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The umpires stand at either end of the pitch. They use arm signals to indicate their decisions to players and spectators.
Batting strokes are used either to try to score runs or to protect the wicket. The batsman on the left uses a forward defensive stroke. On the right, he uses a back stroke to keep the ball from hitting the wicket.
The bowler looks over his shoulder at the point on which he wants to bounce the ball. He then brings his arm over, keeping it stiff to prevent jerking, and follows through after the release.
The fielding positions are those that apply for a right- handed batsman.
The fielding positions are those that apply for a right- handed batsman.
Ways to be out
(a)LBW (leg before wicket]. The ball must be aimed at the
wicket and hit the batsman's body. The batsman is not out if the ball hits the
bat or hand first.
(b)Stumped. The
wicketkeeper must knock off a bail with the ball or with a hand while holding
the ball when the batsman is out of the crease, but not running.
(c)Bowled. The
ball must knock a bail off the wicket either directly or after being hit by the
batsman.
(d)Run out A
fielder or the wicketkeeper must knock off a bail with the ball before the
batsman completes a run. The run on which a player is run out does not count.
(e)Caught. The
ball must touch the bat or the hand holding it, then must be caught before it
touches the ground.
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How to Play Cricket - The Basics
Cricket - A Gentlemen's Game
Professional Cricket Association
Cricket is a game played with a bat and a ball by two teams of 11 players each. It is one of the most popular games in Britain and in many countries that once were British colonies. Cricket is played on a round or oval grass field. The action centres on a strip of ground, called the pitch, between two wickets. Each wicket consists of three wooden stumps and two sticks called bails, which rest on top of the stumps.
The teams take turns batting and fielding.
A member of the fielding side called the bowler
stands near one of the wickets. The bowler runs up to the wicket and bowls (delivers)
the ball with a stiff-armed motion at the opposite wicket. The ball bounces
once in front of the wicket on most deliveries. A fielder called the wicketkeeper stands behind the wicket.
Members of the batting side are called batsmen.
A batsman called the striker stands at the far
wicket, facing the bowler, and tries to hit the ball with a long, flatsided
bat. If the ball knocks a bail off the wicket, the striker is out (dismissed).
If the ball is hit into the field, the striker and a batsman called the nonstriker—a teammate at the opposite wicket—may try to score a
run.
The batsmen score each time they run to
the opposite wicket before a fielder can knock off a bail with the ball.
Sometimes they can run back and forth several times before a fielder can return
the ball. The next striker is the batsman who is at the wicket opposite the
bowler when the ball is returned. The two batsmen continue to play until one of
them is out. The batsman who is out is then replaced by a teammate. Runs are
also scored for hits that reach or cross the field's boundary line. A major
cricket match may last from three to five days or more. The team that scores
the most runs wins.
The ground and equipment
The grounds vary in size. Most grounds on which official matches
are played measure about 137 metres wide and 150 metres long. The wickets are
22 yards (20.12 metres) apart in the centre of the field. They stand opposite
and parallel to each other. The area between the wickets is called the pitch.
Each wicket measures 9 inches (22.9)
centimetres wide. The stumps of each wicket are close enough together so the
ball cannot pass between any two of them. The tops of the stumps stand 28
inches (71.1 centimetres) above the ground. The bails are 4| inches (11.1
centimetres long) and rest in grooves on the tops of the stumps. The bails do
not rise more than ^ inch (13 millimetres) above the stumps.
White lines made by chalk or lime mark
certain boundaries called creases. A line called the bowling crease is drawn through the stumps of each wicket. It is 8
feet 8 inches (2.64 metres) long, with the middle stump of the wicket at its
centre. A line called the popping crease
is marked 4 feet (1.22) metres in front of the bowling crease. The popping
crease extends at least 6 feet (1.83 metres) on either side of the centre of
the wicket but is considered to be unlimited in length. Lines called return creases are marked from each end of the bowling crease. The
return creases extend forward to the popping crease and back at least 4 feet
(1.22 metres) behind the bowling crease. However, the return creases are
considered to be unlimited in length. The bowler must deliver the ball with
some part of the front foot behind the popping crease. The back foot must be
between the return creases.
Equipment. The rules of cricket do not specify the material to be
used in making a cricket ball. The best balls have a cork centre wrapped with
twine, and a leather cover. The ball must be between
8 3/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 centimetres) in circumference, and it must
weigh between 5 1/2 and 5 3/4 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams).
The bat cannot be more than 38 inches
(96.5 centimetres) long nor more than 4 1/4 inches (10.8 centimetres) wide at
any point. It must be made of wood. The bat has a round handle and a flat,
bladelike hitting surface.
