The World’s Most Popular Sport: A Comprehensive Guide to Cricket
Cricket, the world’s second most popular sport, can be a bit confusing to those unfamiliar with its terminology and rules. As the Twenty20 World Cup approaches, The Associated Press offers a casual watcher’s guide to cricket for those looking to understand the game better.
WICKET
In cricket, the term “wicket” has multiple meanings. It can refer to a bowler getting a batter out or the three wooden stumps at either end of the pitch. When a wicket is taken, the batter is either bowled, caught, run out, or trapped leg before wicket. Expect to hear this term often during the matches.
INNINGS
Each team in cricket has one innings to bat, with a maximum of 10 wickets before the team is all out. The team captain decides whether to bat or bowl first after winning the coin toss. The scoreboard shows the runs scored and the number of wickets lost, with a lower number of wickets indicating a better performance.
OVER
In the T20 World Cup, each team gets 20 overs to play, with six balls in each over. The bowlers alternate ends after each over, and the death overs are crucial as batters try to score as many boundaries as possible.
BEAMER
A beamer is an illegal delivery where the bowler throws the ball at the batter’s head without it bouncing. This type of delivery is rare, accidental, and against the spirit of the game.
BOUNDARIES
Hitting the ball beyond the field boundary earns a batter four runs, while hitting it without the ball bouncing earns six runs. Boundaries are crucial for scoring in cricket matches.
BYE
Byes are part of the extras that can increase a team’s score by at least one run. Extras like wides can quickly add up if the bowler is struggling during the match.
As the T20 World Cup kicks off, cricket enthusiasts and newcomers alike can enjoy the excitement and thrill of the game. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights from the world of cricket.