P H Y S I C A L E D U C A T I O N PROJECT O N C R I C K E T

Cricket – “ A m a g i c w o r d in th e s p h e r e of sports.”
INTRODUCTION
Cricket is a bat-and-ball g ame played between t w o t e a m s of
1 1 p l a ye r s on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a
rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score
as man y 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 g a m e ranges from 20

overs of six bowling deliveries per side to Test cricket played
over five days. The LawsofCricket are maintained by
the InternationalCricketCouncil (ICC) and
th e M a r y l e b o n eCricketC l u b ( M C C ) 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 g a m e ' s governing body, has tenfull
members.[3] The g ame is played particularly in Australasia
, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies, Southern Africa
and England.
 HISTORY
The

game of
cricket has a
known histor y

spanning from

the

16th century
to the present

day, with
international
matches
played since 1844, although the official history of
international T est cricket b e g a n in 1877. During this time,
the g ame developed from its origins in England into a game
which is now played professionally in most of
the C o m m o n w e a l t h of Nations.

The first evidence of cricket being played was recorded in the

year 1550, by the pupils of R o y a l G r a m m a r School,
Guildford. In the year 1 6 1 1 it is reported that two young men
from S us se x 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 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 first English touring team on board ship at Liverpool in

1859

The 1 8 th century also witnessed the emergence of two

t y p e s of cricket players. They were known as the retained
pla yer a n d 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 M a r y l e b o n e Cricket C l ub a l s o k n o w n

M C C was created. The M C C 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 g a m e 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 year 1844.
In the present times, cricket has its own following of loyal fans.
The I nternational Cricket Council, better k n o w n a s the
I C C is the governing body in world cricket. The ICC was
founded on the 15th of June in the year 1909. All laws relating
to OD Is and Test Cricket are framed and implemented by the
ICC.

INDIAN CRICKET
Cricket was popularized by E n g l i s h settlers and the British
army. The Oriental C l u b 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 1 9 3 4 for the Ranji Trophy, named for
K.S. Ranjitsinhji, one of the most famous Indian cricketers.

2 1 S T- C E N T U R Y C R I C K E T
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 2 0 0 7 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 2 0 0 8 –
raised much speculation in the cricketing press about their
effect on the future of cricket.
H O W I S CRICKET PLAYED ?
In cricket, there are two teams, the batting and the nonbatting.
Nine members of the nonbatting 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 nonbatting team picks up the ball and hits the wicket. If
the wicket is broken, by a thrown ball or by the wicketkeeper or
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 theing there is time, they ma y 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
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 g o to his personal score for the game.

When a hit ball goes beyond the boundary, the g a m e is paused

and four runs are added to the team's score. In order for the
team's score to g o up, several other things m ay 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 m a y 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 m a y 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 m a y hit either right or left handed, based on a

vertical bat with its entire blade faced to the ball. There are
man y 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 g ue ss 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
W I C K E T A N D C R E A S E S - A wicket is three stakes or stumps
placed into the ground so that a cricket ball cannot pass
between them. There are two 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's ground.

B A T A N D B A L L - The bat is paddle shaped made of willow and

approximately 1 1 centimeters wide. It, including the handle,
m ay not under regulation exceed 9 7 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.

D R E S S - 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
C A P P E D - 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.

R E P R E S E N T A T I V E T E A M - 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 amo ng club teams or minor teams.)

I N N I N G S - 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 one team
still has a turn to bat but has scored more runs than the
opposing team (which has completed its two innings.)

F O L L O W O N - 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.

H I T A S I X - To "hit a six" means to hit the ball over a boundary

without it touching the ground, thus scoring six runs.

P I T C H - 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.

W I C K E T - The word "wicket" has four meanings in cricket. First,

it is the goal, consisting of three stakes, which two sticks lay on
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.)

S T I C K Y W I C K E T - A "sticky wicket" is a wicket (pitch) that is

drying after a rain. Any soft soil - turf - makes playing more
difficult for a batsman.