Cricket players may wear peaked caps or
helmets, open-necked shirts, trousers, and spiked or crepe-soled shoes. Batsmen
and wicketkeepers wear protective leg pads and gloves. Players who field close
to the wicket may also wear such protective devices as shin-guards.
The game
A cricket match may consist of one or two innings
by each team, in first-class cricket, all matches are two- innings matches. But
one-day cricket in which each team has one innings, consisting of a limited
number of overs, has become popular. Such matches are not considered to be
first-class. In first-class cricket, a team's innings ends when 10 of the 11
players have been dismissed. But the captain of the batting side may declare
the side's innings closed at any time.
Team captains toss a coin to decide who
will bat first. After the first innings of a two-innings match, the captain
whose team batted first may order the opposing side to follow-on
if the opposing side is behind by a certain number of runs. The opposing team
must then start its second innings immediately after its first innings. The
opposing team may be ordered to follow on if it is behind by 200 runs in a match of five days
or more, by 150 runs in a
three or four-day match, by 100 runs in a two- day match, or by 75 runs in a
one-day match. If the team that follows on scores a lower total in their two
innings than their opponents scored in one, the team that batted first wins by an innings. If the team that follows on passes their opponent's
total in their second innings, then the first side will bat again, taking the
fourth innings instead of the third.
A team may also win by a certain number of
wickets. A team wins by wickets if it takes the lead during its second innings
and the opposing team has already batted twice. If the team takes the lead
after four batsmen have been put out, for example, it wins by six wickets because
six batsmen have remained not out. If a match is not won by an innings or by
wickets, the outcome is expressed by the number of runs scored by each team.
Scoring. Most runs are scored by running
from one wicket to the other. Each batsman must safely cross the opposite
popping crease to score one run. Batsmen also score runs when they hit the ball
out of the playing area, which is enclosed by the boundary.
They score four runs when the ball rolls or bounces across the boundary line.
They score six runs if the ball clears the boundary before hitting the ground.
Runs called extras
or sundries may also be scored in various ways. Sundries include byes, leg byes, wides, and no balls. A bye is a run
scored when the ball passes the batsman without touching the bat or any part of
his body and without knocking off a bail. A leg bye is a run scored when the
ball hits the striker anywhere but on the hands. A ball that hits the hands or
gloves below the wrist is played as if it had hit the bat.
A wide ball is a delivery that the umpire
rules is out of the batsman's reach. One run is automatically scored for a wide
ball. A no ball may be called for certain violations of the rules. The main
violations occur when (1) the bowler throws the ball instead of bowling it or
(2) the bowler's feet are not in the proper position when the ball is
delivered. A penalty of one run is scored for a no ball. But if a batsman hits
a no ball and the batsmen score runs, these runs are counted instead of the penalty.
Dismissals. There are several ways to dismiss a batsman. The most
direct way is by bowling a ball which dislodges a bail from the stumps.
Batsmen are also out if they are caught— that is, if they
hit a ball that is caught by a fielder before it bounces or that lands in a
fielder's clothing without touching the ground. Either batsman may be run out
when trying to score. A batsman is run out if a wicketkeeper or other fielder
breaks the wicket with the ball while the batsman is between the popping
creases. He is then said to be out of his ground.
A batsman is out stumped if he is out of his
ground when not attempting a run and the wicketkeeper removes a bail with the
ball, or with the hand in which he is holding it.
A batsman can also be out LBW(leg
before wicket) if he prevents the ball from hitting the wicket with any part of
his body except with his hands. A batsman is out hit wicket if, while playing at a ball, he breaks the wicket
with his bat or with any part of his body or clothing, including his cap or
helmet falling off. A batsman is also out if he hits the ball a second time
except to keep it from hitting the wicket. Obstructing the field occurs when a batsman prevents a player from fielding
the ball. If the umpire decides that the batsman's action was deliberate, he
declares the batsman out A batsman may be out handled ball, if he intentionally touches a ball in play with a
hand that is not holding the bat.
Umpires make sure the game is played according to the rules,
and they settle all disputes. One umpire stands behind the bowler's wicket to
make decisions on whether the striker is caught or out LBW, and to rule on run
outs at the bowler's end. A second umpire stands to the side of the striker's
popping crease to rule on a stumping or run outs at that end.
The umpire at the bowler's end also
decides whether the ball is in play. The ball is in play from the moment the
bowler begins the run-up to the popping crease.
