Basic Cricket Rules

Cricket has a long rule book, but a match makes sense once you know a handful of basics.

The shape of a match

Two teams of eleven take turns to bat and bowl. The batting side tries to score runs; the bowling side tries to take wickets and limit scoring. Whoever scores more runs under the format’s rules wins.

The pitch

The pitch is a 22-yard strip with three stumps at each end. Two batters are in at any time, one at each end. Eleven fielders, including the bowler and wicket-keeper, are on the field.

The toss

The captains toss a coin before play. The winner chooses whether to bat or bowl first. That decision depends on the pitch, the weather and the format.

Formats

• Test — up to five days, two innings each side, no over limit.
• One Day International — 50 overs each side, one innings each.
• Twenty20 — 20 overs each side, one innings each.

Umpires

Two umpires stand on the field and make the decisions. In many professional matches a third umpire reviews close calls using video, and teams may have a limited number of reviews.

Fair play

The Laws include a preamble on the spirit of cricket. Captains are responsible for their side playing within it, not just within the letter of the Laws.