As the ball is used for an extended period of play, its surface wears down and becomes rough. The bowlers will polish it whenever they can usually by rubbing it on their trousers, producing the characteristic red stain that can often be seen there. However, they will usually only polish one side of the ball, in order to create ‘swing’ as it travels through the air. They may apply natural substance (i.e. saliva or sweat) to the ball as they polish it, but any other material Is illegal. Since the condition of the cricket ball is crucial to the amount of movement through the air a bowler can produce, the laws governing what players may, and may not do, to the ball, are specific, and rigorously enforced. It is illegal for a player to rub any substance apart from saliva or sweat onto the ball, rub the ball on the ground, scuff the ball with any rough object, including the finger - nails, or pick at or lift the seam of the ball.
In 1994, former England caption mike Atherton was the center of a storm of controversy when he drew direct from his pocket and smeared it over the ball at Lord’s. In the India – England series in 1976 -77, English fast bowler john lever was accused of applying Vaseline on the ball to make it swing more. Waqar younis of Pakistan is the only player to have been banned for ball tampering. He was given a one – match suspension after he was seen on television lifting the seam during a one day international against South Africa.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
What is a cricket pitch?
A cricket pitch is the central strip of the cricket field, between the ‘wickets’. The pitch is 22 yards (20.12 m) long and 10 feet (3 m) wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass; thought this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the pitch.
In amateur matches, artificial pitches are commonly used. These can be a slab of concrete, overlaid with a coir mat, or artificial turf. Artificial pitches are rare in professional cricket, and are only used when exhibition matches are played in regions cricket and world cup where cricket is not a common sport.
The pitch has very specific markings delineating the creases as specified by the laws of cricket. The word ‘wicket’ is often used to refer to the pitch.
In amateur matches, artificial pitches are commonly used. These can be a slab of concrete, overlaid with a coir mat, or artificial turf. Artificial pitches are rare in professional cricket, and are only used when exhibition matches are played in regions cricket and world cup where cricket is not a common sport.
The pitch has very specific markings delineating the creases as specified by the laws of cricket. The word ‘wicket’ is often used to refer to the pitch.
Monday, March 21, 2011
How can a ball be called a no ball?
No – ball is a delivery judged by the umpire to be unfair. When no –ball is bowled, the umpire calls ‘no – ball’ and signals to the scorer by extending one arm horizontally.
A variety of decisive factors is used to ascertain whether a delivery is fair or not. The main ones are:
10. the position of the bowler’s foot when the delivery is made – some part of the front foot, whether in the air or grounded, must be behind the ‘popping crease’ and the back foot must land inside the line of the return crease.
11. The movement of the bowler’s arm – the bowler must not throw the ball, ie; he must not straighten the arm just before delivering the ball.
12. The mode of delivery – the bowler has to inform the umpire how he intends to bowl – left or right- handed, over the wicket or round the wicket etc. any change in the mode of delivery made without informing the umpire is deemed as unfair.
Some other factors also constitute to determine whether the delivery is fair, although these are not directly within the bowler’s control. For instance, it is unfair when the wicket keeper is not completely behind the line of the stumps when the ball is bowled or in the case when the field setting rules are ignored. In all these situations, the ball will be considered unfair.
A variety of decisive factors is used to ascertain whether a delivery is fair or not. The main ones are:
10. the position of the bowler’s foot when the delivery is made – some part of the front foot, whether in the air or grounded, must be behind the ‘popping crease’ and the back foot must land inside the line of the return crease.
11. The movement of the bowler’s arm – the bowler must not throw the ball, ie; he must not straighten the arm just before delivering the ball.
12. The mode of delivery – the bowler has to inform the umpire how he intends to bowl – left or right- handed, over the wicket or round the wicket etc. any change in the mode of delivery made without informing the umpire is deemed as unfair.
Some other factors also constitute to determine whether the delivery is fair, although these are not directly within the bowler’s control. For instance, it is unfair when the wicket keeper is not completely behind the line of the stumps when the ball is bowled or in the case when the field setting rules are ignored. In all these situations, the ball will be considered unfair.
What does the term ‘Back foot’ signify in cricket?
In a batsman’s stance, the back foot is the foot that is nearer to the stumps. A bowler’s front foot is the last food to contact the ground before the ball is released.
The other foot is the back foot.
Front foot and back foot plays are two techniques to face a ball.
The play on back foot, a batsman moves back ward and to play on front foot, he moves forward.
The other foot is the back foot.
Front foot and back foot plays are two techniques to face a ball.
The play on back foot, a batsman moves back ward and to play on front foot, he moves forward.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Cow Shot
Cowshot is a cross – batted heave played by the batsman to a ball pitching on or outside the off stump and playing in the ball to leg side boundary. The batsman generally goes down on one knee when playing this shot.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
What is the difference between a ‘tie’ and a’ draw’?
The result of match in which both sides have made the same number of runs is a ‘tie’.
If the match ends with the side batting having wickets in hand, then the game ends in a ‘draw’. This does not apply for one-day matches. If the side batting second makes a lesser score after playing full over’s, the team loses the things the commentators look at in great detail before the game begins, Because it’s a natural surface, there are usually small inconsistencies in its flatness, hardness and elasticity. Over a multi-day game, or even over a single day, these become more pronounced, so it often gets more difficult to bat as the game progresses. Spin bowlers in particular, often find that they get much more spin from an old pitch than a freshly prepared one.
If the match ends with the side batting having wickets in hand, then the game ends in a ‘draw’. This does not apply for one-day matches. If the side batting second makes a lesser score after playing full over’s, the team loses the things the commentators look at in great detail before the game begins, Because it’s a natural surface, there are usually small inconsistencies in its flatness, hardness and elasticity. Over a multi-day game, or even over a single day, these become more pronounced, so it often gets more difficult to bat as the game progresses. Spin bowlers in particular, often find that they get much more spin from an old pitch than a freshly prepared one.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Silly-Fielding Positions
The term ‘silly’ is normally used in combination with other fielding positions to indicate a modified positions which it is used are point, mid – off and mid – on, which are considerably farther from the striker, but associated with ‘silly’ it denotes a position which is closer to the striker. Simply said, the term refers to the ‘silliness’ or stupidity of exposing oneself to such danger. In olden English, ‘silly’ also meant ‘defenseless’ –so in that sense too, the usage is appropriate.
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