The ball is dead
(not in play) when (1) it is finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper
or bowler, (2) it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batsman or umpire,
(3) it lodges in a fielder's helmet, (4) it has been called lost, (5) a
boundary is scored, (6) a batsman is out, (7) a penalty is awarded after a
fielder intentionally stops the ball with something other than the body, (8)
the umpire calls "over" or "time," (9) the umpire suspends
play because of an injury to a player, or (10) the umpire intervenes in a case
of unfair play.
Playing cricket
The batting side. The order in which a team's batsmen will bat is
decided by the captain. After a batsman is out, a teammate replaces him until
10 players are out. One batsman always remains notout.
A batsman may hold the bat any way that is
comfortable and effective. Batsmen should stand with their
weight evenly distributed and the feet
slightly apart. Most batsmen stand with one foot on each side of the popping
crease. One of the great skills of batsmanship is the ability to hit the ball
so that it passes between the fielders.
The batting strokes may be divided into
two categories, forward play and back play.
Each may be used either (1) to attack and try to score runs or (2) defensively
to protect the wicket. For both strokes, the batsman swings the bat back in a
movement called the back-lift, then
brings it forward and down past the feet to hit the ball.
On a forward stroke, the batsman moves the
front foot forward near the path of the ball, putting his weight on the front
foot. When facing a slow bowler, the batsman may take two or three steps
towards the ball, rather than one long step. A forward stroke is better for a
ball that bounces near enough to the batsman to be hit on the half-volley— that is, as soon as it bounces off the ground.
Forward strokes are usually made with the bat pointed down—that is, with an
angled bat. In this way, the ball is played along the ground and not in the
air, where it may be caught.
The back stroke is better for a ball that
bounces so far in front of the batsman's wicket that the batsman can see which
way the ball moves after it hits the ground. When playing defensively, the
batsman brings the back leg into the path of the ball and points the bat down.
There should be no space for the ball to pass between the bat and the batsman's
body. In attacking back play, batsmen use a variety of strokes, depending on
where the ball bounces and in what direction it moves. For example, they may
swing the bat at an angle to the path of the ball with a hook
or cut stroke. Another stroke called the back cut
is played off the back foot to a ball wide of the off stump. The square cut sends the ball square of the batsman (roughly at
right angles to him). The late cut sends the ball fine
(at a slanting angle behind the wicket).
As soon as the bowler delivers the ball,
the nonstriker should be backing up
(moving toward the opposite wicket) and ready to run. Batsmen do not have to
try to score if the ball is hit. On most hits that go in front of the wicket,
the striker decides whether it is possible to score. If it looks like both
batsmen can safely reach the opposite popping crease, the striker calls to the
non- striker that they should run. When the ball goes behind the wicket, the
nonstriker decides whether the batsmen should try to score. Misunderstanding
between the batsmen is the main cause of run outs.
The fielding side consists of the bowler, the wicketkeeper, and nine
other fielders. The other fielders' positions vary in name and location. The
most common positions are shown in the diagram that appears in this article.
The captain directs the fielders to various positions.
After the bowler has delivered a certain
number of balls, the umpire calls "over." An over consists of either
six or eight legitimate deliveries. Wide balls and no balls do not count in the
total. After each over, the striker becomes the nonstriker and the nonstriker
becomes the striker. Two successive overs cannot be bowled from the same end in
one innings. In limited-over cricket, the game ends after a certain number of
overs rather than after one or two innings.
Good bowling is based on coordinated body,
arm, and shoulder motion. The run-up to the bowling crease is designed to give
the bowler enough power and balance to bowl the ball at the desired speed. At
the final stride, a right-handed bowler's left shoulder should point toward the
batsman. When the bowler's left foot has swung forward, the right shoulder
should move forward and point in the direction the ball will travel. The
bowler's wrist must be loose and the hand cocked back before releasing the
ball. For the most power, the bowler continues the arm motion after the
release.
Bowlers try to deliver the ball so it
bounces a short distance in front of the batsman. Such a delivery is difficult
to hit because the batsman is uncertain whether to play forward or back. In
addition, bowlers try to get batsmen out by changing the direction of the ball.
Bowlers change the direction by controlling the ball's speed and by gripping
and spinning the ball in special ways. They can thus make the ball curve
(change direction in flight) or break (change direction
after it bounces).
The international administration of
cricket
Traditionally, the chief administrative
body for cricket is the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), in London, a private club
with about 18,000 members. The MCC was founded in the late 1700's. Since 1788,
it has made and published the laws of cricket. It still holds the copyright on
the laws of the game and controls their revision. It also does its best to
uphold the spirit of the game.
The highest level of cricket is found in
international competitions called test matches.
Official tests are played between teams representing Australia, England, India,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. These countries are
full members of a body called the International Cricket Council (ICC), which
meets annually to organize the year's test match programme and to discuss
topics relating to the game.
The ICC was originally founded in 1909 as
the Imperial Cricket Conference, representing three countries: England,
Australia, and South Africa. India, New Zealand, and the West Indies joined in
1926, and Pakistan joined in 1952. When South Africa left the Commonwealth in
1961, its membership of the ICC ceased, although it continued to play test
cricket until 1970 (see Commonwealth of Nations). In 1965, the ICC was renamed
the International Cricket Conference and agreed to admit cricketing countries
that did not play test matches as associate members. Ceylon (now Sri Lanka),
Fiji, and the United States were the first associate members. In 1989, the ICC
was renamed the International Cricket Council. It then consisted of two
foundation members (England and Australia), five full members (India, New
Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies), and 18 associate members.
South Africa was readmitted to the ICC in 1991.
The World Cup. The ICC is in charge of the overall administration of
the four-yearly World Cup cricket competition, though the ruling bodies of the
countries where the competitions take place are responsible for local
arrangements. The World Cup was inaugurated in 1975 and the first three
tournaments took place in England. In 1975, the World Cup was contested by the
then six test match-playing countries, plus East Africa and Sri Lanka. The West
Indies beat Australia in the final. In 1979, the World Cup, contested by the
same teams except that Canada played instead of East Africa, was again won by
the West Indies, who beat England in the final.
In 1983, when Zimbabwe played instead of
Canada, India were the victors, beating the West Indies. The 1987 World Cup,
played by the same eight countries as in 1983, took place in Pakistan and
India. In the final, Australia beat England. The fourth World Cup competition
was held in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand. The eight countries which had
competed in 1987 were joined by South Africa. The 1992 competition was won by
Pakistan who beat England in the final.
Cricket in the United Kingdom
Cricket is played throughout the United
Kingdom.
But it is most popular in England, where
it originated. Cricket was probably played as early as the 1300's. It became a
major sport in the 1700's. In its earliest forms, the ball was bowled
underhand, and bats were shaped like hockey sticks. In the mid-1800's, overarm
bowling became legal, and batsmen began using bats like those of today. In
1859, the first overseas cricket tour took place. An English team went to North
America and played against teams in Canada and the United States.
Organization. Cricket is played as an organized game at many levels.
Test matches and similar contests, such as one-day international matches, are
played against the other cricketing countries. The test and county games
together comprise first-class cricket The other levels of cricket include
school, club, and village matches.
Test cricket evokes great interest,
especially the matches between the "old enemies," England and Australia.
The rivalry of these two sides goes back to 1877. But the competitive spirit is
just as intense when England plays test sides from other countries.
County cricket is supported largely by
sponsorship, fund-raising campaigns and revenue from test matches and other
major games. A total of 18 county cricket clubs play in the Britannic Assurance
County Cricket Championship. Seventeen of the clubs are from England and one,
Glamorgan, is from Wales. An additional 20 clubs play in the Minor Counties
Championship. County matches were once played over three days, but a four- day
match programme was introduced starting in 1993. Test matches are played over
five days. One-day limited- over games have also proved popular and have attracted
sponsorship.
The Natwest Trophy (60 overs each side) is
a knockout competition for all the First-Class counties, 13 Minor Counties
League sides, and national sides from Ireland and Scotland. The final takes
place at Lord's Cricket Ground, in London. The competition was founded as the
Gillette Cup in 1963. Sponsorship passed to the National Westminster Bank in
1981.
The Benson & Hedges Competition (55
overs each side) is another knockout contest involving the First- Class county
sides, a Minor Counties XI, a Combined Universities team, and Scotland. The
competition dates from 1972. The Benson and Hedges final also takes place at
Lord's.
The Sunday League (40 overs each side) is
a limited- overs league played on Sundays. The League was founded as the John
Player Special League in 1969. Refuge Assurance took over the sponsorship in
1987. Since 1988, the top four counties in the League have played an
end-of-season 40-over knockout competition for the Refuge Assurance Cup.
However, Refuge Assurance's sponsorship ended at the close of the 1991 season.
Women's cricket has been popular for many years and has recently
developed rapidly. Its governing body is the Women's Cricket Association,
founded in 1926. A women's test side plays international matches.
Britain's best-known cricket ground is
probably Lord's Cricket Ground at St. John's Wood, London. It is the home
ground of the Middlesex county side and is a venue for test matches and other
regular features. Lord's is British cricket's administrative headquarters.