PRINCIPLES OF MATHEMATICS IN CRICK

ET
In a g a m e of cricket, there are two main points of interest
where the flight of the ball is concerned. The first is the time
from when the bowler releases the ball to when it is either hit
or missed by the batsman. The second is the time after the
collision of the ball with the bat. As the batsman's goal is to
score as m an y runs as possible, most hits are played so that
the ball is close to the ground, and is therefore harder to catch
by a fieldsman. The bowler's main aim is to pitch the ball so the
batsman does not hit the ball to his best ability. The flight path
of the ball is such that the trajectory can be found with a simple
equation. However, this does not necessarily apply to slow
pitches. There is a small set of critical speeds in which pressure
imbalances cause the ball to swing (deviate) to one side or the
other of a bowl. These speeds are functions of several
variables, including the angle of the seam, surface texture of
the ball, the spin put on the ball by the bowler, and the air
currents. Forces up to 3 0 % of the weight of the ball push on the
ball from the side. In a horizontal direction of motion,

m (dv/dt)= -kv 2

where m is the m a s s of the ball, (dv/dt) is the derivative based

on time, representing acceleration, and k is the side force
constant. This equation is only true if the vertical motions are
completely ignored. If this equation is changed to be a
derivative of velocity in respect to distance rather than time, it
will be:

v(dv/dx)=-(k/m)v2

where all variables remain the same, but x is the distance down
the bowl that the ball is when measured. This equation can be
solved to give

x=(m/k)ln(v 0 /v)

where ln is the natural logarithm, and v 0 is the initial velocity,

and all other variables remain constant. This shows the
relationship of distance and velocity after a hit by the bowler. In
order to find an estimate of the time of flight, separation of
variables can be performed on the last equation to give

t=(m/k){(1/v)-(1/v 0 )}

This shows how long the ball is in the air for a particular
velocity. Once each of these equations is solved using the
known variable(s), the deviation of the ball from the visible
path can be traced. Even the slightest variation can trick a
batter's eye into missing the ball or mistiming a hit.

L A W S OF CRICKET
The l a w s of cricket are a set of rules established by
the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which describe the laws of
cricketworldwide, to ensure uniformity and fairness. There
are currently 4 2 laws, which outline all aspects of how the
g a m e is played .

P L A YE RS A N D OFFICIALS

The first four l a w s cov er th e players, th e u m p i r e s a n d

th e scorers.

L a w 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 m a y field.

L a w 2: Substitutes. In cricket, a substitute m ay be brought

on for an injured fielder. However, a substitute m a y 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 m ay have a runner, who completes the runs while the
batsman continues batting. Alternatively, a batsman m a y retire
hurt or ill, and m ay return later to resume his innings if he
recovers.

L a w 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) m a y be used under the
specific playing conditions of a particular match or tournament.

L a w 4: The scorers. There are two scorers who respond to

the umpires' signals and keep the score.
 AN UMPIRE

EQ UI P ME NT A N D LAYING OUT THE PITCH

L a w 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
new ball, after a certain number of overs have been bowled (80
in Test matches, 3 4 inODIs). The gradual degradation of the
ball through the innings is an important aspect of the game.

L a w 6: The bat. The bat is no more than 3 8 inches (97 cm) in

length, and no 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 White Willowwood).

L a w 7: The pitch. The pitch is a rectangular area of the

ground 2 2 yards (20 m) long and 1 0 ft (3.0 m) wide. The
Ground Authority selects and prepares the pitch, but once the
g am e 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 5 8 ft (18 m) and a minimum width of 6 ft (1.8 m).

L a w 8: The wickets. The wicket consists of three wooden

stumps that are 2 8 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 me n 's cricket, be 4 5 ⁄1 6 inches (10.95
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 m a y dispense
with the bails
if conditions are unfit (i.e. it is windy so they might fall off by
themselves).

L a w 9: Bo wlin g, p o pp in g , a n d 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.

L a w 10: Preparation a n d m a i n t e n a n c e of th e 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.

L a w 11: C o v e ri n g th e 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 G A ME

L a w 12: I nn in gs. 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-g a m e 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 bowl first.

L a w 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 g a m e of five or more days, the side batting first must be
at least 2 0 0 runs ahead to enforce the follow-on; for a three- or
four-day game, 1 5 0 runs; for a two-day game, 1 0 0 runs; for a
one-day game, 7 5 runs. The length of the g ame is determined
by the number of scheduled days play left when the game
actually begins.

L a w 14: Declaration a n d forfeiture. The batting captain can

declare an innings closed at any time when the ball is dead. He
m ay also forfeit his innings before it has started.

L a w 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 3 0 minutes elapsing.

L a w 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 2 0 overs, being extended in time so as to
include 2 0 overs if necessary.

L a w 17: Practice o n th e f i e ld. There m a y 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 m ay 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.
L a w 18: S c o r i n g 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.

L a w 19: Bo undaries. 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.

L a w 20: Lo st 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 (such as no-balls and wides) and scores
the higher of six runs and the number of runs actually run.

L a w 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 m a y run out of time before
the innings have all been completed. In this case, the match is
drawn.

L a w 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 m a y not bowl two
consecutive overs.

L a w 23: D e a d b a ll. 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 wicketkeeper.

L a w 24: N o 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.

L a w 25: W i de 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, hitting his wicket, or obstructing the field.

L a w 26: B y e a n d L e g 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. By es and leg-byes are
credited to the team's but not the batsman's total.

MECHANICS OF DISM ISSAL

L a w 27: Appeals. If the fielders believe a batsman is out, they

m ay ask the umpire "H o w'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.
L a w 28: The wicket is d o wn. 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.

L a w 29: B a t s m a n o ut of h is g r o u nd. 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 batsman are in the middle of
the pitch when a wicket is put down, the batsman closer to that
end is out.

W A Y S T O G E T OUT

L a w 30: B o wle d. 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 m a y not touch
another player or an umpire before doing so.

L a w 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.

L a w 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.

L a w 33: Han dl e d th e 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.

L a w 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.
L a w 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. " Bo dy " includes the clothes and
equipment of the batsman.

L a w 36: L e g before wicket ( L B W ) . 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.

L a w 37: Obstructi n g th e field. If a batsman willfully

obstructs the opposition by word or action, he is out.

L a w 38: R u n 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.

L a w 39: S t u m p e d. 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 a run.

FIELDERS

L a w 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 leg guards.

L a w 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.

FIELDING POSITIONS :

Fair a n d unfair play

L a w 42: Fair and unfair play.

O B JE C TI V E S O F C R I C K E T
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 g a m e 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 DECESSIVE ELEMENTS

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

TYPES OF MA TCHES
Cricket is a multi-faceted sport which, in very broad terms, can
be divided into major cricket and m i n o r 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-c l a s s cricket, has a
duration of three to five days (there have been examples of
" t i m e l e s s " m a t c h e s too); the latter, known as limited overs
cricket because each team bowls a limit of typically 5 0 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-i n n i n g s m a t c h e s have at least six hours

of playing time each day. Limited o v e r s m a t c h e s 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 s i n g l e wicket had been extremely
successful. In this form, although each team m ay 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.
T est 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 the1876–77 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 2 0 0 6 due to its
inability to compete against other Test teams, [ 3 8 ] and returned
in 2011.
[39]

Test matches between two teams are usually played in a group

of matches called a " se r i e s" . 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. [ 40 ]
Since 1882, most Test series between England and Australia
have been played for a trophy known as T he A s h e s. Some
other bilateral series have individual trophies too: for example,
the W i s d e n T r ophy is contested by England and West Indies;
the F r an k Worrell T ro ph y by Australia and West Indies and
the Border-G a v a s k a r T r op hy between India and Australia.

Limited overs

Standard limited overs cricket was introduced in England in the

1 9 6 3 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 white ball.

A " o n e d a y m a t c h " , 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
byAustralia and New Zealand in 2015.

T w e nt y20 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.

Na ti ona l c h a m p i o n s h i p s

Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1895. The team won the first
of its 3 0 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 1 8 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 3 0 official titles.

Au str al i a established its national first-class championship in

1 8 9 2 – 9 3 when the Sh effi eld S h i e l d was introduced. In
Australia, the first-class teams represent the various
states. New South Wales has won the maximum number of
titles with 4 5 to 2008.

National championship trophies to be established elsewhere

included the RanjiT r op h y (India), Plunket Shield (New
Z ea la nd ), CurrieC u p ( S o u t h Africa) a n d Shell
S h i e l d ( W e s t Indies). S o m e of these competitions have been
updated and renamed in recent years.

Domestic limited overs competitions began with

E n g l a n d ' s Gillette C u p knockout in 1963. Countries usually
stage seasonal limited overs competitions in both knockout and
league format. In recent years, national Twenty20 competitions
have been introduced, usually in knockout form though some
incorporate mini-leagues.

Oth er t y p e s of m a t c h e s
Indian boys playing cricket o n th e str eet with a ten ni s ball
in Uttar Pradesh,India.

There are numerous variations of the sport played throughout

the world that include indoor cricket, French cricket, b ea c h
cricket, K w i k cricket and all sorts of card g am e s and board
g am e s that have been inspired by cricket. In these variants, the
rules are often changed to make the g ame 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 man y 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 g a m e s of " G u l l y C ri cket" or " t a p e b a l l " in their long
narrow streets.

In Sa m o a 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.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T R U C T U R E - 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 I nternational 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
1 9 0 9 by representatives from England, Australia and South
Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965,
and took up its current name in 1989.

The ICC has 1 0 4 members: 1 0 Full Members that play official

Test matches, 3 4 Associate Members, and 6 0 Affiliate
Members.[41] The ICC is responsible for the organisation
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 organises 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.

V i s i o n of S u c c e s s
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.

S t r a t e g i c 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 m en ' s and women's international cricket.

M i s s i o n S t a t e m e n t - L e a d i n g W o r l d Cricket by:

* Providing a world class environment for international cricket

* Delivering " major' events across three formats

* Providing targeted support to Members

* Promoting the global game.

STRATEGIC PLAN
The W a y F o r w a r d for International Cricket

The ICC Strategic Plan 2011-1 5 was launched at the ICC's

Annual Conference in Hong Kong in June 2011.
After a two-year consultation period with the g ame's
stakeholders, including Members, players, media
supporters, the plan sets out a vision for international
andcricket.

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 g ame with more players, more fans and
more competitive teams.

The ICC vision for 2011-1 5 is to create ‘A bigger, better, global

g am e ' aimed at ‘Targeting more players, more fans, more
competitive teams.'

Our success between 2 0 1 1 and 2 0 1 5 will be judged on growth

in participation and public interest and the competitiveness of
teams participating in me n 's and women's international cricket.
ICC W O R L D 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 5 0 overs per side format.

There have been ten events so far, with the first tournament
taking place in England in 1975.

The last ICC Cricket World Cup took place in 2 0 1 1 in which was
won by India, who hosted the tournament along with
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Other winners of the event include Australia (1987, 1999, 2003,

2007), West Indies (1975, 1979), India (1983), Pakistan (1992)
and Sri Lanka (1996).

The next ICC Cricket World Cup will be staged in Australia and
New Zealand in 2015.

I C C W O R L D C U P 2 0 01 W I N N E R - I N D I A
INDIA NATIONAL CRICKET TEAM

INDIAN CRICKET CREST

The I n d i a n cricket t e a m is the national cricket team of India.
Governed by the B o a r d of Control for Cricket in
I n d ia (BC CI), it is a full member of the I nternational Cricket
Council(ICC) with T e st a n d O n e D a y I nternational ( O D I )
statu s.

The Indian cricket team is currently ranked third by the ICC in

Tests, second in ODIs and seventh in T20s.[1] On 2 April
2011, the team won the 2 0 1 1 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 M a h e n d r a S i n g h D h o n i is th e
c apt ai n in all forms of the g a m e . Under the leadership of
Dhoni, the Indian team has set a national record for most
back-to-back ODI wins (9 straight wins) [ 3 ] and has emerged
as o n e of the m o s t f or m i dab l e t e a m s in international
cricket. [ 4 ]

C o a c h i n g staff :
■ Head coach: Duncan Fletcher
■ Mental conditioning coach: Vacant
■ Fitness trainer: Ramji Srinivasan
■ Physiotherapist: Nitin Patel
■ Masseur: R ame sh Mane
■ Performance analyst: C.K.M. Dhananjai
■ Bowling consultant: Eric Simons