கிரிக்கெட் விளக்கம்: விதிகள் முதல் வகைகள் வரை

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven. Although it originated in 16th-century England, the modern sport is dominated by South Asian, Australian, and English teams. Three formats — Test, One-Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 (T20) — each have their own character.

கிரிக்கெட் — பதினொரு பேர் கொண்ட இரு அணிகளுக்கிடையே விளையாடப்படும் மட்டை-பந்து விளையாட்டு. 16-ஆம் நூற்றாண்டு இங்கிலாந்தில் தோன்றினாலும், நவீன விளையாட்டில் தென் ஆசியா, ஆஸ்திரேலியா, இங்கிலாந்து முக்கிய அணிகள். டெஸ்ட், ODI, T20 — மூன்று வகைகள் ஒவ்வொன்றும் தனித்தன்மை கொண்டது.

The basic mechanics

Two batters from one team are at the wicket; the other team fields. A bowler delivers six legal balls (an "over"), then a different bowler comes in from the other end. Batters score "runs" by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, or by hitting boundaries (4 runs if the ball touches the ground before the boundary, 6 if it clears it on the full). A batter is "out" in many ways — most commonly bowled, caught, leg-before-wicket (LBW), run out, or stumped.

The three formats

Scoring and chasing

A "century" (100 runs by one batter) is a milestone; a "double century" or "triple century" is rare and prestigious. A "five-wicket haul" by a bowler is similarly notable. When a team bats second, they're "chasing" — the required run rate (RRR) tells viewers how fast the chasing team needs to score to win.

LBW — the most-debated rule

Leg Before Wicket (LBW) means the ball would have hit the wicket if the batter's leg hadn't intercepted it. The umpire must judge: would the ball have hit the wicket? Did it pitch in line with the wicket? Did the batter try to play a shot? Decision Review System (DRS) — using ball-tracking technology — was introduced in 2008 to allow players to challenge umpire decisions.

Famous trophies

Whether you have an hour or five days, there's a cricket format for you. Watching a few matches with someone who can explain the field positions and tactics is the fastest way to fall in love with the sport.