Test matches are played at other famous
county grounds besides Lord's. They include Old Trafford, Manchester (home of
the Lancashire side); Headingley, Leeds (Yorkshire's home ground); Trent
Bridge, Nottingham (Nottinghamshire's home ground); Edgbaston, Birmingham
(Warwickshire's home ground); and the Ken- nington Oval, in south London (Surrey's
home ground).
Administration. Since 1969, cricket's chief administrative body, the
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has shared its administrative role in British
cricket with the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) and the National Cricket
Association (NCA). The TCCB controls all first- class cricket throughout the
country, and the NCA controls all other formal cricket. The MCC, the TCCB, and
the NCA together make up the Cricket Council.
The Cricket Council is now the governing
body of English cricket. The TCCB's duties include the selection of test sides.
The board appoints the selectors who choose the team to play in each individual
test match.
The NCA, which expanded its authority and
activities in the 1970's, has benefited greatly from commercial sponsorship.
One of its important duties is to supervise coaching schemes for young players.
History. The origins of cricket are not known precisely, but
it was probably played as early as the 1300's.
It was certainly well established by the
time of the Tudor monarchs (1485-1603).
Cricket's development seems to have
prospered in the weald of Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. Regular organized matches
were played by the Hambledon Club on Broadhalfpenny Down between 1750 and 1787.
The MCC was founded in 1787 and won early acceptance as the game's governing
body.
The first test match took place at
Melbourne, Australia, in 1877, when an Australian side beat James Lilly- white's
XI by 45 runs. Since 1882, England and Australia have played a regular series
of test matches for the Ashes. This term was first
used after Australia had beaten England in a match in London. After that
defeat, an English newspaper, the Sporting Times,
printed a mock obituary notice, written by Shirley Brooks: "In affectionate
remembrance of English Cricket, which died at the Oval, 29th August 1882.
Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances.
R.I.P. N.B. The body will be cremated, and
the ashes taken to Australia."
The following winter, Ivo Bligh,
afterwards Lord Darn- ley, went to Australia. He promised to try to bring back
the "ashes" of English cricket. His team won. Some Australian women
in Melbourne burned a stump used in the third game and put the ashes in a small
urn, which they presented to the English captain. When Lord Darn- ley died in
1927, the urn, by a bequest in his will, was given to the MCC It is now
displayed in the MCC Museum behind the pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground.
The elegance of Edwardian cricket matches
was shattered by the effects of World War I, and the game's protracted period
of recovery spanned the 1920's. By the 1929-1930 winter season, the MCC was
strong enough to send two test sides to tour New Zealand and the West Indies.
England's 1932-1933 tour to Australia, under D. R. Jardine, was the
controversial bodytine bowling series. For a description of this series and
its effects on Australian-English relations, see the section on Cricket in Australia (History) later in this article.
The 1960's, 1970's and 1980s saw many
changes, including the development of one-day cricket; the introduction of
commercial sponsorship; the proliferation of one-day international matches
beyond the usual test series; a decline in attendance at county championship
matches; and an increase in the number of overseas players at first-class level
in English cricket. 1977 saw the emergence of World Series Cricket (WSC), backed by
Kerry Packer, an Australian television executive. Packer's enterprise brought a
brash commercialism to cricket. WSC was disbanded in 1979, but its effects
continued.
In
the late 1980's and early 1990's, the TCCB introduced several changes aimed at
raising the standards of first-class cricket among players eligible to play for
England. These changes included the introduction of four- day cricket, the
imposition of penalties for pitches considered to be substandard, and the
limitation of only one overseas player per county club.
Outstanding cricketers. W. G. Grace heads the list of famous English batsmen. Another batsman of
outstanding quality was C. B. Fry. Sir Jack Hobbs scored 197 centuries during
his career. Frank Woolley was a lefthander of exquisite skill. Wally Hammond
was a batsman of grace and power. Sir Leonard Hutton won fame for his
record-breaking 364 at the Oval against Australia in 1938. Batsmen of the era since
World War II include Denis Compton, Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter,
Geoffrey Boycott, David Gower, and Graham Gooch. Ian Botham became one of the
finest all-rounders of all time.
Among bowlers, Sidney Barnes holds pride
of place with many experts. Others include Maurice Tate, Harold Larwood, Hedley
Verity, Alec Bedser, Brian Statham, and Freddie Trueman. Trueman was the first
bowler to take more than 300 wickets in tests. Notable wicketkeepers were
Godfrey Evans and Alan Knott.
Cricket in Australia
Cricket has been one of the most popular
sports in Australia for more than a hundred years. Australia is one of the
world's leading nations in international cricket.
