Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The game of cricket has a known history spanning from the 16th century to the present day, with
international matches played since 1844, although the official history of international Test
cricket began in 1877. During this time, the game developed from its origins in England into a
game which is now played professionally in most of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early cricket
o 1.1 Origin
o 1.2 Derivation of the name of "cricket"
o 1.3 First definite reference
o 1.4 Early 17th century
o 1.5 The Commonwealth
o 1.6 Gambling and press coverage
2 18th-century cricket
o 2.1 Patronage and players
o 2.2 Cricket moves out of England
o 2.3 Development of the Laws
o 2.4 Continued growth in England
o 2.5 Cricket and crisis
3 19th-century cricket
o 3.1 International cricket begins
o 3.2 National championships
o 3.3 Balls per over
4 20th-century cricket
o 4.1 Growth of Test cricket
o 4.2 Suspension of South Africa (1970–91)
o 4.3 World Series Cricket
o 4.4 Limited-overs cricket
o 4.5 Increasing use of technology
5 21st-century cricket
6 See also
7 References
8 Bibliography
9 External sources
Early cricket
Main article: History of cricket to 1725
Origin
No one knows when or where cricket began but there is a body of evidence, much of it
circumstantial, that strongly suggests the game was devised during Saxon or Norman times by
children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England that
lies across Kent and Sussex. In medieval times, the Weald was populated by small farming and
metal-working communities. It is generally believed that cricket survived as a children's game
for many centuries before it was increasingly taken up by adults around the beginning of the 17th
century.[1]
It is quite likely that cricket was devised by children and survived for many generations as
essentially a children’s game. Adult participation is unknown before the early 17th century.
Possibly cricket was derived from bowls, assuming bowls is the older sport, by the intervention
of a batsman trying to stop the ball from reaching its target by hitting it away. Playing on sheep-
grazed land or in clearings, the original implements may have been a matted lump of sheep’s
wool (or even a stone or a small lump of wood) as the ball; a stick or a crook or another farm tool
as the bat; and a stool or a tree stump or a gate (e.g., a wicket gate) as the wicket.[2]
A number of words are thought to be possible sources for the term "cricket". In the earliest
known reference to the sport in 1598 (see below), it is called creckett. The name may have been
derived from the Middle Dutch krick(-e), meaning a stick; or the Old English cricc or cryce
meaning a crutch or staff.[2] Another possible source is the Middle Dutch word krickstoel,
meaning a long low stool used for kneeling in church and which resembled the long low wicket
with two stumps used in early cricket.
John Derrick was a pupil at The Royal Grammar School in Guildford when he and his friends played
creckett circa1550
Despite many prior suggested references, the first definite mention of the game is found in a
1598 court case concerning an ownership dispute over a plot of common land in Guildford,
Surrey. A 59-year old coroner, John Derrick, testified that he and his school friends had played
creckett on the site fifty years earlier when they attended the Free School. Derrick's account
proves beyond reasonable doubt that the game was being played in Surrey circa1550.[5][6]
The first reference to cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611, when two men in
Sussex were prosecuted for playing cricket on Sunday instead of going to church.[7] In the same
year, a dictionary defined cricket as a boys' game and this suggests that adult participation was a
recent development.[5]
A number of references occur up to the English Civil War and these indicate that cricket had
become an adult game contested by parish teams, but there is no evidence of county strength
teams at this time. Equally, there is little evidence of the rampant gambling that characterised the
game throughout the 18th century. It is generally believed, therefore, that village cricket had
developed by the middle of the 17th century but that county cricket had not and that investment
in the game had not begun.[1]
The Commonwealth
After the Civil War ended in 1648, the new Puritan government clamped down on "unlawful
assemblies", in particular the more raucous sports such as football. Their laws also demanded a
stricter observance of the Sabbath than there had been previously. As the Sabbath was the only
free time available to the lower classes, cricket's popularity may have waned during the
Commonwealth. Having said that, it did flourish in public fee-paying schools such as Winchester
