General Rules
Team Members
International matches are played with a team of 11 members on the field. The selection committee of the respective countries selects 15 players in the team. However, at the time of play, the bowling side has 11 players on the pitch, and the batting side has 2 batsmen out of which one stands at the striking end and the other at the running end.
Captain & Vice-Captain
The team consists of a captain and a vice-captain. The captain of the team is responsible for taking all the decisions on the field. On the other hand, the vice-captain comes into action when the former is not fit or unable to play the match.
Toss
The toss decides that which team will bat or field first. The coin is tossed in front of the match referee and one of the umpires by one of the captains of the competing teams. The winning captain will then choose to bat or field first.
Innings
The match comprises of two innings. One inning is said to finish when another team is all out, or the overs of that inning ends. In a Test match, each team has to play two innings. The inning is said to be over if the team is all out or if the captain declares his team if he thinks the situation is in his/her favor.
Batting
The batting team sends two of its batsmen at a time who have to score as many runs as they can by running to each other’s end of the pitch to win the match.
Bowling
On the other hand, the bowling team has to bowl and field. Their primary objective is to stop the batsmen from making more runs so that they can chase them easily.
Fielding
The bowling team is also responsible for fielding. It means to contain the batting team scores.
Umpiring
In cricket, a person who holds the authority to take crucial decisions related to the ongoing match on the field is known as the Umpire and his act is known as Umpiring. He/she is the one who takes all the decisions related to the legality of shots, wicket appeals and looks over whether the match is going on with all legal aspects. Unlike the job of a referee, umpire's decisions affect the outcome of the match.
Game Rule (Changes in Rules)
- The earliest known code of playing cricket was drafted in 1744. After four years, Marylebone Cricket Club in London took charge of maintaining the laws of cricket. Currently, there are 42 laws which outline the aspects of how to play the game. Till now, MCC has re-coded the laws for six times, the last being done in 2017. Only MCC has the authority to change the laws of cricket and that too after close to consultation with ICC and other interested entities such as the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers. The current code is the "Laws of Cricket 2017 Code" that replaced the "2000 Code of Laws".
- In 1819, the distance between the popping crease and the bowling crease was increased from 46 inches to 48 inches and the length of the bowling crease to either side of the wicket was increased to four feet each side in 1902. Later on, it was reduced to half an inch from both sides in 1939.
- The creases were incipiently cut into the turf and whitewash was introduced in the second half of the 19th century.
- The dimensions of the wicket were changed several until it was finalised to be 28 inches by nine inches in 1931 and confirmed in 1947.
- Until 1744, an over consisted of four balls that extended to five balls and eventually to six balls.
- The rule of "No Ball" was initially made only for overstepping the bowling crease that later on applied to "throwing" when round-arm bowling style came to use and it was ruled that the bowler's hand while delivering the ball must not be above his shoulder.
- During the olden days of cricket, "Declarations" were not allowed but it was allowed to on the send day of matches only after lunch. In 1910, "Declarations" were authorised to be taken any time but on the second day that was followed until 1957 after which, matches were allowed to be declared on the first day as well.
- The rule of "follow-on" was largely unknown until the 18th century but it became compulsory after a deficit of 100. Later on, this became optional but after a deficit of 150 runs for first-class cricket and 200 runs in Tests.
