MUHAMMAD BILAL RAZA
REPLICA-220
University of the Punjab
Cricket Assignment
Introduction to Cricket Module
Cricket is a game steeped in tradition, in which it is often how you play the game that is
as important as winning. The expression “That’s not cricket” embodied the ideal of “fair
play” and good sportsmanship which teachers and coaches should endeavor to foster at
all levels. There are many different levels of the game ranging from the Five Day
Test Match, the afternoon club match, the indoor six a side adult, Kwik Cricket, Cricket
Pairs game played by 10-year-old to the simplest single wicket game of one bowler and
one batsman. Each require different degrees of ability, fitness, skills and commitment.
Early exposure to the skills required is a great help in the making of a successful player,
though some players have turned to the game at a later age and achieved a good
standard. Learning the skills can be a very enjoyable experience with a great deal of
physical activity involved. It is also possible to structure the skill learning so that simple
competitions and small sided games prevent the practices from becoming boring. They
also provide opportunities of introducing to beginners, in stages, small sections of the 42
Laws governing the playing of the adult game.
TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS
In order to play cricket to examination level, students should have a good practical and
theoretical grasp of the 4 major activities of the game:
Fielding
Bowling
Batting
Wicket keeping
1. Fielding
Essentially this involves catching and throwing in a variety of circumstances both static or on the
move.
CATCHING The High Catch
Objective: To catch a ball which is dropping quickly.
Method: Sight the ball.
Move quickly to where it will come down.
Stand still with hands up above eye level and palms facing ball, fingers spread out, little fingers
touching.
Hands “give” as ball is caught.
Finish at Chest
The Skim Catch
Objective: Primarily to catch a flat trajectory ball arriving about head high.
Method: Sight the ball, palms facing ball, fingers pointing upwards, thumbs touching.
Hands give as ball is caught.
The Close Catch
Objective: Primarily to deal with catches close to the wicket.
Method: Eyes level.
Head still.
Palms facing anticipated line of ball.
Fingers pointing down, elbows clear of body.
Weight on balls of feet.
Hands give as ball is caught
INTERCEPTING AND RETURNING The Long Barrier and Throw
Objective: The long barrier is used to ensure the ball is stopped.
Method: Head online of ball.
Left knee on ground, overlapping right heel.
Palms facing ball, fingers pointing down.
Holding ball in right hand, stand up taking a pace towards target with left foot.
Aim with left arm.
Weight on back foot which is at right angles to line of throw.
Throw ball, follow-through over left leg with right arm and right leg
CHASINGND RETRIEVING The Short Throw
Objective: Run inside line of ball to enable right foot to land beside it.
Method: Weight well back. Head over right knee, left foot trailing.
Pick ball up.
Turn to left into throwing position.
Aim and throw without further steps
(If the ball is moving quickly it may be necessary to take several braking strides before turning
and throwing.)
The Long Throw
Objective: To retrieve a ball after picking up near the boundary.
Method: Ensure left foot is forward alongside ball.
Bend down keeping seat well back.
Pick ball up.
Push hard on left foot.
Turn to left, fling left arm into aiming position and throw
Throwing on the Turn
NB This is an advanced technique, used to prevent runs, or to secure a run out.
Method: Run inside line of ball.
Pick up ball alongside right foot.
Step onto left foot.
Jump, turning in the air.
Aim at target with left arm.
Throw while still in the air
2. Bowling
Step 2 Run Up and Bound
Method: Concentrate online of delivery.
Smooth rhythmical approach.
Bound (spring) off left foot. Raise both arms. Turn 90° in air.
Land in coil position leaning back from batsman.
Repeat bowling action.
Practice bowling with a smooth and economical run-up and easy rhythmical well balanced
delivery, finishing with a deliberate and fluent follow-through (see Figure 10).
Once players have mastered these steps they should be ready to progress to more complex
skills using swing and spin.
THE OUTSWING OR AWAY SWING
NB To do this it is essential that the ball used has a good seam.
The Grip
Method: Seam vertical but pointing at slips.
Side of thumb on center seam. First two fingers either side of seam.
Polished side of ball to leg side
The Action
Method: Bowl from close to stumps.
Look over front shoulder behind front arm.
Back foot parallel with crease.
Front foot lands to leg side of back foot.
High delivery, hand behind ball.
Emphasis good follow-through of bowling arm and shoulder
THE IN-SWING
The Grip
Method: Hold the ball with the polished side on the offside.
Seam vertical but pointing to leg side.
Ball of thumb against seam.
First two fingers close together on seam
The Action
Method: Bowl from wider position on crease.
Open coil - more chest on.
Look inside arm. Back foot points down pitch.
Front foot in line with or outside back foot. High bowling arm on release.
Feel as though pushing ball to legside.
Bowling arm does not follow through across body
OFF SPIN AND LEFT ARM ORTHODOX SPIN (FINGER SPIN)
NB An off break spins the ball from off to leg, rotating clockwise from the bowler. The left arm
spinner moves the ball from leg to off.
The Grip
Method: Hold ball in between first and second fingers.
Seam at right angles to the fingers.
Top joints across seam.
Knuckles of first finger and second finger grip seam.
Do not use thumb to hold ball (see Figure 15).
The Action
Method: Shortish run up.
Good coil position; look behind arm. Short delivery stride.
Front foot slightly across to leg side.
High delivery, head up.
Pivot on ball of front foot.
Twist hand clockwise.
Flick ball with first finger.
Pull bowling arm across the body.
Spin ball clockwise by turning hand upwards.
Finish with palm upwards
LEG SPIN OR CHINAMAN
NB A leg break spins from leg to off, rotating anti-clockwise from bowler. A left arm wrist spinner
rotates the ball clockwise and is said to bowl ‘Chinamen’.
The Grip
Method: Seam at right angles to fingers.
First two fingers spread: first joints on seam.
Third finger bent along seam
The Action
Method: Shortish run up.
Good coil position.
Look over shoulder.
Wrist bent in towards forearm.
Place front foot to leg side of back foot.
Keep head up.
High delivery.
Hold wrist back.
Pivot around front foot.
Flick wrist forward.
Pull down with first finger.
Straighten third finger.
Flick third finger straight as ball is released.
Continue across body, palm downwards
3. Batting
Please note, throughout the module “batsman” also refers to “batswoman”.
Batting in cricket is probably the most popular of all skills. Firstly, it allows the player to score, and
secondly he has the full attention of not only both teams, but also the spectators.
When teaching batting it is essential that staff exercise great care in selecting the surface on
which the skill is performed. At school level this is often a factor over which neither staff nor
students have any control. Nevertheless, staff should remain on the side of caution and on bad
pitches certain strokes should not be taught. It is accepted that at least one Examining Board
includes the hook within the syllabus. The National Cricket Association (NCA) does not
recommend that this stroke be taught to inexperienced players, particularly if the pitch is suspect.
For this reason, the hook and other advanced skills (lofted19 shots, the sweep and the late cut)
are omitted from this text.
BATTING SKILLS – THE BASIC ELEMENTS
The Grip
Method: Hands close together towards top of handle.
Top hand gripping very firmly.
Fingers and thumbs of both hands around handle.
V’s formed by thumb and forefinger are in line approximately halfway between splice and
outside edge of bat.
The Stance
Method: Feet slightly apart.
Knees slightly flexed, weight evenly distributed on balls of feet – not heels.
Eyes level and square to line of delivery.
Toe of bat on ground
THE BACKLIFT
Method: Front shoulder and elbow pointing to bowler.
Bat raised but pushed back over middle stump.
Head still.
Open face of bat to point.
Top forearm roughly parallel with ground.
Back elbow away from body.
No movement of body backwards or forwards until selection of stroke to be played is made.
THE BASIC SHOTS The Pull
This stroke is played to a short, pitched ball bouncing between knee and chest height as it
arrives at the batsman. This is known as a long hop.
When learning strokes, a firm level surface is required in order to achieve an even predictable
bounce from a tennis ball. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that no batsman will hit a ball
into an area where others are working. Sufficient space must be allowed so that individual
batsmen do not strike any person from another group with the bat. No fielder is allowed nearer
than 10 paces from the batsman. If practicing inside, the batsman can strike the ball towards a
wall and the fielders can intercept the ball on the rebound from the wall at a position nearer the
striker but on the opposite side from the direction in which the ball was struck.
Method: Start with high backlit.
Step back and across, with both feet square to the wicket.
Fix eyes on ball and keep head still and forward of body.
Hit ball at arm’s length in line with body.
Aim to hit ball in front of square-leg and downwards.
Transfer weight from back to front leg.
Hitting a Full Toss to Leg
Objective: To play a ball which does not bounce before arriving at the batsman. Method: High
backlift.
Lean forward, head and front shoulder leading on to line of ball.
Fix eyes on ball.
Hit ball downwards at arm’s length.
Aim in front of square leg.
Weight on front leg.
Keep looking at place where contact was made in order to keep head still and maintain balance.
Back Defensive Stroke
Objective: This stroke is played to a ball pitching short and bouncing knee high or above.