The largest crowd ever to watch a cricket
test match anywhere in the world totalled 250,534 over six days of the third
test of the 1936-1937 series between Australia and England. The match took
place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The largest crowd ever to watch a single
day's play anywhere in the world was 90,800. Again the venue was Melbourne, but
this time the teams were Australia and the West Indies.
Organization. Cricket is played at all levels in Australia. Every school with boys
has cricket teams. The states of Australia compete for the
Sheffield Shield. The Sheffield Shield was given by Lord Sheffield, an English
patron of the 1890s, for competition among the Australian states. The shield
bears the coat of arms of Sheffield and Australia. It dates from the 1892-1893
season, when New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria competed. Victoria
won. Queensland was admitted in 1926, Western Australia in 1947, and Tasmania
in 1977.
Test matches are played between Australia
and England for the Ashes about every two years, alternately in England
and in Australia. Australia also plays against India, Pakistan, the West
Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. Until 1970, Australia also played against
South Africa.
Women's cricket is also popular. A women's
match took place between New South Wales and Victoria in 1891. But the
Australian Women's Cricket Council was formed 40 years later, in 193.1, with
New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland as the foundation members. Interstate
games were played, and in 1934-1935, an English team visited Australia. Since
then, several series have been played both in Australia and abroad.
Administration. The Australian Cricket Board of Control (ACB) is the representative body
of cricket in Australia. It was founded in 1905.
History. The first matches in Australia that are definitely known about took
place in Sydney in 1803. But casual games were undoubtedly played before that
time. By 1840, cricket had taken a firm hold in Sydney.
Tasmania introduced cricket in the early
days of settlement. But the exact year is unknown.
Wickets were pitched on Batman's Hill soon
after John Batman selected the site of Melbourne. In November 1838, three
years later, the Melbourne Cricket Club was formed. It wielded great influence
over Australian cricket for several years, though it worked in harmony with the
Sydney Cricket Ground to arrange early tours.
In 1838, the first meeting was called in
South Australia to form a cricket club. The South Australian Cricket Association
was formed in 1871.
Settlement in Western Australia was made
in 1829. Although cricket was played soon afterward, it was not regarded
seriously. It was not until 1893 that a Western Australian team toured the
eastern colonies.
A challenge by the Melbourne Cricket Club
in 1856 led to the first intercolonial game, with New South Wales defeating
Victoria by three wickets.
In 1861, a Melbourne catering firm
sponsored a tour of Australia by 12 professionals from England, under the
captaincy of H. H. Stephenson. The team played against the odds of 15,18, and
sometimes 22 Australian players and lost only 2 of 15 matches. The sponsors
made a large profit. This encouraged further visits, and in 1873, W. G. Grace
captained a team to Australia.
In 1868, Charles Lawrence took a team of
Aborigines to England. His team won 14 matches, lost 14, and drew 19. The best
performance by the visitors was given by Twopenny against Hampshire. Twopenny
took 9 wickets for 9 runs, 8 of them bowled, and then caught the 10th batsman.
He took 5 for 12 in the second innings. Dave Gregory captained a white team to
England from Australia in 1878. Of 41 matches, the visitors won 19, lost 7,
and drew 15.
Test matches with England began after
James Lilly- white brought out the fourth English team in 1876. But after New
South Wales, with 15 players, twice beat the English team of 11 players, and
Victoria, also with 15 players, once beat England, it was decided to play on
even terms with 11 men a side.
After taking his team to New Zealand,
Lillywhite brought his men to Melbourne, where, on March 15,
1877, the first test match between
Australia and England was begun. It lasted for three days, and Australia won by
45 runs. The only century of the match was made by Charles Bannerman, who
played for Australia. He retired hurt after scoring 165. A second test match
was played in 1877, also in Melbourne. England won by four wickets. This was
the origin of what became one of the world's most famous sporting competitions.
From 1882, the regular test matches between Australia and England were played
for the Ashes.
Cricketing rivalry between the countries
was always keen. In the 1932-1933 season, when England devised a leg theory
attack to curb the great Australian batsman Don Bradman, it threatened
relations between Australia and Britain. The series was held in Australia.
Captaining England was D. R. Jardine, with fast bowlers Harold Larwood, Bill
Voce, G. O. B. Allen, and W. E. Bowes. The leg side was packed with fielders
and the fast bowlers pitched balls that bounced dangerously toward the batsmen.
The attack was known as bodyline.
Several Australian batsmen suffered
injuries from flying balls. W. M. Woodfull, the Australian captain, was struck
severely over the heart. Wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield was knocked unconscious
when he was struck on the head by a ball from Larwood. Woodfull made the famous
remark: "There are two teams out there and one of them is playing
cricket."
