Cricket for dummies - World Cup 2019
Cricket fever has officially gripped the world, and on Thursday, all eyes will be on the Proteas as they play their first match against the hosts, England. Before the action starts, we've gathered some basic cricket lingo that you need to know.
First and foremost, the Cricket World Cup occurs every four years, and this year it takes place in the country the sport was founded in, England.
England and Wales play host to 10 teams who will bat it out until one team remains and holds the cup. Australia have won the cup five times. The Proteas go in as the underdogs who are looking to hopefully bring home the cup for the first time.
READ: Steyn to miss World Cup opener against England
The aim of the game is for the batsmen to make runs between the wickets, without getting out, while the bowlers' aim is to get said batsmen out. All World Cup matches are played as a One Day International (ODI), meaning the match isn't repeated. Each match contains 50 overs per side.
Nevertheless, here are a few cricket terms which you need to know, according to Cricket-Rules:
A “No Ball” can be declared for many reasons: If the bowler bowls the ball from the wrong place, the ball is declared dangerous (often happens when bowled at the batsman’s body on the full), bounces more than twice or rolls before reaching the batsman or if fielders are standing in illegal positions. The batsman can hit a no-ball and score runs off it but cannot be out from a no ball except if they are run out, hit the ball twice, handle the ball or obstruct the field. The batsman gains any runs scored off the no-ball for his shot while the team also gains one run for the no-ball itself.
A “Wide Ball” will be declared if the umpire thinks the batsman did not have a reasonable opportunity to score off the delivery. However, if the delivery is bowled over the batsman’s head, it will not be declared a wide but a no ball. Umpires are much stricter on wide deliveries in the shorter format of the game, while being much more relaxed in Test cricket. A wide delivery will add one run to the batting team and any runs scored by the batsman. The batsman is not able to get out off a wide delivery except if they are stumped, run out, handle the ball, hit their wicket or obstruct the field.
A “Bye” is where a ball that isn’t a no ball or wide passes the striking batsman and runs are scored without the batsman hitting the ball.
A “Leg Bye” is where runs are scored by hitting the batsman, but not the bat and the ball is not a no ball or wide. However, no runs can be scored if the striking batsman did not attempt to play a shot or if he was avoiding the ball.
"Bowled" – Cricket rules state that if the ball is bowled and hits the striking batsman’s wickets, the batsman is given out (as long as at least one bail is removed by the ball). It does not matter whether the ball has touched the batsman’s bat, gloves, body or any other part of the batsman. However, the ball is not allowed to have touched another player or umpire before hitting the wickets.
"Caught" – Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits the ball or touches the ball at all with his bat or hand/glove holding the bat then the batsman can be caught out. This is done by the fielders, wicketkeeper or bowler catching the ball on the full (before it bounces). If this is done then cricket rules state the batsman is out.
"Leg Before Wicket (LBW)" – If the ball is bowled and it hits the batsman first without the bat hitting it, then an LBW decision is possible. However, for the umpire to give this out he must first look at some of the factors stated in the cricket rules. The first thing the umpire need to decide is would the ball have hit the wickets if the batsman was not there. If his answer to this is 'yes', and the ball did not pitch on the leg side of the wicket, he can safely give the batsman out. However, if the ball hits the batsman outside the line of off stump while he was attempting to play a stroke, then he is not out.
"Stumped" – A batsman can be given out according to cricket rules when the wicketkeeper puts down his wicket while he is out of his crease and not attempting a run (if he is attempting a run it would be a run out).
"Run Out" – Cricket rules state that a batsman is out if no part of his bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease (line before the wickets) while the ball is in play and the wicket is fairly put down by the fielding side.
"Hit Wicket" – Cricket rules specify that if a batsman hits his wicket down with his bat or body after the bowler has entered his delivery stride and the ball is in play, then he is out. The striking batsman is also out if he hits his wicket down while setting off for his first run.
"Handled The Ball" – Cricket rules allow the batsman to be given out if he willingly handles the ball with the hand that is not touching the bat without the consent of the opposition.
"Timed Out" – An incoming batsman must be ready to face a ball or be at the non-strikers end with his partner within three minutes of the outgoing batsman being dismissed. If this is not done, the incoming batsman can be given out.
"Hit The Ball Twice" – Cricket rules state that if a batsman hits a ball twice other than for the purpose of protecting his wicket or with consent from the opposition, he is out.
"Obstructing The Field" – A batsman is out if he willingly obstructs the opposition by word or action
There are many rules in cricket, but these are the most common 'terms' that you will hear during the matches.
Keep up to date with the latest Cricket World Cup action with Myron Naicker as he brings us exclusive updates from England. Find the lastest update in the podcast channel below: