5D
Test Cricket
The longest international format, played over up to five days. Teams usually have two innings, placing emphasis on technique, patience and endurance.
🏏 CRICKET BASICS & GAME GUIDE
Cricket Overview
Get familiar with cricket’s rules, formats, player roles and match structure—from the basics of scoring to the fast-paced T20 game.
Cricket: A Guide to the Game
Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 11 players. The game centres on batting, bowling and fielding, with each team taking turns to score runs and restrict the opposition.
Cricket is played in different formats, from short, fast-paced matches to longer games that can last several days. Understanding the basic rules and roles can make matches easier to follow.
11 Players
Each team has 11 players on the field.
Batting
Score runs and build partnerships.
Bowling
Deliver the ball and try to take wickets.
Fielding
Stop runs and create dismissal chances.
Main Formats of Cricket
Different formats bring different match lengths, strategies and rhythms.
50
One Day International
Each team usually faces up to 50 overs. Teams balance scoring runs with preserving wickets and managing the innings.
20
T20 Cricket
Each team faces up to 20 overs. The shorter format encourages quick scoring, tactical bowling changes and energetic fielding.
IPL
Indian Premier League
A professional franchise-based T20 competition featuring teams competing under the 20-over format.
Understand the Match, One Play at a Time
Learn how scoring, overs, wickets and team roles work together to shape a cricket match.
Read the Basics →Runs, Overs and Wickets
These are some of the core terms used to describe a cricket innings and its progress.
01
Runs
Batters score by running between the wickets or hitting boundaries. A four reaches the boundary after touching the ground; a six clears it without touching the ground. Extras can also add runs.
02
Overs
An over consists of six valid deliveries bowled by one player. Limited-overs formats set a maximum number of overs for each team.
03
Wickets
A wicket can mean a batter’s dismissal or the three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch.
04
Innings
An innings is a team’s turn to bat. The number of innings and overs depends on the match format.
Key Roles in a Cricket Team
Players contribute through specialised roles as well as all-round skills.
01
Batter
Focuses on scoring runs and building partnerships.
02
Bowler
Delivers the ball and attempts to dismiss batters or restrict scoring.
03
All-rounder
Contributes with both batting and bowling.
04
Wicketkeeper and Fielders
The wicketkeeper fields behind the stumps, while fielders stop runs, take catches and attempt run-outs.
How Is a Cricket Match Won?
The result depends on the format and applicable playing conditions.
In limited-overs cricket, the team that scores more runs than its opponent generally wins when a result is reached under the playing conditions. A match may also end in a tie, draw or no result, depending on the format and circumstances. Tournament rules may provide additional methods for deciding tied matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common cricket questions.
What are the basic rules of cricket?+
Two teams of 11 players take turns batting and bowling/fielding. One side scores runs while the other tries to restrict scoring and dismiss batters. The format determines overs, innings and other playing conditions.
How many players are on a cricket team?+
Each team has 11 players on the field, including the wicketkeeper. Substitutes or additional squad members may be permitted under competition rules.
What is an over in cricket?+
An over consists of six valid deliveries bowled by one player. After an over, another bowler typically delivers from the opposite end of the pitch.
What is the difference between ODI and T20 cricket?+
ODI matches usually allow each team up to 50 overs, while T20 matches allow up to 20 overs per team. T20 matches are shorter and call for quicker scoring and tactical adjustments.
What is the IPL?+
The Indian Premier League is a professional franchise-based T20 cricket competition. Teams compete under T20 rules and competition-specific regulations.
What does a wicket mean in cricket?+
A wicket can refer to a batter being dismissed or to the three stumps and two bails positioned at each end of the pitch.
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