How to Play Strategy in Cricket

Cricket is a game that is very similar to baseball. The game originated in England in the 16th century. Two teams with eleven players each take turns at bat during innings and try to score runs against the opposing team. The length of a game can span from several hours to several days. Reading the rules of play will give you a good understanding of how the game is played. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Cricket field (rectangular grass field 100 to 160 yards wide)
• Equipment (cricket ball, cricket bat, wickets, stumps, bails, helmets, pads and gloves)
• Clothing (a long or short sleeved shirt, long pants)

Cricket Basics

1. Read books or visit websites that teach the fundamentals and rules of the game.
2. Join a cricket club to meet and speak to players and coaches. Get as much information as possible about games and schedules. Attend cricket games and study the play action.
3. Play on a cricket team. The only way to learn is by doing.

Cricket Play

4. Set the players in their positions on the field before the play begins. Each team has eleven players. The defensive team takes the field while the offensive team stays off the field and waits for their turn to bat.
5. Position two batsmen standing on opposite sides of each other 22 yards apart, each in front of a wicket with the bat in their hands.
6. Standing a distance from one of the batsman (striker) is the bowler. The bowler stands next to one of the batsmen (non-striker).
7. Squatting behind the wicket and the striker is the wicket keeper. The wicket keeper catches the ball thrown by the bowler to the striker.
8. Surround the bowler, batsmen, wicket keeper and wickets with the remaining players of the defensive team in a circular pattern designed to prevent runs from being scored by the opposing team.
9. Begin the game with the bowler throwing the ball to the batsman. The batsman attempts to hit the ball out to the field. Runs can be scored only if the batsman hits the ball. If the batsman misses the ball, the wicket keeper will catch the ball to complete the play.
10. Making an out forces the ball to be considered dead. An out is made by a fielder who throws the ball and hits a wicket while the batsman is out of the crease. The out batsman steps off the field and the next batsman comes up to bat. After ten batsmen are out, the offensive team takes the field and the defensive team steps off the field for their turn to bat.

Scoring Runs

11. Scoring runs is accomplished by the two batsmen running as they cross each other midway between the wickets and stepping between the wicket and the crease. When both step in the opposite crease, a run is scored.
12. Take additional runs whenever a fielder throws the ball back to the pitch area and no fielder is there to catch the ball. This is called an overthrow. Four runs are scored on an overthrow.
13. Hitting the ball and reaching the boundary fence automatically scores four runs without the batsman having to run. Six runs are scored if a batsman hits the ball over the boundary fence.