Basics
What is Cricket?
A bat-and-ball game between two teams of 11 players. One team bats to score runs, the other bowls and fields to get batters out. Most runs wins!
Scoring Runs
Hit the ball and run to score. Ball hits the boundary = 4 runs. Ball clears the boundary without bouncing = 6 runs.
The Pitch & Wicket
The pitch is a 22-yard strip in the centre of the ground. At each end stand 3 stumps topped with bails — this is the wicket.
Ways to Get Out
Bowled
Ball hits the stumps and knocks off the bails — batter is out!
Caught
A fielder catches the ball before it hits the ground — batter is out!
LBW
Ball hits the batter's leg and would have hit the stumps — batter is out LBW (Leg Before Wicket).
Run Out
Fielder hits the stumps while batter is running and hasn't reached the crease — batter is run out!
Match Formats
Test Cricket
Each team bats twice. Match lasts up to 5 days. The most traditional and respected format.
ODI (50 overs)
Each team gets 50 overs to bat. Completed in one day. The Cricket World Cup uses this format.
T20 (20 overs)
Each team gets 20 overs only. Fast, exciting, done in ~3 hours. The IPL uses this format!