and St Paul's. There is no actual evidence that Oliver Cromwell's regime banned cricket
specifically and there are references to it during the interregnum that suggest it was acceptable to
the authorities providing it did not cause any "breach of the Sabbath".[1] It is believed that the
nobility in general adopted cricket at this time through involvement in village games.[5]
Cricket certainly thrived after the Restoration in 1660 and is believed to have first attracted
gamblers making large bets at this time. In 1664, the "Cavalier" Parliament passed the Gaming
Act 1664 which limited stakes to £100, although that was still a fortune at the time,[1] equivalent
to about £12 thousand in present day terms [8]. Cricket had certainly become a significant
gambling sport by the end of the 17th century. There is a newspaper report of a "great match"
played in Sussex in 1697 which was 11-a-side and played for high stakes of 50 guineas a side.[7]
With freedom of the press having been granted in 1696, cricket for the first time could be
reported in the newspapers. But it was a long time before the newspaper industry adapted
sufficiently to provide frequent, let alone comprehensive, coverage of the game. During the first
half of the 18th century, press reports tended to focus on the betting rather than on the play.[1]
18th-century cricket
See also: 1697 to 1725 English cricket seasons and Overview of English cricket 1726 - 1815
Gambling introduced the first patrons because some of the gamblers decided to strengthen their
bets by forming their own teams and it is believed the first "county teams" were formed in the
aftermath of the Restoration in 1660, especially as members of the nobility were employing
"local experts" from village cricket as the earliest professionals.[5] The first known game in which
the teams use county names is in 1709 but there can be little doubt that these sort of fixtures were
being arranged long before that. The match in 1697 was probably Sussex versus another county.
The most notable of the early patrons were a group of aristocrats and businessmen who were
active from about 1725, which is the time that press coverage became more regular, perhaps as a
result of the patrons' influence. These men included the 2nd Duke of Richmond, Sir William
Gage, Alan Brodrick and Edward Stead. For the first time, the press mentions individual players
like Thomas Waymark.
Cricket was introduced to North America via the English colonies in the 17th century,[4] probably
before it had even reached the north of England. In the 18th century it arrived in other parts of
the globe. It was introduced to the West Indies by colonists[4] and to India by British East India
Company mariners in the first half of the century. It arrived in Australia almost as soon as
colonization began in 1788. New Zealand and South Africa followed in the early years of the
19th century.[5]
Development of the Laws
See also: Laws of Cricket
The basic rules of cricket such as bat and ball, the wicket, pitch dimensions, overs, how out, etc.
have existed since time immemorial. In 1728, the Duke of Richmond and Alan Brodick drew up
"Articles of Agreement" to determine the code of practice in a particular game and this became a
common feature, especially around payment of stake money and distributing the winnings given
the importance of gambling.[7]
In 1744, the Laws of Cricket were codified for the first time and then amended in 1774, when
innovations such as lbw, middle stump and maximum bat width were added. These laws stated
that the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall
absolutely decide all disputes. The codes were drawn up by the so-called "Star and Garter Club"
whose members ultimately founded MCC at Lord's in 1787. MCC immediately became the
custodian of the Laws and has made periodic revisions and recodifications subsequently.[9]
The game continued to spread throughout England and, in 1751, Yorkshire is first mentioned as
a venue.[10] The original form of bowling (i.e., rolling the ball along the ground as in bowls) was
superseded sometime after 1760 when bowlers began to pitch the ball and study variations in
line, length and pace.[1] Scorecards began to be kept on a regular basis from 1772 and since then
an increasingly clear picture has emerged of the sport's development.[11]
The first famous clubs were London and Dartford in the early 18th century. London played its
matches on the Artillery Ground, which still exists. Others followed, particularly Slindon in
Sussex which was backed by the Duke of Richmond and featured the star player Richard
Newland. There were other prominent clubs at Maidenhead, Hornchurch, Maidstone, Sevenoaks,
Bromley, Addington, Hadlow and Chertsey.