In the third test, in Adelaide, both Woodfull
and Oldfield were injured. The Australian Board of Control sent a cable to the
MCC, expressing the opinion that the attack was unsportsmanlike and stating
that, unless the tactics were altered, friendly relations between the two
countries would be greatly impaired. The MCC replied that it had confidence in
the team, the captain, and the players, and offered to cancel the tour if the
board so wished. The tour continued, but Larwood retired at the end of it
because of the unfavourable criticism.
Outstanding cricketers. Many
experts on cricket regard Don Bradman as the greatest batsman of all time. He played in 52 tests, scoring 6,996 runs,
with an unrivalled average of 99.94. Many other batsmen have scored more than
5,000 runs in test cricket. In 1993,
Allan Border reached 10,200 runs in test
cricket passing the total of Sunil Gavaskar of India.
Fred Spofforth was the earliest of
Australia's great fast bowlers. Fie became known as the demon. Australia
has also produced such great fast bowlers as Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee.
Famous slow bowlers include Richie Benaud, Clarrie Grimmett, and Arthur Mailey.
All- rounders include Jack Gregory and Keith Miller, while wicketkeepers
include Don Tallon and Rodney Marsh.
Cricket in South Africa
Cricket is a major game in South Africa
and the first recorded match, between teams made up of army officers, took
place in 1808.
Organization. From 1889, the chief internal competition was the Currie Cup, but in
1991 the competition was reorganized and the ruling body announced that, from the
1992-1993 season, the domestic competition would be known as the Castle Cup.
Administration. The ruling body, founded in 1991, is the United Cricket Board of South
Africa. It amalgamates the ethnically separate cricket organizations previously
set up under apartheid (see Apartheid).
History. The first matches between South Africa and England given test match
status were played in 1888- 1889. Due to political controversy, however, South
Africa did not play any official test matches between 1970 and 1991. Its
return to international cricket was marked by three one-day internationals
played in India in November 1991, followed by its participation in the World
Cup competition in 1992. South Africa then played its first test match for 21
years against the West Indies in Barbados in April 1992. South Africa has
produced many great players, including batsmen Graeme Pollock and Barry
Richards, spin bowler Flugh Tayfield, and all- rounder Mike Procter. The South
African Basil D'Oliveira moved from Cape Town and played for Worcestershire and
England with great success.
Cricket in New Zealand
Cricket is a popular game throughout New
Zealand. The first-class sides are Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts,
Northern Districts, Otago, and Wellington.
Organization. From 1906, New Zealand's first-class teams competed in a challenge
competition, the Plunket Shield. It was named after a governor-general of New
Zealand. The competition became a league in 1921-1922. In 1974-1975, the
Plunket Shield was replaced by the Shell Trophy, sponsored by the Shell Oil
Company. Each team plays eight league matches. New Zealand's limited- overs
competition was introduced in 1971-1972.
Administration. The top cricketing organization in New Zealand is the Cricket Council's
Board of Control.
History. New Zealanders have played cricket since the 1830s, and first-class
cricket began in the 1860's. The first New Zealand team to play overseas
competed in Australia in 1898. But New Zealand did not achieve test status
until 1929-1930, when New Zealand played a touring MCC side. The only other
test team to play New Zealand before World War II was South Africa.
New Zealand played its first test against
Australia in 1945-1946. But, apart from this one game, New Zealand and
Australia did not meet in a test match series until 1973-1974. Australian
cricket overshadowed New Zealand cricket for many years, but New Zealand
emerged as a major international team in the 1980's. They owed much to such
batsmen as Glenn Turner and Martin Crowe, and to the all-rounder Sir Richard
Fladlee.
Cricket in India
Cricket arouses great enthusiasm in India.
It has captured the imagination of many people, especially since India won the
World Cup in 1979.
Organization. The main
competition is the Ranji Trophy, which was founded in 1934 and named in memory
of the great cricketer Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, who later became the Jam Sahib
of Nawanagar. Major centres of cricket include Bombay, whose team has greatest
success in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and other state capitals.
Administration. The supreme cricketing organization is the Board of Control for Cricket
in India (BCCI).
History. Old Etonians (former pupils of Eton College, England) played against
Parsis in India as early as 1784 and the Calcutta Club, once regarded as
India's MCC, was formed in 1792. India's first great cricketer, K. S. Ran-
jitsinhji, played in England for Cambridge University, for Sussex, and in 15
test matches for England. The first Indian side to have first-class status
toured England in 1911, but India did not achieve test match status until 1932.
Great Indian players include the batsman Sunil Gavaskar, the all-rounders A. H.
("Vinoo") Mankad and Kapil Dev, and several great spin bowlers,
including Bis- hen Bedi and B. S. Chandrasekhar.
