Gameplay and Deliveries

🏏 Cricket Fundamentals: Gameplay and Deliveries

Imagine you’re playing a game with your friends, but instead of making up rules as you go, cricket has special rules that make everything fair and exciting!

🎯 The Big Picture

Think of cricket like a recipe for baking cookies. You need to follow certain steps (rules) to make sure everyone gets a fair chance and the game stays fun. Let’s learn these rules one by one!

📦 The Over Structure

What is an Over?

An over is like a mini-round in the game.

Simple Example:

• Imagine you get to roll a ball 6 times to your friend
• After 6 rolls, it’s someone else’s turn to roll
• That’s exactly what an over is — 6 legal deliveries bowled by one bowler

Why 6 Balls?

Think of it like eating pizza slices:

• 6 slices make one pizza
• 6 balls make one over

After one over:

• ✅ The bowler changes
• ✅ The bowling end switches
• ✅ Fielders can move around

graph TD
    A["🎳 Bowler Starts"] --> B["Ball 1"]
    B --> C["Ball 2"]
    C --> D["Ball 3"]
    D --> E["Ball 4"]
    E --> F["Ball 5"]
    F --> G["Ball 6"]
    G --> H["✅ Over Complete!"]
    H --> I["🔄 New Bowler"]

Real Life Example: In a T20 match, each team gets 20 overs. That’s 20 × 6 = 120 balls to score runs!

🛑 Dead Ball

What Makes a Ball “Dead”?

A dead ball is like pressing PAUSE in a video game. Nothing counts!

When does it happen?

Simple Example:

• Imagine you’re about to catch a ball
• Suddenly, a dog runs onto the field!
• The umpire shouts “Dead Ball!”
• That ball doesn’t count — you start again

Key Point

When a ball is declared dead:

• 🚫 No runs can be scored
• 🚫 No batsman can be out
• 🔄 The ball is bowled again

⚠️ No Ball Types and Rules

What is a No Ball?

A no ball is like a foul in basketball. The bowler made a mistake!

Types of No Balls

1. Front Foot No Ball 🦶

• Bowler’s foot crosses the white line (crease)
• Like stepping over the line in bowling alley!

2. Height No Ball 📏

• Ball bounces and goes above batsman’s waist (without bouncing twice)
• Dangerous! Not allowed!

3. Bouncer Limit No Ball 🎾

• Too many short balls in one over
• Usually only 2 bouncers per over allowed

4. Throwing/Chucking No Ball 💪

• Arm is bent while bowling
• Must keep arm straight!

graph TD
    A["🎳 Bowler Delivers"] --> B{Is it Legal?}
    B -->|Foot over line| C["❌ No Ball!"]
    B -->|Ball too high| C
    B -->|Arm bent| C
    B -->|Legal delivery| D["✅ Play On!"]
    C --> E["+1 Run to Batting Team"]
    C --> F["⚡ Free Hit Next Ball!"]

What Happens When No Ball is Called?

• 📌 Batting team gets 1 extra run
• 📌 Next ball is a FREE HIT (in limited overs)
• 📌 Batsman cannot be out in most ways

📐 Wide Ball Rules

What is a Wide?

A wide ball is when the bowler delivers too far from the batsman. It’s like throwing a ball where your friend can’t reach it!

Simple Rule:

• Ball is too far LEFT or RIGHT of the batsman
• Ball is too HIGH for the batsman to reach normally

Wide Ball Marker

There’s a line on each side of the stumps. If the ball passes outside this line without the batsman moving:

• 🚫 WIDE!

What Happens?

Example: Imagine you’re standing still. If someone throws a ball so far away that you can’t hit it without moving your feet a lot, that’s a wide!

🏃 Byes and Leg Byes

What are Byes?

Byes are runs scored when:

• The batsman doesn’t touch the ball with bat
• The wicketkeeper misses the ball
• Batsmen run anyway!

Like: Your friend throws a ball, you try to catch it but miss, and it rolls away. Your other friend runs while you chase it!

What are Leg Byes?

Leg byes are runs scored when:

• Ball hits the batsman’s body or pads (not bat)
• Batsman was trying to play the ball or avoid getting hit
• Batsmen run while the ball goes away

graph TD
    A["🎳 Ball Bowled"] --> B{What did it hit?}
    B -->|Nothing - missed| C["Byes 🏃"]
    B -->|Batsman's body| D["Leg Byes 🦵"]
    B -->|Bat| E["Normal Runs"]
    C --> F["Runs counted as Extras"]
    D --> F

Key Difference

⚡ Free Hit Rule

The Super Power Ball!

A free hit is like getting a bonus life in a video game!

When Does It Happen? After a no ball, the next ball is a free hit.

The Magic of Free Hit

During a free hit:

• ✅ Batsman can hit anywhere
• ✅ Batsman can score runs
• 🚫 Batsman CANNOT be out (except run out)

Simple Example:

• Bowler oversteps → No Ball called
• Next ball → FREE HIT! 🎉
• Batsman swings big
• Even if caught, NOT OUT!
• Only run out dismissal counts

Types of Outs NOT Allowed on Free Hit

• ❌ Bowled
• ❌ Caught
• ❌ LBW
• ❌ Stumped
• ❌ Hit wicket

Only Way Out

• ✅ Run out (if batsman is outside crease)

Visual Indicator: Fielding team puts a special marker (often a soft circle on the ground) to show it’s a free hit!

🎁 Penalty Runs

Extra Runs for Bad Behavior!

Penalty runs are like yellow cards in football. If a team breaks rules, the other team gets free runs!

When Are Penalty Runs Given?

5 Penalty Runs Added:

graph TD
    A["⚠️ Rule Broken"] --> B["Umpire Notices"]
    B --> C["5 Penalty Runs"]
    C --> D{Who Benefits?}
    D -->|Batting team breaks rule| E["Bowling Team Gets Runs"]
    D -->|Fielding team breaks rule| F["Batting Team Gets Runs"]

Real Example: A fielder leaves their helmet on the ground. The batsman hits the ball, and it accidentally hits the helmet.

Result: 5 PENALTY RUNS to the batting team! Plus any runs they already scored.

🎮 Quick Summary

🌟 Remember This!

“Cricket is like a conversation between bowler and batsman. The rules make sure everyone speaks fairly!”

The Three Golden Rules:

1. 🎳 Overs = 6 balls each
2. ⚡ No Ball = Free Hit next!
3. 🎁 Break rules = Give away runs!

Now you know all the secret rules that make cricket fair and exciting! Go impress your friends with your cricket knowledge! 🏏✨