Cricket Rules – Basic Guide On How To Play Cricket

Cricket is a thrilling sport that’s enjoyed by millions worldwide, and it’s growing in popularity even here in Singapore. With its rich history and exciting gameplay, cricket is a game that involves strategy, skill, and teamwork. Whether you're just starting or want to brush up on the basics, this guide will help you understand the fundamental rules of the game, player roles, and how to enjoy it to the fullest.

To make your learning even easier, we’ve also included a video that breaks down the key rules of cricket visually. Watch the video below for a better understanding of the game in action!

Watch this video for a better understanding of cricket!

Understanding Teams & Players

In cricket, each team consists of 11 players, and each player has a specific role to play. The game alternates between batting and fielding, with each team taking turns to do both.

• Batsmen: The main objective of the batsmen is to score runs for their team. There are always two batsmen on the field at a time—one at each wicket. They work together to score as many runs as possible.
• Bowlers: The bowlers try to get the batsmen out by delivering the ball in ways that make it hard for the batsman to defend or hit it.
• Wicketkeeper: Positioned behind the wicket, the wicketkeeper catches any balls the batsman misses and is key in dismissing players.
• Fielders: The other players in the field are tasked with preventing the batsmen from scoring runs and trying to catch any balls hit into the air.

The captain leads the team, making key decisions such as whether to bat or bowl first, field placements, and strategies throughout the game.

How Runs Are Scored

Scoring runs in cricket is a simple concept, but there are a few ways to accumulate points that can seem complex at first. Here’s a quick overview:

• Runs: The most common way to score is when a batsman hits the ball and runs to the opposite wicket. Both batsmen need to run to the other wicket as many times as possible to score more runs.
• Boundaries: If the batsman hits the ball out of the field boundary after it has touched the ground, that’s worth 4 runs. If it clears the boundary without touching the ground, it’s 6 runs!
• Extras: Sometimes runs are awarded to the batting team due to mistakes by the fielding team. These include byes (when the ball passes the batsman but doesn’t hit them), leg byes (when the ball hits the batsman’s body), wides (a ball bowled too far for the batsman to reach), and no-balls (an illegal delivery).
• Penalty Runs: If the fielding team commits an error, the batting team may get extra runs as penalties.
  

Understanding how runs are scored is key to following the game, and these scoring methods add excitement as the match unfolds.

Ways to Get Out

In cricket, there are a few ways a batsman can be dismissed (out), and each one has its own rule. Here are the main ones:

• Bowled: If the bowler hits the stumps with the ball, knocking the bails off, the batter is out.
• Caught: If the batsman hits the ball and a fielder catches it before it hits the ground, the batter is out.
• LBW (Leg Before Wicket): If the ball hits the batsman’s leg and it would have hit the stumps, the batter is out.
• Run Out: If a batsman is running between the wickets and the fielding team hits the stumps with the ball before the batsman reaches the crease, they are out.
• Stumped: If the batsman steps out of their crease and the wicketkeeper breaks the stumps while the batsman is out of their ground, they are out.
  

Understanding these ways to get out is important because it helps you grasp the strategies both teams use to win the game.

Basic Rules & Etiquette

Cricket is a sport that places great importance on good sportsmanship and fair play. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:

• Appeals: If the fielding team thinks a batsman is out, they will appeal to the umpire by shouting "How’s that?" or simply "Howzat?". The umpire then decides if the batsman is out.
• Umpire Signals: Umpires communicate their decisions through hand signals. For example, when a batsman is out, the umpire raises their finger, and for a wide ball, they extend their arms horizontally.
• Spirit of Cricket: The spirit of cricket encourages players to respect the game, their opponents, and the umpires. It’s all about playing fairly and with integrity, whether you're on the field or off it.
• Review System (DRS): In some matches, teams can use the Decision Review System (DRS) to challenge an umpire's decision. Using technology like Hawk-Eye, the team can check whether a decision, such as an LBW call, was correct.