to have touched another player or umpire before hitting the wickets. Caught - Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits the ball or touches the ball at all with his bat or hand/glove holding the bat then the batsman can be caught out. This is done by the fielders, wicket keeper or bowler catching the ball on the full (before it bounces). If this is done then cricket rules state the batsman is out. Leg Before Wicket (LBW) - If the ball is bowled and it hits the batsman first without the bat hitting it then an LBW decision is possible. However for the umpire to give this out he must first look at some of the factors stated in the cricket rules. The first thing the umpire need to decide is would the ball have hit the wickets if the batsman was not there. If his answer to this is yes and the ball was not pitched on the leg side of the wicket he can safely give the batsman out. However if the ball hits the batsman outside the line of off stump while he was attempting to play a stroke then he is not out. Stumped - A batsman can be given out according to cricket rules when the wicketkeeper puts down his wicket while he is out of his crease and not attempting a run (if he is attempting a run it would be a runout). Run Out - Cricket rules state that a batsman is out if no part of his bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease while the ball is in play and the wicket is fairly put down by the fielding side. Hit Wicket - Cricket rules specify that if a batsman hits his wicket down with his bat or body after the bowler has entered his delivery stried and the ball is in play then he is out. The striking batsman is also out if he hits his wicket down while setting off for his first run. Handled The Ball - Cricket rules allow the batsman to be given out if he willingly handles the ball with the hand that is not touching the bat without the consent of the opposition. Timed Out - An incoming batsman must be ready to face a ball or be at the non strikers end with his partner within three minutes of the outgoing batsman being dismissed. If this is not done the incoming batsman can be given out. Hit The Ball Twice - Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits a ball twice other than for the purpose of protecting his wicket or with consent from the opposition he is out.

Obstructing The Field - A batsman is out if he willingly obstructs the opposition by word or action

There are many other cricket rules. However these are most of the basics and will get you well on your way to playing the game. Many of the more advanced rules & laws can be learned along the way and are not vital to general play. This website has been created by David Williams who writes a blog about various subjects.

Laws of Cricket

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains. The laws of cricket are a set of rules framed by the Marylebone Cricket Club, which outline all aspects of how the game is played from how a team wins a game, how a batsman is dismissed, through to specifications on how the pitch is to be prepared and maintained. Although the MCC is a private club based in London and no longer the game's governing body, the MCC retains copyright in the laws and only the MCC may change the laws, although nowadays this would usually only be done after discussions with the game's global governing body the International Cricket Council.

The Laws are intended to apply to all two innings matches; the International Cricket Council has implemented "Standard Playing Conditions for Test Matches" and "Standard Playing Conditions for One Day Internationals" to augment the Laws of Cricket. Similarly, each cricketing country has implemented Playing Conditions to govern domestic cricket. Note that the Laws do not provide for One Day or Limited Overs cricket; these modifications have been made by the Playing Conditions for One Day Internationals. Teams may agree to alter some of the rules for particular games. Other rules supplement the main laws and change them to deal with different circumstances. In particular, there are a number of modifications to the playing structure and fielding position rules that apply to one innings games that are restricted to a set number of fair deliveries.

The Laws themselves deal with the following:

y Players and officials y Equipment and pitch specifications y Match structure y Scoring and winning runs y Mechanics of dismissal y Ways to get out y Fielding and wicket-keeping y Fair and unfair play The Players A match is played between two sides, each of eleven players, one of whom shall be captain. By agreement a match may be played between sides of more or less than eleven players, but not more than eleven players may field at any time. A player who excels in both batting and bowling is known as an all-rounder. One who excels as a batsman and wicket-keeper is known as a wicket-keeper/batsman, sometimes regarded as a type of all-rounder. True allrounders are rare and valued. Substitutes In cricket, a substitute may be brought on for an injured fielder. 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. A player wishing to change his shirt, boots, etc. must leave the field to do so. No substitute shall be allowed for him. The Umpires Two on-field umpires preside over a match. One umpire will stand behind the wicket at the end from which the ball is bowled, and adjudicate on most decisions. The other will stand near the fielding position called square leg, which offers a side view of the batsman, and assist on decisions for which he has a better view. In some professional matches, they may refer a decision to an off-field 'third' umpire, who has the assistance of television replays. In international matches an off-field match referee ensures that play is within the laws of cricket and the spirit of the game.

Equipment and pitch specifications

The Ball A cricket ball is between 8 in/22.4cm and 9 in/22.9cm in circumference, and weighs between 5 ounce/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.

The bat A bat is no more than 38 inches (96.5cm) in length, and no more than 4.25 inches (10.6 cm) wide. The hand or glove holding the bat is considered part of the bat. The blade of the bat shall be made solely of wood and shall not exceed 4 in/10.8cm at the widest part. The pitch The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards/20.12m in length and 10ft/3.05m in width. Lines drawn or painted on the pitch are known as creases. Creases are used to adjudicate the dismissals of batsmen and to determine whether a delivery is fair.