But far and away the most famous of the early clubs was Hambledon in Hampshire. It started as
a parish organisation that first achieved prominence in 1756. The club itself was founded in the
1760s and was well patronised to the extent that it was the focal point of the game for about
thirty years until the formation of MCC and the opening of Lord's Cricket Ground in 1787.
Hambledon produced several outstanding players including the master batsman John Small and
the first great fast bowler Thomas Brett. Their most notable opponent was the Chertsey and
Surrey bowler Edward "Lumpy" Stevens, who is believed to have been the main proponent of
the flighted delivery.
It was in answer to the flighted, or pitched, delivery that the straight bat was introduced. The old
"hockey stick" style of bat was only really effective against the ball being trundled or skimmed
along the ground.
Cricket faced its first real crisis during the 18th century when major matches virtually ceased
during the Seven Years War. This was largely due to shortage of players and lack of investment.
But the game survived and the "Hambledon Era" proper began in the mid-1760s.
Cricket faced another major crisis at the beginning of the 19th century when a cessation of major
matches occurred during the culminating period of the Napoleonic Wars. Again, the causes were
shortage of players and lack of investment. But, as in the 1760s, the game survived and a slow
recovery began in 1815.
MCC was itself the centre of controversy in the Regency period, largely on account of the
enmity between Lord Frederick Beauclerk and George Osbaldeston. In 1817, their intrigues and
jealousies exploded into a match-fixing scandal with the top player William Lambert being
banned from playing at Lord's Cricket Ground for life. Gambling scandals in cricket have been
going on since the 17th century.
In the 1820s, cricket faced a major crisis of its own making as the campaign to allow roundarm
bowling gathered pace.
19th-century cricket
Main article: Overview of English cricket from 1816 to 1863
View of Geneva's Plaine de Plainpalais with cricket's players, 1817
The game also underwent a fundamental change of organisation with the formation for the first
time of county clubs. All the modern county clubs, starting with Sussex in 1839, were founded
during the 19th century.
No sooner had the first county clubs established themselves than they faced what amounted to
"player action" as William Clarke created the travelling All-England Eleven in 1846. Though a
commercial venture, this team did much to popularise the game in districts which had never
previously been visited by high-class cricketers. Other similar teams were created and this vogue
lasted for about thirty years. But the counties and MCC prevailed.
The growth of cricket in the mid and late 19th century was assisted by the development of the
railway network. For the first time, teams from a long distance apart could play one other
without a prohibitively time-consuming journey. Spectators could travel longer distances to
matches, increasing the size of crowds.
In 1864, another bowling revolution resulted in the legalisation of overarm and in the same year
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack was first published.
The "Great Cricketer", W G Grace, made his first-class debut in 1865. His feats did much to
increase the game's popularity and he introduced technical innovations which revolutionised the
game, particularly in batting.
International cricket begins
The first ever international cricket game was between the USA and Canada in 1844. The match
was played at the grounds of the St George's Cricket Club in New York.[12]
In 1859, a team of leading English professionals set off to North America on the first-ever
overseas tour and, in 1862, the first English team toured Australia.
Between May and October 1868, a team of Australian Aborigines toured England in what was
the first Australian cricket team to travel overseas.
In 1877, an England touring team in Australia played two matches against full Australian XIs
that are now regarded as the inaugural Test matches. The following year, the Australians toured
England for the first time and were a spectacular success. No Tests were played on that tour but
more soon followed and, at The Oval in 1882, arguably the most famous match of all time gave
rise to The Ashes. South Africa became the third Test nation in 1889.
National championships
A major watershed occurred in 1890 when the official County Championship was constituted in
England. This organisational initiative has been repeated in other countries. Australia established
the Sheffield Shield in 1892–93. Other national competitions to be established were the Currie
Cup in South Africa, the Plunkett Shield in New Zealand and the Ranji Trophy in India.