Cricket in Pakistan
Pakistan has rapidly achieved a considerable
reputation in world cricket. In 1992, Pakistan won the World Cup when they
beat England in the final.
Organization. The chief first-class cricket competition is the Qaid-I-Azam Trophy,
which was introduced in 1953-1954. The Wilis Cup, dating from 1980-1981, is the
leading limited-overs competition. The main cricketing centre is Karachi.
Administration. The supreme body for cricket is the Board of Control for Cricket in
Pakistan (BCCP).
History. Pakistan gained test match status in 1952- 1953, when it played a
three-match series against India, winning one game, losing one, and drawing the
other. Since then Pakistan has had an impressive record. Its great batsmen have
included three brothers, Hanif Mohammad, Mushtaq Mohammad, and Sadiq Mohammad.
Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad Khan were other fine batsmen. Imran Khan became
one of cricket's greatest all-rounders, while Abdul Qadir's spin bowling has delighted
spectators around the world.
Cricket in the West Indies
The West Indies have become known for
their often spectacular cricket They were once regarded as brilliant but
inconsistent. But in the 1970's and 1980's, they dominated world cricket,
winning the World Cup in both 1975 and 1979.
Organization. Six teams—Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and
Tobago* and Windward Islands—compete in the Caribbean Regional Cricket
Tournament. This tournament was founded in 1965-1966 and was sponsored by
Shell. The Shell Shield was replaced by the Red Stripe Cup after the 1986-1987
season. The six teams also compete in a limited-overs competition, the Geddes
Grant Shield.
Administration. The supreme cricketing authority is the West Indies Cricket Board of
Control (WICBC).
History. Cricket began in the West Indies in about 1800. By 1863, Barbados,
Jamaica, Trinidad, and British Guiana (now Guyana) had cricket clubs. In 1886
and 1887, teams from the West Indies exchanged visits with teams from Canada
and the United States. The first Triangular Tournament was staged in 1892-1893
between Demerara (Guyana), Barbados, and Trinidad, but the great distances
between the islands made it impossible for Jamaica, which also had a good side,
to compete.
Seven English sides toured the West Indies
before World War I and the first West Indies team visited England in 1900.
They were granted first-class status on a return visit in 1906.
Test match status was gained in 1928.
Despite the brilliance of two players, the batsman George Headley and the
all-rounder Sir Learie Constantine, the West Indies were at first regarded as
better players at home than overseas. After World War II, the West Indies
produced many great players, including Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Garfield (Gary)
Sobers. During the 1980's, the West Indies, under Clive Lloyd and later Vivian
Richards, dominated world cricket. Their success was based on a bowling
attack consisting of four fast bowlers. Great fast bowlers of this period
included Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, and Malcolm Marshall.
Cricket in Sri Lanka
The British introduced cricket into Ceylon
(now Sri Lanka) in the 1820's, and a cricket club was formed in Colombo in
1832. Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Conference
(now the International Cricket Council) in 1981, and it gained test match
status in 1982-83. However, the internal strife on the island led to the
cancellations of several projected tours and this proved a major setback in the
development of Sri Lankan cricket.
Cricket in other countries
Cricket
also flourishes in Zimbabwe, which has played in international cup matches, and
was granted test match status in 1992. Cricket is also played in many other
parts of the world, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark,
Hong Kong, East Africa, Fiji, Gibraltar, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands,
Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the United States, and West Africa. All of these
have representatives on the International Cricket Council.
Related articles: Barnes, Sidney F.; Benaud, Richie ; Border, Allan; Botham, Ian; Bradman,
Sir Donald; Chappell (family); Crowe, Martin; Fry, Charles B.; Gavaskar, Sunil;
Gower, David; Grace, W.G.; Gregory, Jack; Hadlee, Sir Richard; Hammond, Walter
R.; Harvey, Neil; Hassett, Lindsay; Hobbs, Sir John
Hutton, Sir Leonard; Imran Khan; Javed
Miandad; Larwood, Harold; Lillee, Dennis; Lloyd, Clive; Marsh, Rodney; May,
Peter B.; H. Richards, Viv; Simpson, Bobby; Sobers, Sir Garfield; Spofforth,
Fred; Tate, Maurice; Trueman, Freddie; Trumper, Victor T.; and Woodfull, Bill
Questions
What is the length of a cricket pitch?
Which country has a competition for the
Ranji Trophy?
How can a batsman be out handled ball?
Which cricket team won the World Cup
twice?
What is a follow-on?
What are extras?
What is the popping crease?
Which
player finished his test match career with a batting average of 99.94?
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