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SportCricket

Cricket Guides

Plain-English explainers on formats, rules, statistics and how to follow the game.

ASH
A Short History of Test Cricket: From 1877 to TodayMarch 1877, Melbourne Cricket Ground · Australia v England
AIC
All-Rounders in Cricket: Roles, Types and Famous ExamplesA player who contributes with both bat and ball · Batting all-rounder, bowling all-rounder, genuine all-rounder
AOA
Anatomy of a Cricket Bat: Parts, Materials and RulesWillow · 38 inches (96.52 cm)
ANO
Associate Nations of Cricket: Who They Are and How the Pathway WorksInternational Cricket Council (ICC) · 12 (Test-playing nations) as of the end of 2024
BAE
Batting Average Explained: How It Is Calculated and What It Tells YouRuns scored divided by times dismissed · Do not count as dismissals
BSE
Batting Shots Explained: Drives, Cuts, Pulls, Sweeps and MoreDrive, defensive push, sweep · Cut, pull, hook, back-foot defence
BIT
Batting in the Powerplay: A Practical GuideOpening overs of a limited-overs innings · First six overs
CAF
Captaincy and Field-Setting Basics: Positions and RestrictionsEleven, including the bowler and wicketkeeper · No more than two fielders behind square on the leg side
CSI
Concussion Substitutes in Cricket ExplainedReplace a player with suspected concussion · 2019
CBT
Cricket Ball Types: Red, White and Pink Balls ComparedTest and first-class cricket · ODIs and T20s
CBG
Cricket Bowling Grips Explained: Seam, Swing and Spin HoldsHow bowlers hold the cricket ball · Seam, swing, spin
CEA
Cricket Equipment and Protective Gear: What Players Use and WhyWillow (commonly English or Kashmir) · Cork core, leather cover, stitched seam
CFD
Cricket Field Dimensions and Boundary Rules Explained22 yards (20.12 m) between the stumps · 10 feet (3.05 m)
CFP
Cricket Fielding Positions Explained: Slip, Gully, Point and More
CG4
Cricket Glossary: 40 Essential Terms Every Fan Should Know
CSS
Cricket Scoring Symbols: A Plain-English Guide to Scorebook NotationScorebook notation · New scorers and fans
CWC
Cricket World Cup Format History1975, England · 60 overs per side
CFB
Cricket for Beginners: A Simple Guide to the Rules, Formats and Terms11 · 22 yards (20.12 metres)
DAB
DRS and Ball Tracking Explained: Reviews, Umpire’s Call and TechnologyDecision Review System (DRS) · Trialled in 2008, used officially from 2009
DOS
Death Overs Strategy in T20 Cricket ExplainedOvers 16 to 20 of a T20 innings · Yorkers, slower balls, wide lines
DIC
Declarations in Cricket: What They Are and When Captains Use ThemMulti-innings cricket · The batting captain
DAI
Dew and Its Effect on Cricket MatchesMoisture condensing on cool surfaces after sunset · Day-night and evening matches
DTL
Domestic T20 Leagues Around the World: A Guide to Cricket’s Franchise SceneTwenty20 (20 overs per side), with The Hundred as a 100-ball variant · Indian Premier League, 2008
FAI
Fitness and Injury Prevention for Cricketers: A General GuideBack, shoulder, hamstring, side strain, finger · Fast bowling (lower back)
HUA
Hawk-Eye, UltraEdge and Hot Spot Explained: Cricket’s Review TechnologyBall-tracking using multiple cameras · Audio-based edge detection synchronised with video
HOT
History of T20 Cricket: From the 2003 County Cup to Global Leagues2003, English domestic cricket · England and Wales Cricket Board
HOW
History of Women’s Cricket: From 1745 to the Modern Global Game1745, Surrey, England · December 1934, England v Australia
HOT
History of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method in CricketFrank Duckworth and Tony Lewis · Professor Steven Stern
HOT
History of the ODI World Cup: Every Final from 1975 to 20231975 (England) · 50-over one-day cricket (60 overs in 1975, 1979 and 1983)
HWA
Hit Wicket and Handled the Ball: Rare DismissalsLaw 35 · Now covered under Law 37 (obstructing the field)
HCP
How Cricket Pitches Are Prepared22 yards (20.12 metres) · Mower, roller, water, covers
HDC
How Domestic Cricket Works: Formats, Leagues and the Pathway to International LevelFirst-class (multi-day), List A (one-day), T20 · 18
HPA
How Pitches Affect Cricket Matches: Pace, Spin, Bounce and Wear
HSB
How Swing Bowling Works: Conventional and Reverse SwingConventional swing, reverse swing · Seam position, shine, speed, ball condition
HTC
How T20 Cricket Works: Rules, Format and Scoring Explained
HAT
How a Test Match Is Won, Drawn or Tied: The Possible ResultsFive days · Up to two
HTR
How to Read a Cricket Match Preview: What to Look For
HTR
How to Read a Cricket Scorecard: Batting, Bowling and Extras
HTS
How to Score a Cricket Match: A Step-by-Step Guide for BeginnersKeeping a scorebook · Club and school scorers
IRE
ICC Rankings Explained: How Teams and Players Are RatedInternational Cricket Council (ICC) · Tests, ODIs, T20Is
IAE
IPL Auction Explained: Purses, Base Prices, Retentions and BiddingIndian Premier League (IPL) · 2008
MOA
Maiden Overs and Bowling Figures: How to Read a Bowler’s AnalysisOvers-Maidens-Runs-Wickets · 10-2-45-3
MRA
Mankad Run-Outs and the Laws of CricketRun out of the non-striker by the bowler · Vinoo Mankad, India
MOS
Middle Overs Strategy in White-Ball CricketBetween the powerplay and the final overs · Build a platform while keeping wickets
NRR
Net Run Rate Explained: How NRR Is Calculated in Cricket
NRI
No-Ball Rules in Cricket: Every Way a Delivery Can Be CalledLaw 21 of the Laws of Cricket · One run plus the delivery is rebowled
OVT
ODI vs Test vs T20: The Three Main Formats of Cricket Compared
OTF
Obstructing the Field and Timed Out ExplainedLaw 37 · Law 40