The period from 1890 to the outbreak of the First World War has become an object of nostalgia,
ostensibly because the teams played cricket according to "the spirit of the game", but more
realistically because it was a peacetime period that was shattered by the First World War. The
era has been called The Golden Age of cricket and it featured numerous great names such as
Grace, Wilfred Rhodes, C B Fry, K S Ranjitsinhji and Victor Trumper.
In 1889 the immemorial four ball over was replaced by a five ball over and then this was
changed to the current six balls an over in 1900. Subsequently, some countries experimented
with eight balls an over. In 1922, the number of balls per over was changed from six to eight in
Australia only. In 1924 the eight ball over was extended to New Zealand and in 1937 to South
Africa. In England, the eight ball over was adopted experimentally for the 1939 season; the
intention was to continue the experiment in 1940, but first-class cricket was suspended for the
Second World War and when it resumed, English cricket reverted to the six ball over. The 1947
Laws of Cricket allowed six or eight balls depending on the conditions of play. Since the
1979/80 Australian and New Zealand seasons, the six ball over has been used worldwide and the
most recent version of the Laws in 2000 only permits six ball overs.
20th-century cricket
Growth of Test cricket
Sid Barnes, traps Lala Amarnath lbw in the first official Test between Australia and India at the MCG in
1948
When the Imperial Cricket Conference (as it was originally called) was founded in 1909, only
England, Australia and South Africa were members. India, West Indies and New Zealand
became Test nations before the Second World War and Pakistan soon afterwards. The
international game grew with several "affiliate nations" getting involved and, in the closing years
of the 20th century, three of those became Test nations also: Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and
Bangladesh.
Test cricket remained the sport's highest level of standard throughout the 20th century but it had
its problems, notably in the infamous "Bodyline Series" of 1932–33 when Douglas Jardine's
England used so-called "leg theory" to try and neutralise the run-scoring brilliance of Australia's
Don Bradman.
The greatest crisis to hit international cricket was brought about by apartheid, the South African
policy of racial segregation. The situation began to crystallise after 1961 when South Africa left
the Commonwealth of Nations and so, under the rules of the day, its cricket board had to leave
the International Cricket Conference (ICC). Cricket's opposition to apartheid intensified in 1968
with the cancellation of England's tour to South Africa by the South African authorities, due to
the inclusion of "coloured" cricketer Basil D'Oliveira in the England team. In 1970, the ICC
members voted to suspend South Africa indefinitely from international cricket competition.
Ironically, the South African team at that time was probably the strongest in the world.
Starved of top-level competition for its best players, the South African Cricket Board began
funding so-called "rebel tours", offering large sums of money for international players to form
teams and tour South Africa. The ICC's response was to blacklist any rebel players who agreed
to tour South Africa, banning them from officially sanctioned international cricket. As players
were poorly remunerated during the 1970s, several accepted the offer to tour South Africa,
particularly players getting towards the end of their careers for whom a blacklisting would have
little effect.
The rebel tours continued into the 1980s but then progress was made in South African politics
and it became clear that apartheid was ending. South Africa, now a "Rainbow Nation" under
Nelson Mandela, was welcomed back into international sport in 1991.
The money problems of top cricketers were also the root cause of another cricketing crisis that
arose in 1977 when the Australian media magnate Kerry Packer fell out with the Australian
Cricket Board over TV rights. Taking advantage of the low remuneration paid to players, Packer
retaliated by signing several of the best players in the world to a privately run cricket league
outside the structure of international cricket. World Series Cricket hired some of the banned
South African players and allowed them to show off their skills in an international arena against
other world-class players. The schism lasted only until 1979 and the "rebel" players were
allowed back into established international cricket, though many found that their national teams
had moved on without them. Long-term results of World Series Cricket have included the
introduction of significantly higher player salaries and innovations such as coloured kit and night
games.
Limited-overs cricket
In the 1960s, English county teams began playing a version of cricket with games of only one
innings each and a maximum number of overs per innings. Starting in 1963 as a knockout
competition only, limited overs grew in popularity and in 1969 a national league was created
which consequently caused a reduction in the number of matches in the County Championship.
Although many "traditional" cricket fans objected to the shorter form of the game, limited overs
cricket did have the advantage of delivering a result to spectators within a single day; it did
improve cricket's appeal to younger or busier people; and it did prove commercially successful.
The first limited overs international match took place at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1971 as a
time-filler after a Test match had been abandoned because of heavy rain on the opening days. It
was tried simply as an experiment and to give the players some exercise, but turned out to be
immensely popular. Limited overs internationals (LOIs or ODIs, after One-day Internationals)
have since grown to become a massively popular form of the game, especially for busy people
who want to be able to see a whole match. The International Cricket Council reacted to this
development by organising the first Cricket World Cup in England in 1975, with all the Test
playing nations taking part.
Limited overs cricket increased television ratings for cricket coverage. Innovative techniques that
were originally introduced for coverage of LOI matches was soon adopted for Test coverage.
The innovations included presentation of in-depth statistics and graphical analysis, placing
miniature cameras in the stumps, multiple usage of cameras to provide shots from several
locations around the ground, high speed photography and computer graphics technology
enabling television viewers to study the course of a delivery and help them understand an
umpire's decision.
In 1992, the use of a third umpire to adjudicate runout appeals with television replays was
introduced in the Test series between South Africa and India. The third umpire's duties have
subsequently expanded to include decisions on other aspects of play such as stumpings, catches
and boundaries. As yet, the third umpire is not called upon to adjudicate lbw appeals, although
there is a virtual reality tracking technology (i.e., Hawk-Eye) that is approaching perfection in
predicting the course of a delivery.
21st-century cricket
Cricket remains a major world sport in terms of participants, spectators and media interest.
The ICC has expanded its development program with the goal of producing more national teams
capable of competing at Test level. Development efforts are focused on African and Asian
nations; and on the United States. In 2004, the ICC Intercontinental Cup brought first-class
cricket to 12 nations, mostly for the first time.
In June 2001, the ICC introduced a "Test Championship Table" and, in October 2002, a "One-
day International Championship Table". Australia has consistently topped both these tables in the
2000s.
The laws of cricket are a set of rules established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) which
describe the laws of cricket worldwide, to ensure uniformity and fairness. There are currently 42
laws, 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. The MCC is a private club based in London in England and is no longer the game's
official governing body; however the MCC retains the copyright in the laws of the game 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 (ICC).
Cricket is one of the few sports for which the governing principles are referred to as 'Laws' rather
than as 'Rules' or 'Regulations'. However regulations to supplement and/or vary the laws may be
agreed for particular competitions.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Today's laws
o 2.1 Players and officials
o 2.2 Equipment and laying out the pitch
o 2.3 Structure of the game
o 2.4 Scoring and winning
o 2.5 Mechanics of dismissal
o 2.6 Ways to get out
o 2.7 Fielders
o 2.8 Fair and unfair play
o 2.9 Appendices
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
[edit] History
The origins of cricket are debatable, but it probably derived from numerous games and sports
involving hitting a ball with a bat or club (see History of cricket). In the eighteenth century, it
expanded to become a betting game especially popular with the British aristocracy. The earliest
laws were drawn up in that context, to help regulate a game on which large sums of money were
being staked. The earliest existing known Code of cricket was drawn up by certain "Noblemen
and Gentlemen" who used the Artillery Ground in London in 1744. In 1755 there is further
reference to the laws being revised by "Several Cricket Clubs, particularly the Star and Garter in
Pall Mall", followed by a revision of the Laws by "a committee of Noblemen and Gentlemen of
Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and London at the Star and Garter" in 1774. A
printed form of the laws was published in 1775 and a further revision to the laws was undertaken
by a similar body of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex
and London in 1786.
However, these laws were not universally followed, with different games played under different
guidance. On 30 May 1788, the Marylebone Cricket Club, which had been formed by the leading
noblemen and gentlemen playing the game just one year before, produced its first Code of Laws.
