Rules of Cricket Explained in Simple Terms

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. But for many people who are new to it, the rules of cricket can seem confusing at first. The good news is that once you understand the basics, the game becomes much easier to follow—and a lot more fun to watch.

In this post, we’ll explain the rules of cricket in clear, everyday language, so you don’t feel lost the next time a match is on.

1. The Basics: Two Teams, One Goal

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players each. One team bats, while the other team bowls and fields. Each team gets a turn, called an innings, to score as many runs as possible. Following the rules of cricket, both teams switch roles after their innings.

2. The Field and the Pitch

The game is played on a large field with a 22-yard strip in the middle called the pitch. Two batters are on the pitch at a time, one at each end. One player from the bowling team bowls the ball, trying to get the batter out.

3. Scoring Runs

Runs are how teams score points in cricket. Batters score runs by:

• Running between the two ends of the pitch after hitting the ball

• Hitting the ball to the boundary (4 runs if it bounces, 6 if it doesn’t)

The more runs a team scores, the better chance they have of winning. The rules of cricket also allow for extras, like no balls and wides, which add to the batting team’s score.

4. Ways a Batter Can Get Out

One of the most important parts of the rules of cricket is understanding how a batter can be dismissed. Here are a few common ways:

• Bowled – The ball hits the stumps behind the batter

• Caught – The ball is caught before it hits the ground

• Run Out – The fielding team hits the stumps before the batter reaches the line

• LBW (Leg Before Wicket) – The ball hits the batter’s leg in front of the stumps

• Stumped – The batter steps out of the crease and the wicketkeeper hits the stumps

Each team bats until 10 players are out or until a set number of overs is finished.

5. What Is an Over?

An over is made up of six legal balls bowled by one player. After each over, a different bowler takes over from the opposite end of the pitch.

In limited-overs cricket:

• T20 matches have 20 overs per side

• One Day Internationals (ODIs) have 50 overs per side

Understanding overs is a key part of learning the rules of cricket.

6. How the Game Is Won

Once both teams have finished batting, the one with the most runs wins the match. If both teams score the same number of runs, the game is a tie. In some cases, like in test matches, the game can end in a draw.

7. A Few Extra Rules (In Simple Terms)

• Wide Ball: Too far from the batter = 1 extra run for the batting team

• No Ball: An unfair delivery (like overstepping) gives the batting team a free hit

• Powerplay: In limited-overs cricket, certain overs limit how many fielders can stay near the boundary

These smaller rules help shape the strategy and flow of the game.

Final Thoughts

Learning the rules of cricket doesn’t have to be difficult. Once you understand the basics—how runs are scored, how players get out, and what overs are—you’ll find the game much easier to enjoy. The more you watch, the more comfortable you’ll become with the flow and excitement of the sport.

So next time someone mentions cricket, you’ll know exactly what’s going on!