future Indian grounds
Playing Field |
The PitchThe pitch is 22 yards long (20m) & 8ft 8in (2.64m) wide. It may be bare, have some grass, be hard, cracked or dusty or completely flat. At both ends 3 wooden cylindrical sticks called 'STUMPS' are hammered into the pitch. On top of the stumps are present 2 small wooden sticks called 'BAILS'. Bails connect the 2 stumps. The 3 stumps and 2 bails are collectively known as 'wickets'. The wickets are placed on either end of the pitch. 4 feet inside the pitch a chalk line is drawn. This line is called the "CREASE" The crease is either the batting crease, return crease, bowling crease or popping crease. The Popping crease extends 6 feet (1.83m) on either side of the Pitch (sideways). Behind the popping crease a line marked 4 feet (1.22m) is the bowling crease. 4 feet behind that is the return crease. |
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Field PositionsThe field is divided into two playing regions for a batsman depending on if he is left or right-handed. The axis between the two central stumps, along the length of the pitch, divides the playing regions. For a right-handed batsman, the region to the right of the batsman is called the OFFSIDE and the region to the left is called the LEGSIDE OR ONSIDE . For a left handed batsman, the region on his left, is his Offside and his right is the onside (leg-side). |
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WicketThe term 'Wicket' is confusing as it has multiple meanings, so here some examples:
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Bowling & Scoring RunsA bowler bowling the ball is akin to a pitcher pitching the ball in baseball, and a tennis player serving the ball. The ball is hurled in the air so that it bounces just before the batsman. To bowl, the bowler must throw the ball like a catapult, with his elbow straight and the ball must be released once his hand is above his head. At a given moment, two batsmen are at the center. The one who faces is the Striker, and the other batsman is the non striker. After a bowler bowls the ball, the batsman tries to hit it. The term used, if the batsman hits the ball, is called a SHOT. There is no penalty if he misses the ball. All he has to do is defend his wicket from being hit. Once the ball is hit away from the fielder, the batsmen exchange their ends. After exchanging ends 1 run is scored. If the ball is hit well enough the batsmen can run 2, 3 or even 4 runs. Meanwhile the fielders try and collect the ball and throw it towards the fielders near the stumps, to cut off further running of additional runs. As spoken of above 4 bonus runs & 6 runs are also possible. |