Method: High back lift.
Step back and across towards offside if ball is on off stump.
Back foot parallel with crease.
Back of front shoulder turned slightly.
Head on line of delivery.
Weight on back foot.
Balance of body forward.
Front foot brought back naturally.
Relax bottom hand to finger and thumb grip.
Top hand in control.
Ball is played under head.
Bat vertical but angled downwards so that ball is not played upwards.
The Forward Defense Stroke
Objective: To prevent a good length ball from hitting the wicket. The ball should not bounce as
high as the knee.
Method: From a good straight backlift lead with head and front shoulder onto the line of the ball.
Top hand in control.
Relax bottom hand to thumb and finger grip.
Front leg close to line of ball and bent at knee.
Ease back foot onto inside of foot; keep back leg straight.
Do not follow-through.
Maintain a good balance by keeping head close to front shoulder and over the bat.
4. Wicket Keeping
There are 2 positions from which to keep wicket.
Standing back from the wicket.
Standing up to the wicket.
Standing Back
Method: Position where ball can be taken as it drops between waist and knee height after
bouncing.
Crouch to off side of stumps to get a clear view of ball.
Rise with bounce of ball.
Palms facing ball, little fingers touching.
Hands forward to give as ball is taken.
Eyes level; head as still as possible
Standing up to the Wicket – The Stance
Method: Squat down just wide enough to obtain a good view of ball.
Safe distance behind stumps so that no part of keeper or his/her equipment breaks back edge
of bowling crease as ball is taken.
Eyes level, weight on balls of feet.
Backs of fingers resting on ground, palms facing bowler.
Standing Up to the Wicket – Taking a Straight Ball
Method: Head and body behind line of ball.
Rise with bounce of ball.
Fingers pointing down.
Hands give and elbows clear of body as ball is taken.
Transfer weight to foot nearest stumps to commence bringing ball towards wicket in case of
stumping opportunity.
Standing Up to the Wicket – Taking a Wide Offside Ball
Method: Move quickly to offside with outside foot turned in.
Hands on line of ball.
Give with hands.
Transfer weight towards stumps by pushing head towards them.
Swing arms towards wicket.
Knock bails off if batsman is to be stumped.
Standing Up to the Wicket – Taking a Legside Ball
Method: Sight and judge ball from normal stance.
Move quickly to leg side.
Transfer weight from left foot which has turned in slightly, to right.
Take ball just outside line of body.
Push head towards wicket to assist swing of arms to break wicket if necessary.
Standing Up to the Wicket – Taking a Rising Ball
Method: This applies to leg and offside.
Keep gloves on line of ball.
Sway head and body off the line; allow gloves to rise with ball.
Push head towards stumps to assist arm swing back for possible stumping.
Taking Returns from the Field
Method: Move quickly to put the wicket between the ball and the wicket keeper.
Whenever possible take the ball on the full toss unless this would mean missing the chance of a
run out.
Always try to take the ball in the gloves. Pads are for protection should the ball be missed; they
are not a front line of defence.
If a fielder is chasing a ball with his back to the wicket keeper it helps the fielder to sight the
keeper as he turns if a gloved hand is held above the keeper’s head.
Be prepared to remove a glove in order to throw the ball at the bowler’s wicket if a run out is
possible at that end.
UMPIRING
The umpires are the sole judges of all matters concerning the game once the toss for innings has
been made. They decide whether it is fit or unfit to play, make all decisions regarding the laws
and officially check the scores at the end of the game to confirm the result. The bowling end
umpire stands in line with the wickets (see Figure 43) and makes decisions about the placement
of the bowler’s feet for the fairness of delivery, LBW etc. He may move up to the wicket or back if
requested by the bowler, but he must be in a position to carry out his function.
When a run is being taken, the bowling umpire moves to the same side of the pitch as the ball
and level with the popping crease, to get in the best position to give a decision for a run out as in
the diagram.
The other umpire usually stands level with the popping crease at square leg (see Figure 44).
However, if the sun or fielder interfere with his view he can stand at Point. His principal function
is to give decisions on stumpings, run outs etc. at the strikers end.
The bowling umpire starts the game by calling “Play”. After six legitimate balls he calls “Over”; at
the end of play he calls “Time” and removes the bails. During the game he gives the following
signals to the scorers to inform them of what is happening. There is no signal for one or more
runs scored from the bat, unless a boundary is scored. No signal will be given if a batsman is not
out on appeal, but the umpire will say “Not out”. Umpires communicate their decisions to both
players and spectators through a series of signals.