Cricket: the basic rules to play a match

Born in England during the Middle Ages and now widespread in Commonwealth countries, cricket is a dynamic and exciting team sport that fascinates fans of all ages.

Although it is not yet very popular in Italy, cricket is extremely followed and played in Commonwealth countries, particularly in India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean, where it has become an integral part of national culture and a social phenomenon capable of bringing together entire generations of enthusiasts. It is, in fact, a unique team sport, able to combine technique, strategy, physical endurance, and mental strength in a harmonious blend that is difficult to match.

Every single delivery, every tactical choice, and every team action can profoundly influence the course of the match, making every set exciting and engaging: moments of tension and adrenaline are closely followed by periods of apparent calm, during which teams plan complex strategies and study their opponents. This alternation between dynamism and patience, between action and tactics, makes cricket a unique sport on the international stage, where concentration and mental resilience are just as important as physical strength and individual technique.

The origins of cricket: from the English countryside to the global stage

Cricket has ancient origins dating back to late medieval England and represents one of the clearest examples of how a simple pastime can evolve over time into a structured and captivating sport capable of involving millions of people worldwide. The earliest forms of the game were extremely rudimentary: children and farmers used curved sticks, often fashioned from available wood, and improvised balls made of cloth, leather, or other accessible materials to play in open fields during breaks from agricultural work or moments of leisure.

In this early phase, cricket was more a form of communal entertainment than a true sport. However, passion for the game and competitive spirit led to the creation of small local tournaments between villages, which began establishing basic rules to determine winners and scoring methods. Over the centuries, the game gradually became formalized. In the seventeenth century, the first organized clubs emerged, particularly in southern England, and official records of matches played between counties began to appear. The codification of the rules took place mainly in the eighteenth century, with the definition of wickets, scoring systems, and field boundaries, laying the foundations of modern cricket. At the same time, the game began to require more precise equipment, such as the willow bat, the leather-covered ball, and early protective gear, elements that helped transform cricket from a simple pastime into a structured sport.

The expansion of the British Empire played a decisive role in spreading cricket beyond England’s borders. British soldiers and officials introduced the game to colonial territories, where it found fertile ground, particularly in India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, and the Caribbean. In these countries, cricket did not remain confined to its purely sporting dimension: it became a cultural and social symbol, a means of building communities, consolidating local and national identities, and strengthening social bonds.

In the Indian subcontinent, cricket has become far more than a sport: major matches between national teams or tournaments such as the ICC Cricket World Cup attract millions of spectators, generating immense media, economic, and cultural impact. Entire cities come to a standstill during the most important matches, and players become iconic figures, true national heroes. In Australia and the Caribbean as well, cricket has maintained an equally strong historical and social significance over the decades: traditional rivalries between counties and islands are celebrated through national and international tournaments, often accompanied by cultural events, music, and public festivities, transforming cricket into a community phenomenon as well as a sporting one.

Beyond its cultural role, cricket has also served as a tool for integration and social mobility. In colonized countries, the game allowed local communities to compete with the British under shared rules, fostering the development of physical education and the emergence of local talents who, over time, helped transform cricket into a globally resonant sport.

How Is a Cricket Match Played?

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players each and unfolds through phases called innings, during which one team bats while the other fields. The objective of the batting team is to score as many points as possible, known as runs, while the fielding team aims to limit the opponent’s score and dismiss the batters through various regulated methods.

Contrary to what some might assume, cricket is not played with a racket but with a bat—a flat wooden blade, generally made of willow, specifically shaped to strike a hard ball. The cricket ball is extremely solid, leather-covered, and has a cork core, and it can reach very high speeds when bowled. For this reason, player safety is essential and ensured through specific protective equipment, including helmets, padded gloves, leg guards, and chest protectors, allowing players to face fast deliveries without excessive risk.

In practical terms, the dynamics of a cricket match may appear complex to newcomers, but they are based on a clear logic: each batter must strike the ball with precision, assessing its trajectory, speed, and angle, while the bowler seeks to outwit the batter with pace, spin, and variations in direction. At the same time, fielders must coordinate perfectly to intercept the ball and prevent scoring, making every on-field action a delicate balance between individual reflexes and collective strategy.

Main Roles of Cricket Players

Cricket is a highly strategic sport, and each role has specific responsibilities:

• Batter: Responsible for scoring runs, combining strength, precision, and advanced technique to face bowlers with different styles and trajectories. Performance also depends on the ability to read the opposing team’s defensive strategy.
• Bowler: The player who delivers the ball, attempting to dismiss the batter. There are different types:
  • Fast bowler: Relies on speed and surprise.
  • Spin bowler: Uses spin and changes in direction to deceive the batter.

Each type of delivery requires technique and planning, often coordinated with fielders to build tactical traps.

• Fielder: Players strategically positioned to retrieve the ball, limit runs, and assist in dismissals. They may specialize in specific positions, such as midwicket, point, or deep field.
• Wicket-keeper: Positioned behind the wickets, similar to a goalkeeper in other sports. Intercepts balls not struck by the batter, contributes to dismissals, and often coordinates field placements.

Collaboration among these roles is essential: a winning team depends not only on individual talent but on the ability to synchronize tactics, reflexes, and communication at every stage of the match.

