Rules of the Game of Cricket

cricket batsman image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com

Cricket is a game renowned for its sportsmanship and integrity. Cricket matches can vary drastically in length. A test match will last five days, whereas the shortest professional form of the game is restricted to 20 over innings, with one inning for each team. The International Cricket Committee (ICC) governs the official cricket rules.

Match Types
A test cricket match lasts five days, where a minimum of six hours play should be scheduled per day. A minimum of 90 over's should be completed in a day. An over is six balls bowled by the same player. Each team is permitted two innings in a test match, with the inning lasting until 10 batsmen are out. A batting team has the option of declaring and ending their innings at any point. To win a test cricket match, the opposition team must be bowled out. If a five-day test match ends without all batsmen being out, a draw is declared in cricket rules. Limited over's cricket is known as "one day" cricket. The number of over's bowled is predetermined, and each inning ends after the allotted over's regardless of how many wickets have fallen, with the team who has scored more runs declared the winner of the test match.

Field
A cricket field varies in size, but is surrounded by a boundary rope, which illustrates the end of the field. A cricket pitch--the area where batting and bowling takes place--is located in the center of the field. Wickets are located at either end of the cricket pitch and are comprised of three wooden stumps with bails rested on top. The two wickets are 22 yards apart, and the pitch is 10 feet wide.

Runs
A run is scored in cricket when the ball is hit into play and the batter runs from one wicket to the other. To score a run, the batter must reach the wicket before the fielding team hit the stumps with the ball. If a batter hits the ball over the boundary rope without bouncing six runs are scored. If the boundary rope is cleared, but the ball hits the ground four runs are awarded.

Wickets
A wicket is the name given to getting a batter out. A batter is out-bowled if the bowler hits the stumps while bowling and the bails fall off. A batter is also given out if he hits the ball in the air and it is caught in play by a fielder without hitting the ground. If a fielding team hit the stumps before a batter reaches the wicket while running, he is given run out by cricket rules.

Bowling
A cricket bowler must have his foot behind the crease line when releasing a delivery, and balls must be bowled with a straight arm, overhead motion. A bowler is allowed to bowl six balls consecutively, at which point a teammate must bowl a new over from the opposite end of the pitch.

Source:http://www.livestrong.com/article/92514-rules-game-cricket/
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/92514-rules-game-cricket/#ixzz1KetJiEOV