Rules of the Game of Cricket

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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/
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Polo Horse Rules | eHow.com

Polo Horse Rules | eHow.com

Basic Rules of Polo
The sport of polo has a long and illustrious history. Like many other equestrian sports it is seen as a noble and worthy sport and in the UK has a long and distinguished place in history as the favoured sport of the Royal family. Prince Charles and his sons Prince William and Harry have all been pictured playing polo many times. In fact, in other countries too, polo is played by royals and the aristocracy.

There are two main types of polo – indoor or arena polo and outdoor polo. Like many team sports, points are scored by getting a goal, however, in polo, this occurs while the player is on horseback.

Time and Format
Polo matches are divided into periods which are called chukkas. Each chukka usually lasts seven minutes. Games can have either four, six or eight chukkas although six is the most common number. There are four minutes between chukkas.There are usually four players per team, or three for arena polo, and two teams play against each other.

Players have handicaps based on their past performances and the handicap of a team is worked out by adding together all of the players’ handicaps. The team with the larger handicap sometimes will get free points to compensate for this.

Obviously, the players are all mounted on polo ponies – although these tend to be fully grown horses rather than ponies. Many people say that the pony accounts for much of the talent and skill in a polo game.

The Object of the Game
The object of the game, put simply, is to score goals to win. The goals are scored usually by hitting the ball with the mallet. However, the ball can cross the line in numerous ways, including if it is knocked through by the pony.

However, unlike football, hockey and other goal-based games, there are judges who declare if the goal is in fact a goal, i.e. if it has crossed the line, rather than having a referee who only intervenes if it is not one.

Polo can be a contact sport although this is limited – players can only push each other at a 45 degree angle. There are also a number of fouls, although, as a general rule, polo is a gentle sport. Players appeal for a foul by raising their mallet above their head. One common foul is line of ball – when a player crosses the line the ball is travelling in, at the expense of another player. This is outlawed to avoid collisions and the player following the ball always has right of way. Penalties can be awarded at distances if this is breached, with the distance being dependent on the severity of the breach.

Polo is a noble game but it is also fast paced and exciting. However, it can also be very expensive. The outdoor version tends to be more expensive, the indoor version is cheaper, but is much more popular in the USA than elsewhere. However, whether you are a player or spectator, a game of polo is always fun, fast and exhilarating.

SOURCE:http://www.horseridinglesson.co.uk/BasicRulesOfPolo.html