Rules of Cricket

Rules of Cricket Cricket is a complex sport with a set of rules that govern the gameplay and ensure fair competition between teams. Here are the basic rules of cricket: 1. Players and Teams: A cricket match is played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. 2. Toss: Before the start of the match, a coin toss takes place between the captains of the two teams. The winning captain decides whether to bat or field first. 3. Innings: Each team gets two innings (except in limited-overs cricket formats like T20s or ODIs, where each team gets a single inning). In each inning, the batting team tries to score runs, while the bowling team aims to take wickets and restrict the opposition's score. 4. Batting: Two batsmen from the batting team go out to the pitch. One batsman takes the striker's end, while the other stands at the non-striker's end. The objective of the batsmen is to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets. 5. Bowling: A bowler from the fielding team delivers the ball towards the batsman. The bowler aims to dismiss the batsman by hitting the stumps or inducing the batsman to make a mistake, such as getting caught by a fielder or getting bowled.

6. Runs: The batsmen score runs by running between the wickets after hitting the ball. They can score four runs by hitting the ball to the boundary (without touching the ground) or six runs by hitting the ball over the boundary. They can also score runs by running between the wickets without hitting a boundary. 7. Wickets: The stumps and bails form the wicket. The bowler aims to hit the stumps to dismiss the batsman. The fielding team can also dismiss a batsman by catching the ball before it touches the ground, running out the batsman while they are outside the crease, or hitting the stumps while the batsman is attempting a run. 8. Overs: In most formats of cricket, the bowler bowls a set of six deliveries called an over. After the completion of an over, the next bowler from the same team takes over. 9. Fielding: The fielding team tries to prevent the batting team from scoring runs and taking wickets. Fielders attempt to catch the ball, field it cleanly, and throw it accurately to the wicket-keeper or to the stumps to dismiss batsmen. 10. Umpires and Decision-Making: The match is officiated by two on-field umpires who make decisions on the field, such as determining if a batsman is out, declaring boundaries, and adjudicating on various aspects of the game. In some matches, there may also be a third umpire who uses technology to assist in making decisions, especially for close calls such as run-outs and boundary line decisions. These are just the basic rules of cricket, and the sport has several intricacies and variations depending on the format of the game (Test, ODI, T20) and the level of competition. The Laws of Cricket, as established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), provide a comprehensive set of rules governing the sport.