The Wicket The wicket consists of three wooden stumps that are 28 inches (70c m) tall. The stumps are placed along the batting crease with equal distances between each stump. They shall be 9 in/22.86cm wide and shall consist of three wooden stumps with two wooden bails on top. The bails must not project more than 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) above the stumps, and must, for men's cricket, be 4 5/16 inches (10.8 cm) long. There are also specified lengths for the barrel and spigots of the bail. The umpires may dispense with the bails if conditions are unfit. Match structure Innings A match shall be one or two innings of each side according to agreement reached before the match. It may be agreed to limit any innings to a number of overs or by a period of time. Two innings matches are played over three to five days with at least six hours of cricket being played each day. One innings matches are usually played over one day for six hours or more.

Declaration and forfeiture The captain of the batting side may declare an innings closed when the ball is dead, at any time during a match. He may also forfeit his innings before it has started. 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 minutes elapsing.

Start; 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. 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 runs 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. Boundaries A boundary is marked round the edge of the field of play. If the ball is hit past this boundary, four runs are scored, or six runs if the ball didn't hit the ground before crossing the boundary. Lost ball If a ball in play is lost or cannot be found, the fielder can call "lost ball". The ball shall then become dead. The batting side keeps any penalty runs (such as no-balls and wides) and scores the higher of six runs and the number of runs actually run.

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. A forfeited innings is to count as a completed innings. 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. 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. While the ball is dead, no runs can be scored and no batsmen can be dismissed. The ball also becomes dead when a batsman is dismissed, which prevents baseball-style double plays.

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. A No ball shall not count as one of the over. Wide ball A ball is a wide if the batsman can't hit it from the normal standing position or from where he is actually standing. A wide is also 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, hitti Mechanics of dismissal Appeals Neither umpire shall give a batsman out, even though he may be out under the Laws, unless appealed to by the fielding side. This shall not debare a batsman who is out under any of the Laws from leaving his wicket without an appeal having been made. A batsman is dismissed if either he is given out by an umpire, on appeal or he is out under any of the Laws and leaves his wicket. The wicket is down

Several methods of being out occur when the wicket is put down. The wicket is put down if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground. Batsman out of his ground The batsmen can be run out or stumped if they are out of their ground. A batsman shall be considered to be out of his ground unless his bat or some part of his person is grounded behind the popping crease at that end. If both batsman are in the middle of the pitch when a wicket is put down, the batsman closer to that end is out.

Fielding and wicket-keeping Wicket-keeper The wicket-keeper in cricket is the fielding player who stands behind the batsman on strike at the wicket. The wicket-keeper is the only member of the fielding side permitted to wear gloves and external leg guards. The wicket-keeper's major function is to stop deliveries that pass the batsman (in order to prevent runs being scored), but often he can also attempt to dismiss the batsman in various ways. Fielding Fielding in the sport of cricket is what fielders do to collect the ball when it is struck by the batsman, in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or running the batsman out. A fielder may field the ball with any part of his person but if, while the ball is in play he wilfully fields it otherwise, the ball shall become dead and 5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the batting side.

Fair and unfair play This law makes clear that the captains of the two teams have the responsibility for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. This leads on to a statement that the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. It is unfair for any member of the fielding side deliberately to attempt to distract the striker while he is preparing to receive or receiving a delivery.

Ways to get out

Bowled A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, even if it first touches his bat or person. Timed out An incoming batsman must be in position to take guard or for his partner to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the fall of the previous wicket, otherwise the incoming batsman will be out, Timed out. Caught If a ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, touches on bat without having previously been in contact with any member of the fielding side and is subsequently held by a fielder as a fair catch before it touches the ground, then the batsman is out.

Handled the ball If a batsman wilfully touches the ball while in play with a hand or hands not holding the bat unless he does so with the consent of the opposing side, he is out. Hit the ball twice If a batsman hits the ball twice while the ball is in play, it strikes any part of his person or is struck by his bat and, before the ball has been touched by a fielder, he willfully strikes it again with his bat or person, other than a hand not holding the bat, except for the sole purpose of guarding his wicket, he is out. 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 person. The striker is also out hit wicket if he puts his wicket down by his bat or his person in setting off for a first run. "Person" includes the clothes and equipment of the batsman.

Leg before wicket If the ball hits the batsman without first hitting the bat, but would have hit the wicket if the batsman was not there, and the 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, and the batsman was attempting to play a stroke, he is not out. Obstructing the field

Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if he wilfully obstructs or distracts the opposing side by word or action. It shall be regarded as obstruction if either batsman wilfully, he is out. 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 and whether or not a run is being attempted. Stumped A batsman is out when the wicket-keeper puts down the wicket, while the batsman is out of his crease, he is receiving a ball which is not a No ball and not attempting a run.

Fielding and wicket-keeping Wicket-keeper The wicket-keeper in cricket is the fielding player who stands behind the batsman on strike at the wicket. The wicket-keeper is the only member of the fielding side permitted to wear gloves and external leg guards. The wicket-keeper's major function is to stop deliveries that pass the batsman (in order to prevent runs being scored), but often he can also attempt to dismiss the batsman in various ways. Fielding Fielding in the sport of cricket is what fielders do to collect the ball when it is struck by the batsman, in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or running the batsman out. A fielder may field the ball with any part of his person but if, while the ball is in play he wilfully fields it otherwise, the ball shall become dead and 5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the batting side.

Fair and unfair play This law makes clear that the captains of the two teams have the responsibility for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. This leads on to a statement that the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. It is unfair for any member of the fielding side deliberately to attempt to distract the striker while he is preparing to receive or receiving a delivery.