The beginner’s guide to cricket

Cricket is quite confusing at first blush. Onlookers witness a man with shin guards and a big wooden stick in the middle of a field running up and smacking balls in all sorts of directions as it’s hurled toward him off the ground by another man. Then occasionally, the other team runs to the ball and you notice another player changing places with the batsman. In reality, this game which originated in England in the 16th century is simpler than it seems. Today we are going to be taking you exactly through how it works and some strategies teams use to win.

This sport is one of the most popular in the world, particularly when it comes to wagering on:

IPL betting odds
ICC
T20

The basics

There are two teams facing off, each with 11 players. They stand at the middle of the field, a.k.a. – the pitch. Both teams alternate between batting and defending. The team batting has one player actually hitting the ball (the batsman), standing next to a wicket, and another player, his partner, standing near the other wicket (don’t worry, we’ll cover the terms). 

The batting team’s objective is to try to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets while the defense’s, or the fielding team’s, task is to dismiss the batsmen. Each of these sessions in which one team gets a crack at scoring runs is called an innings.  

An innings goes on until when all the batsmen are eliminated or a specified number of overs are completed. An over is a set of six deliveries by a bowler (the player hurling the ball toward the batsman). The points in the game are referred to as “runs”. Like in other sports, the ultimate objective is to get more of them than the other team.

The lingo

The game features quite an abundance of terms. If you don’t know what they mean, rules and strategy will go right over your head. So let’s learn the most important ones right out the gate.

The pitch: to reiterate, this is the field all the active players stand on, both the offense and the defense.

The batsman: this is the player holding a wooden “bat”, the tool he has to swing to hit the ball in a certain direction. He is standing right next to the “wicket”, which he must also protect.

The bowler: this is a man, representing the other team, throwing the ball off of the ground toward the wicket and batsman.

The wicket: this is a set of three stumps located behind the batsman

Bails: these are the two wooden objects sitting atop the wicket. The batsman defends them while the bowler wishes to hit them and knock them off the wicket to get the batsman out.
Crease: the lines on the pitch marking the “safe area”. As long as the batsman remains within the crease, fielders cannot get him out.

Innings: this is a session or round over which each team attempts to score runs.

Rules of the game

The duration of the game depends on the specific chosen format. Innings last a certain number of overs or until all of a team’s batsmen are dismissed. As for the number of overs per innings, it varies by the format.

Test matches: unlimited overs per innings
One Day internationals: 50 overs per side
Twenty20 matches: 20 overs per side

A batsman can be dismissed in several ways. The most common forms of dismissal are being:

bowled: when the ball hits the stumps
caught: ball is caught by a fielder before it touches the ground
leg before wicket: the ball hits the batsman’s leg in front of the stumps
run-out: when a fielder hits the stumps before the batsman reaches the crease
stumped: when the wicketkeeper removes the bails while the batsman is out of his crease

Runs are scored in different ways. A batsman earns a run by running between the wickets after hitting the ball. If the ball reaches outside the boundary, four runs are awarded, and if it crosses the boundary without touching the ground, six ruins are given. Then there are times when the bowler doesn’t deliver the ball in an acceptable fashion, which results in “extras”, which come as wides and no-balls. These award the other team runs as well.

Batsman skills

This is one of the most challenging aspects of the sport. It requires good hand-eye coordination, timing, technique, and body strength. The batsman has to defend their wicket while knocking the ball into the desired direction. To do so, they need to have the right grip, stance, and shot selection.

A proper batting grip involves holding the bat with both hands with the top hand providing control and the bottom hand adding power. The stance is equally important. Batsmen have to stand with their feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, and eyes focused on the bowler. Good footwork allows for better shot execution and control over deliveries. One of the most famous batsmen is Virat Kohli.

Shots

There are various types of shots a batsman can play depending on the delivery. The drive (straight, cover, or off-drive) is used for full-length deliveries while the cut and pull shots are effective against shorter balls. The hook and sweep shots are used for balls directed at the body or outside leg stump. 

Running between wickets

This is another essential skill, requiring quick decision-making and coordination with the batting partner. Calling out for runs clearly and understanding when to take singles, doubles, or risky runs can make a significant difference in a team’s final score. A good batsman not only focuses on shot-making but also adapts to different playing conditions, bowlers, and match situations.

Bowling technique

Along with batting, this is one of the top two most important skills involved in the game. This is how one team limits the other team’s number of runs and takes wickets. A good bowler needs a combination of accuracy, speed, and strategy to outplay the batsman. 

There are two types of bowlers – fast bowlers and spin bowlers, each sticking to their own techniques.

Fast bowlers

These bowlers rely on speed and seam movement to trouble the batsman. They use different types of deliveries, such as:

outswingers: ball moves away from the batsman
inswingers: it moves inward
yorkers: pitched at the batsman’s feet
bouncers: short-pitched deliveries aimed at the batsman’s upper body

Proper grip, a strong runup, and a smooth follow-through are essential for effective fast bowling.

Spin bowlers

Meanwhile, these guys focus on turn and deception rather than speed. They use wrist spin (leg spin) or finger spin (off-spin) to make the ball deviate after bouncing. Leg spinners deliver googlies, flippers, and top-spinners while off-spinners use carrom balls and doosras to trick the batsman. 

Fielding

Fielding is part of the defense. It requires agility, quick reflexes, and sharp catching skills to either stop runs or create wicket-taking opportunities. Players are strategically placed around the field in positions, such as: 

slip
cover
mid-wicket
deep square leg

Catching is one of the most important skills in fielding. A well-timed catch can dismiss a batsman and shift the momentum of the game. Fielders also need strong throwing accuracy to hit the stumps directly for run-outs. Ground fielding, which includes stopping and returning the ball quickly, is essential to prevent easy runs too.

Wicketkeeping

This is a specialized fielding position that requires exceptional hand-eye coordination. This player stands behind the stumps and is responsible for catching deliveries that pass the batsman, collecting throws from fielders, and attempting stumpings when the batsman leaves the crease. A good wicketkeeper stays alert at all times, anticipating edges from the batsman and making quick movements to complete dismissals.