Whilst the MCC's version of the Laws were not accepted fully immediately, or applied
consistently, it is the successor of these Laws that governs the game today. The next major
change in 1809 saw further standardisation of the weight of the ball from between 5 and 6
ounces (142 to 170 g) to between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (156 to 163 g), and the width of the cricket
bat was standardised for the first time. The law to score runs of a ball hitting the non-striker
stumps was made redundant and the length of stumps was increased from 22 to 24 inches and
bails from 6 to 7 inches to help the bowlers, and the importance of umpires was further
enhanced. Finally, a new method of dismissing a batsman was introduced. Previously, as cricket
uses a hard ball and leg-pads were not used, players would naturally play with their legs away
from the wicket. As batsmen started to wear pads, they became willing to cover their stumps
with their legs to prevent the ball hitting the stumps and bowling them. Therefore a "leg before
wicket" rule was introduced so that a batsman preventing the ball hitting his stumps with his legs
would be out.
In 1829 the Length of stumps increased from 24 to 27 inches (610 to 690 mm) and the length of
the bails was increased from 7 to 8 inches (180 to 200 mm), again to help the bowlers. For the
first time, the thickness of stumps was mentioned. A new Code of Laws was approved by the
MCC Committee on 19 May 1835, and another on 21 April 1884. In the 1884 laws the number
of players was formalised for the first time (at eleven-a-side), and the size of the ball was
formalised for the first time too. The follow-on rule was introduced. This was in response to the
problem that to win a game a side needed to dismiss their opposition twice. A side that batted
first and was fully on top of a match and scoring lots of runs would have to wait until it was
dismissed a second time before it could attempt to dismiss the opposition a second time. As
cricket is a time-limited game, it meant that sides that dominated the opposition could be forced
to draw rather than win games. The initial follow-on rule was faulty, though, as it required a side
to follow-on when it was behind. A side could deliberately concede its last wickets in the first
innings in return for being able to bowl last on a deteriorating pitch. Later the follow-on rule was
changed so that a team sufficiently ahead of its opposition has the option on whether to enforce it
or not.
In 1947 a new Code was approved by the MCC on 7 May. In 1979 after a number of minor
revisions of the 1947 Code, a new Code was approved at an MCC Special General Meeting on
21 November. This is known as the 1980 code. Amongst other changes, imperial units are now
followed by metric units in the specifications.
In 1992 a second edition of the 1980 Code was produced. In 2000 a new Code, which for the
first time included a Preamble defining the Spirit of Cricket was approved on 3 May. The code
was rewritten into plain English and is more discursive than previous Codes. The length of an
over was officially standardised at six balls for all matches, although in practice this had been the
case for 20 or so years before that. In 2003 a second version of the 2000 Code was produced
incorporating necessary amendments arising from the application of the 2000 Code.
Throwing was first regulated in laws produced in 1829. In 1864 overarm bowling was permitted
for the first time.
In 1889, the length of an over increased from four balls to five balls. In 1900, the length of an
over was increased to six balls. In 1922, variation was allowed in the length of the over
(Australian overs to be eight balls). The 1947 Code stipulated that the length of an over was to be
six or eight balls according to "prior agreement" between the captains.
The Laws retain the Imperial units as they were originally specified, but now also include metric
conversions.
The Laws are organised into a Preface, a Preamble, forty-two Laws, and four appendices. The
Preface relates to the Marylebone Cricket Club and the history of the Laws. The Preamble is a
new addition and is related to "the Spirit of the Game;" it was introduced to discourage the
increasing practices of ungentlemanly conduct.
Eight amendments were made to the laws which dealt with bad light, the toss, spirit of cricket,
practice sessions, fielding athleticism and rare dismissals on September 30, 2010 w.e.f October
1, 2010. All latest amendments can be read here
In men's cricket the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 g) and measure
between 8 13/16 and 9 in (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in circumference.
A wicket consists of three stumps, upright wooden poles that are hammered into the ground, topped
with two wooden crosspieces, known as the bails.
The first four laws cover the players, the umpires and the scorers.
Law 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 may field.
Law 2: Substitutes. In cricket, a substitute may be brought on for an injured fielder. However, a
substitute may 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 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.
Law 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)
may be used under the specific playing conditions of a particular match or tournament.
Law 4: The scorers. There are two scorers who respond to the umpires' signals and keep the
score.
After dealing with the players, the laws move on to discuss equipment and pitch specifications,
except for specifications about the wicket-keeper's gloves, which are dealt with in Law 40. These
laws are supplemented by Appendices A and B (see below).
Law 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, 34 in ODIs). The
gradual degradation of the ball through the innings is an important aspect of the game.
Law 6: The bat. The bat is no more than 38 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 Willow
wood).
Law 7: The pitch. The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards (20 m) long and 10 ft
(3.0 m) wide. The Ground Authority selects and prepares the pitch, but once the game 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 58 ft
(18 m) and a minimum width of 6 ft (1.8 m).
Law 8: The wickets. The wicket consists of three wooden stumps that are 28 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
men's cricket, be 45⁄16 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 may dispense with the bails if conditions are unfit (i.e. it is windy so they might fall
off by themselves). Further details on the specifications of the wickets are contained in Appendix
A to the laws.
Law 9: Bowling, popping, and 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.
Law 10: Preparation and maintenance of the playing area. In cricket, when a ball is bowled it
almost always bounces on the pitch, and how the ball behaves depends very much on the
condition of the pitch. Therefore detailed rules on the pitch itself are necessary. This law sets
down rules governing how pitches should be prepared, mown, rolled, etc.
Law 11: Covering the pitch. Covering the pitch affects how the ball will react when it bounces
on it. For example, a ball bouncing on wet ground will react differently to one bouncing on dry
ground. The laws stipulate that the regulations on covering the pitch shall be agreed in advance.
Bowlers' run-ups also need to be dry to reduce the chances that they will slip. The laws therefore
require these to be covered wherever possible when there is wet weather.
Law 12: Innings. 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-game
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.
Law 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 game of five or more days, the side batting first must be at least 200
runs ahead to enforce the follow-on; for a three- or four-day game, 150 runs; for a two-day game,
100 runs; for a one-day game, 75 runs. The length of the game is determined by the number of
scheduled days play left when the game actually begins.
Law 14: Declaration and forfeiture. The batting captain can declare an innings closed at any
time when the ball is dead. He may also forfeit his innings before it has started.
Law 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 30 minutes elapsing.
Law 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
20 overs, being extended in time so as to include 20 overs if necessary.
Law 17: 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.
The laws then move on to discuss how runs can be scored and how one team can beat the other.
Law 18: 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.
Law 19: Boundaries. 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.
Law 20: Lost 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.
Law 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 may run out of time before the
innings have all been completed. In this case, the match is drawn.
Law 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 may not bowl two
consecutive overs.
Law 23: 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. 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.
Law 24: 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.
Law 25: Wide 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.
Law 26: Bye and Leg 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. Byes and leg-byes are credited to the team's but
not the batsman's total.
Law 27: Appeals. If the fielders believe a batsman is out, they may ask the umpire "How'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.
Law 28: The wicket is down. 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.
Law 29: Batsman out of his ground. 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.
Laws 30 to 39 discuss the various ways a batsman may be dismissed. In addition to these 10
methods, a batsman may retire out. That provision is in Law 2. Of these, caught is generally the
commonest, followed by bowled, leg before wicket, run out and stumped. The other forms of
dismissal are very rare.
Law 30: Bowled. 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 may not touch another player or an umpire before doing so.
Law 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.
Law 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.
Law 33: Handled the 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.
Law 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.
Law 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. "Body"
includes the clothes and equipment of the batsman.
Law 36: Leg before wicket (LBW). 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.
Law 37: Obstructing the field. If a batsman willfully obstructs the opposition by word or action,
he is out.
Law 38: 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.
Law 39: Stumped. 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.
[edit] Fielders
Law 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.
Law 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 ou