Structure of a Cricket Match

A cricket match can take several forms, each with distinct characteristics, duration, and strategies:

• Test Match: The longest and most traditional format, lasting up to five consecutive days. It requires physical endurance, sustained concentration, and long-term strategy, as each session can deeply influence the outcome. Teams must manage batting and bowling rotations, decide when to attack or defend, and adapt to changing weather and pitch conditions.
• One Day International (ODI): Shorter matches with 50 overs per team (an over consists of six consecutive deliveries by a bowler). This format requires balance between attack and defense: batters must score consistently without taking excessive risks, while bowlers and fielders adopt more aggressive strategies to restrict runs.
• Twenty20 (T20): The fastest and most spectacular format, with 20 overs per team. T20 matches are characterized by intense pace and rapid action: every delivery, every run between the wickets, and every shot can quickly alter the score. This format has made cricket more accessible to a younger and international audience, emphasizing spectacle and adaptability.

Each format involves slightly different rules regarding time management, player rotation, and team strategy, giving cricket unique versatility among team sports.

How Are Points Scored in Cricket?

Points, called runs, are mainly scored in two ways:

1. Running between the wickets: After striking the ball, batters run from one end of the pitch to the other; each completed run counts as one. Coordination is crucial: running too slowly may allow fielders to complete a run out, while running too aggressively increases the risk of mistakes.
2. Reaching the boundary:

• • 4 runs: If the ball touches the ground before crossing the boundary line.
  • 6 runs: If the ball crosses the boundary without touching the ground.

In addition to regular runs, there are extra points, known as extras, awarded for defensive errors, invalid deliveries, or other irregularities. These can significantly impact the final score and often prove decisive in closely contested matches.

Ways a Batter Can Be Dismissed

Batters can be dismissed in several ways, each governed by precise rules:

• Bowled: When the ball delivered by the bowler directly hits the wickets.
• Caught: When a struck ball is caught by a fielder before touching the ground.
• Run Out: When the batter fails to reach the wicket in time while running.
• Leg Before Wicket (LBW): When the ball hits the batter’s legs and would have gone on to strike the wickets, under specific conditions.

Once ten batters are dismissed or the allotted overs are completed, the innings ends and the teams switch roles.

Cricket: Little-Known Curiosities About This Legendary Sport

Cricket is not only a sport of technique and strategy; it is a world rich in traditions and curiosities that make it fascinating even for spectators. Each match generates detailed and complex statistics, beloved by fans of numbers: strike rate, batting average, bowlers’ economy rate, and historical records are just some of the data closely followed, turning every match into a unique opportunity for technical analysis and comparison.

Cricket’s terminology is equally distinctive and colorful. Terms such as duck, indicating a batter dismissed without scoring, googly, a deceptive delivery by a spin bowler, and sledging, verbal exchanges aimed at unsettling opponents, not only make the game unique but also add a psychological dimension.

Another aspect distinguishing cricket from other team sports is its emphasis on fair play and mutual respect: from team greetings to interactions with umpires and official ceremonies, cricket promotes discipline, courtesy, and integrity, qualities that make it a global model of sportsmanship.

The duration and rhythm of matches also contribute to their appeal. Test matches, lasting up to five days, challenge players’ patience, physical endurance, and concentration, turning each session into a strategic battle. Conversely, T20 matches demand speed, immediate decision-making, and constant adaptation, making cricket a sport capable of satisfying both lovers of long-term tactics and those who prefer action and spectacle.

For those who wish to go beyond theory and fully understand what makes cricket so unique, dedicated facilities offer practical learning opportunities, including specialized academies such as the Cricket Academy del Forte Village Resort.

Forte Village Resort Cricket Academy: the ideal place to learn the fundamentals of the sport

If you wish to approach cricket in a structured yet enjoyable way, the Forte Village Resort, a five-star resort set in the Mediterranean landscape of Santa Margherita di Pula, represents a unique reference point in Italy. Within an exclusive yet highly functional sporting environment, the academy offers the ideal setting to learn the fundamentals of the game, refine technique, and enjoy an immersive experience alongside qualified instructors, including legends such as Paul Nixon, Dean Headley, and Mark Ealham.

It is one of the latest additions among the more than twenty sports academies offered by the resort, which also boasts a prestigious Swimming Academy, where guests can improve their swimming technique under the guidance of Olympic champions such as Domenico Fioravanti and Martina Moravcová, as well as the much-loved Tennis Academy, where it is possible to become true tennis champions and, last but not least, the Mountain Bike Academy, to explore the wonders of the island on two wheels.

Also not to be missed is the opportunity to regenerate body and mind thanks to the exclusive thalassotherapy programs of the prestigious Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa, as well as to indulge the palate with gourmet creations offered by the wide selection of Michelin-starred restaurants hosted within the resort’s more than fifty hectares, including Belvedere by Giuseppe Molaro, Terrazza San Domenico by Massimiliano Mascia and, last but not least, Beachcomber by Heinz Beck. For further information or to book lessons at one of the Forte Village Academies, call +39 070 9218818 or email holiday@fortevillage.com

Would you like to discover cricket and enjoy a dream holiday in an authentic paradise? Discover the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia.