Cricket is a fantastic sport that appeals to every individual whether you enjoy playing slow or explosive games.

AS and A Level Physical Education (Sport & Coaching)

ATEEQ RASHID

P.E

ASSIGNMENT 2

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Galligan, F, (2000) Advanced PE For Edexcel, Heinemann Educational Publishers.

Wesson, K, (1998) Sport And PE, Scot Print Ltd.

CHOSEN SPORTS

CRICKET

Cricket is a fantastic sport that appeals to every individual whether you enjoy playing slow or explosive games. Cricket is one of the oldest established games and is thought to be invented by the English, although the orgins of cricket are obscured, unrecorded, and the source of much speculation. There are several references concerning the origination of cricket. One reference is that a game similar to cricket was played in the 13th century called ‘club-ball’. It is certain that the game was played with a ball and a crooked stick. The game through is centuries evolved and expanded.

In the 19th century, cricket was played in many countries and public schools. Both upper and lower social classes played together, although they had particular roles within the game to signify their status. From these games clubs developed and county cricket was introduced. The suburban middle class began to take out county memberships and the large grounds began to take over the smaller, more portable fixtures.

As cricket expanded, there was a need for rules; therefore, the MCC (Middlesex Cricket County) emerged as an organisation feature to be responsible for any problems or in any development. Now, cricket has developed, new technology is used and a different governing body is introduced. The governing body for cricket now is the ICC (International Cricket Council), which is responsible for the global expansion of test match and one day cricket. Today the ICC has 26 associate members. An associate member is a cricket playing country where the game is firmly established and organised. The sole governing body for cricket in that country must be recognised by the ICC.

Cricket is a team sport for two teams of eleven players each. A formal game of cricket can last anything from an afternoon to several days. Teams bat in successive innings and attempt to score runs, while the opposing team fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting teams innings. After each team has batted an equal number of innings (either one or two, depending on the situation and the conditions), the team with the most runs win.

A cricket field is a field of flat grass, ranging in size from about 100 to 160 metres across, confined by a fence or some kind of marker (usually rope). There is no fixed size or shape for the field. In the centre of the field is the pitch, a well and carefully prepared rectangle area of the ground 20.12m in length measured from bowling crease to bowling crease and 3.05m in width. It is bounded at either end by the bowling creases and on either side by imaginary lines (see source A), joining the centre of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1.52m from it. It is marked with white lines called the crease.

Source A – A cricket pitch.

(Picture from )

If in any case, a cricket match is held on a non-turf pitch, the artificial surface shall conform to the following:

Length - a minimum of 58ft/17.68m

Width – a minimum of 6ft/1.83

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Source A – A cricket pitch.

(Picture from )

If in any case, a cricket match is held on a non-turf pitch, the artificial surface shall conform to the following:

Length - a minimum of 58ft/17.68m

Width – a minimum of 6ft/1.83

In a cricket match it is very important to get your fielders in the correct positions as it can change the end result of a match. For example, if the batting team needs 22 runs of 11 balls with 2 wickets in hand, the opposing team would rather have their fielders in defensive positions such as, Deep Point, Deep Square Legs, Deep Mid Wicket, Long off, Long on, etc (see source B). These positions will protect the boundary as a six or four hit by the opponents will edge the team closer to victory. Having the fielders in theses positions will also give the fielding team a chance of getting the batting team all out, as the required run rate is above a run a ball therefore the batting team will have to bat in an attacking manner.

Positions in ODI (One-Day International) cricket are also important because there are certain restrictions. The team fielding can only keep 9 fielders in the small circle and 2 fielders outside the circle, therefore it is important to get the positions sorted as quick as possible. Getting fielders in the correct positions will mostly rely on tactics. For example, the Australian cricket team relies on attacking tactics rather then having a defensive tactics; they would rather play with risk then to play safe.

In a cricket match it is also compulsory to change sides after an over, so the wicket keeper will have to change ends, it would also apply to the other fielders, such as, the slip fielders, mid on, mid off, etc.

Source B – A cricket field with all the possible fielding positions.

(Drawn by Robert l. Carter (1999), )

Like other sports cricket has rules. Cricket has a total of 2000 laws and it is still rising as new laws are being introduced and developed. As stated earlier, cricket is about two teams of eleven players, batting in successive innings trying to score runs, whilst the fielding team attenpts to bowl the other team out. The team who gets the most runs wins the game. Below in source C I have listed some of the rules of cricket.

Source C – Main rules.

Number of players – A match is played between two teams of eleven players, one of whom shall be captain. By agreement a match can be played less then eleven players in a team but not more then eleven players may field at one time.

Number of balls – Every over shall be bowled from each wicket alternately in 6 ball.

A run – A run can only be scored when:

The batsman has crossed and made good ground from end to end.
When a boundary (4 runs) is scored.
When a six is hit.
When penalty runs are awarded.
When no ball or wide is called.
When leg bye or byes are given.

Short run – A short run is only given if the batsman does not complete his run from one end to another.

Out LBW (Leg Before Wicket) – The batsman can only be given LBW in the circumstances below:

The ball hits the pad between wicket to wicket, and would have ended up hitting the wickets (the ball must not be called a no ball otherwise the decision will not count).
If the batsman make no genuine attempt to strike the ball and the ball hits his pad when the ball pitches between leg and off stumps.

Wide ball – The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker if it is a very wide ball in which the striker cannot reach it or it is not an acceptable ball because it is very far from either leg stump or off stump.

Balls not to count – The ball shall not count in an over if it is:

A no ball.
A wide ball.
A dead ball.
If it is over 6 balls which have already been bowled in that same over.

Out – Below there is a list of the following ways you can be given out:

If you are bowled out, i.e. if the ball hits the stumps when you try to strike it.
If the ball touches your bat or glove and the opponent catches the ball without it touching the ground you are out.
If you are given LBW.
If the strikers bat hits his own wicket.
If you are out of your crease and the ball is thrown directly to the stumps you are run out.
If he is out of his ground and is not attempting a run and the opponents gets the ball and touches the stumps removing the bails, your are run out.

If you would like to split cricket as a sport you would end up with 3 components, batting, bowling and, fielding. These 3 components are introduced to every youngster and from there on people learn new skills and combine it with their ability. Below in source D are some coaching cues and techniques for the basics when batting bowling and fielding

Source D – Coaching cues and techniques

Batting

Grip – The grip on the bat should be such that they work together with flexibility. You should be able to play powerful shots like drives, cuts, hooks or to play delicate shots like the leg glance or forward defence. The hands should be close together towards the top of the bat handle. Also, the hands should form a ‘v’ shape this allows maximum flexibility when holding the bat and playing shots.

Stance – The stance is very crucial for all batsman, it should be easy and relaxed.

The feet must be parallel to the crease with the right foot inside the crease and the left foot out side the crease. The legs must be spread apart comfortably, about a shoulder width.

The front foot may be opened out slightly but care must be taken to ensure that the body is always in the side on position.

The knees should be bent and the toe of the bat should rest behind the last toe of the back foot.

The grip and stance cannot be coached although practice makes perfect! These two things depend on how comfortable you feel.

Bowling

Grip - The ball should be held in the fingers and not in the palm. The basic grip for fast, medium, and slow bowlers is placing the index finger on the left side of the seam and the middle finger is placed on the right side of the seam, which is upright. The grip on the ball should be firm but not too tight. This is one way of gripping the ball, as there are many other ways of bowling.

The swing action - The swing action when bowling should almost be 360 degrees and should always be straight. First, you must grip the ball and make sure you are comfortable, then you must have a circle type swing but make sure that the arm besides your bowling arm is used for accuracy and to guide the ball where you want it to pitch.

These two things can be improved by bowling to a wall or at some stumps, because the more you practice the more familiar and comfortable you will become when bowling.

Fielding

Fielding – When a ball comes to you, kneel down but be facing side ways. Make sure your back leg is firmly against your front leg and have a sitting action as though you were going to sit on your ankle. This ensures that the ball will not go past you as it acts as a barrier.

Catching – When the ball is in the air always keep you eye on it, just in case it swings away or the ball is pushed in a different direction by the wind. Make sure your hands are open and spread out. Make sure your hands are griped tight and use your chest as protection, so the ball doesn’t drop down.

These two things can be improved by using certain techniques such as catching the ball with a partner, reaction time catching, throwing a ball to your partner from some distance, stopping the ball using the correct technique, and diving and stopping the ball and then throwing the ball instantly back to the wicket keeper.

The officials in a cricket match play a very vital role as they all have different responsibilities. The three officials are the umpire, the third umpire, and the match referee.

The match always has two umpires on the pitch whose role is to make all decisions on the field and their word is absolute final. If there is any appeal made by the bowlers the umpire will tell the batsman if he is out or not out. Non of the players can complain about the decision, if they do this they may be reported to the match referee. One umpire stands behind the non-strikers end and another stands in the square leg region. Both umpires change position after every over.

In all test matches and ODI matches, the on-field umpire shall be entitled to call for a TV replay to assist him in making a decision about a run out, a stumping, or a hit wicket appeal. It is here where a signal is made to call the third umpire. The third umpire is aloud too call for as many as replays from any camera angle as a final decision is important. As a guide, a decision should be made within 30 seconds, but the third umpire can have more time to finalise his decision. If the third umpire decides the batsman is out a red light is displayed; a green light means not out. Should the umpire be temporary unable to respond, a white light shall be on to signify to the on-field umpire that the TV replay is temporary unavailable, in which case the decision will be taken by the on-field umpire. The third umpire can also find out wherever a four was hit or saved, and any caught decisions.

The match referee has a huge responsibility as he or she reports to the ICC on matters relating to player safety at the ground, the pitch and out field preparation. It shall be the referee’s responsibility to ensure that all the players are not breaking the laws and the rules of conduct. If any rules are broken then it’s the match referees responsibility to investigate it. If the players are found guilty, the match referee can pose a fine, action, or a ban on the players.

Below in source E (below) shows a recent article on the controversial Pakistani bowler Shoiab Akhar. In 1998, during a tour of Australia, the umpire reported Shoaib as he was alleged to have an illegal action. In other words, he was accused of throwing the ball. It has been proven that he has an abnormality in his arm therefore his bowling may look like a throw, but all this evidence is still to be shown to the ICC before being cleared.

Source E –A recent article on the illegal action of Shoaib Akhtar.