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Various forms of cricket exist and the sport may broadly be divided between major and minor versions. Major cricket includes several variations in which top-class players have taken part such as Test cricket, first-class cricket, single wicket, limited overs cricket and Twenty20. At all levels, the rules are often modified. At international or first-class levels this is usually in order to make the game more commercially attractive. In minor domestic club cricket, matches are usually played over one to two days, either two innings per side or one innings per side with limited overs. At still lower levels, the rules are often changed simply to make the game playable with limited resources, or to render it more convenient and enjoyable for the participants. Variants of the sport are played in areas as diverse as sandy beaches to ice floes.

First-class matches [link]

A first-class match is generally defined as a high-level international or domestic match that takes place over at least three days on natural (as opposed to artificial) turf. First-class games are two innings per side. Like Test matches, if the game is not completed over the allotted time then it is drawn. Games where the teams have only one innings each are not first-class (including One Day Internationals).

A two-innings match of at least three days duration is granted first-class status only if both teams have first-class status. For example, Test matches, other games between two Test nations, games between two domestic teams deemed first-class in countries holding full membership of the ICC, and games between a Test nation's national side (or a team drawn from a national touring squad) and a first-class domestic team from a Test nation, are usually deemed to be first class. Matches between Kenya, one of the leading associate members of the ICC, and another team adjudged first-class are usually granted first-class status, but domestic matches in Kenya are not.

Among cricket statisticians, first class cricket is variously deemed to have started in 1660, 1772, 1801, 1815 or 1864. This ongoing controversy is described in the main article. The limited overs equivalent of first-class status is list A status.

Short form cricket [link]

Cricket is also played in several different shortened forms, designed to pack as much action as possible into an hour or two. Such forms have evolved since the 1990s, and take cricket an additional step beyond one-day cricket.

See short form cricket for details about specific types of short form cricket.

List A cricket [link]

List A cricket is to one-day cricket as first-class is to Tests. Most cricketing nations have some form of domestic List A competition. The over limits range from forty to sixty. The categorization of "List A" was only endorsed by the ICC in 2006; the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians created it for the purpose of providing a parallel to first-class cricket in their record books.

Club cricket [link]

Club cricket is amateur, but still formal, cricket. The games are sometimes limited-overs, with each innings usually lasting between thirty and fifty overs. Other matches are played to time restrictions. Club cricket is played extensively in cricketing nations, and also by immigrants from cricketing nations. Club cricket often takes place on an artificial turf pitch, though the rest of actual field may be natural grass.

Other forms of cricket [link]

Indoor cricket [link]

Indoor cricket is a variation of the game designed for indoor play.

Double-wicket cricket [link]

It is a form of cricket with two teams of two players each which are pitched against each other for a limited number of overs. A player getting out in this form of cricket does not retire but continues to bat but gets penalized a stipulated number of runs for each time he gets out.

Kwik cricket [link]

It is a high-speed version of the game, aimed mainly at encouraging youngsters to take part.^{[citation needed]}

Informal amateur cricket [link]

Backyard cricket, Beach cricket, Garden cricket, Street cricket are its different types. The rules are often ad hoc, and the subtle and complex laws of cricket, such as those involving leg before wicket, penalty runs, and others, are ignored or modified. In India and Pakistan, there is Gali cricket ('gali' in Hindi means 'street'. It is pronounced as 'gully' but should not be confused with the fielding position). Often, there are no teams, and each player plays for himself, and fields when he is not batting. Often, there is one wicket, and one bowling position, and no overs. If the batsman runs an odd number of runs, he is allowed to walk back to the wicket before the next ball is bowled.^{[citation needed]}

French cricket [link]

It is a game in which the ball is bowled at the legs of the batsman, with the batsman's legs forming the wicket. It is often played by children. A tennis ball is often used rather than the harder cricket ball. Much like beach cricket, the rules may vary wildly.^{[citation needed]}

Tennis-ball cricket [link]

This type of cricket is popular in the South Asian sub-continent, USA and Canada. In this game a harder version of tennis ball is used. The number of overs in the game varies from 6 to 25 overs. Considering that the ball is not as hard as the professional cricket ball, the use of protective gear like gloves, pads and helmets is optional. As tennis ball cricket games are shorter when compared to the conventional version, it suits the US and Canadian lifestyle where one would see a large number of people participating. Where cricket pitches are not available, part of a baseball diamond is used as a pitch in most parts of USA and Canada.^{[citation needed]}

Tape-ball cricket [link]

This type of cricket is popular in Pakistan, Bangladesh and somewhat gaining popularity in other South Asian countries and Europe due to the export of the innovative idea from Pakistan. Tape ball cricket has been a cricket culture in Pakistan since the 80's. Pakistanis who have settled in the west have introduced this theme and have tape ball leagues throughout UK, USA, and Canada. In this game a tennis ball is covered with insulating tape. This results in a heavier ball. Fast bowlers can generate extra swing in both directions while finger spinners can produce turn. The game is usually a limited over match with 4-12 overs. In Karachi and Lahore regular tournaments are held. Night matches are common, especially during the month of Ramadan.^{[citation needed]}

Catchy-shubby cricket [link]

It is a form of the game developed in Jamaica where roles are changed rapidly, so that all players can have a turn in a short time.^{[citation needed]}

Kilikiti [link]

Also known as Kirikiti, or Samoan Cricket, it is the national game of Samoa and is especially popular in New Zealand. The game is descended from the cricket brought to Samoa by British missionaries; teams of unlimited size follow rules opaque to outside observers in a game/dance/feast event that can last several days.^{[citation needed]}

Non-stop (continuous) cricket [link]

It is a game involving one batsman, who, on hitting the ball, must run to a marker square to the wicket. The bowler may bowl as soon as the ball is returned, regardless of whether or not the batsman is still running.^{[citation needed]}

Over-60s cricket [link]

Founded in Australia, it is for those over 60 years of age, slightly modified from the standard.^{[citation needed]}

Single wicket [link]

A tournament for individuals, it is probably the oldest form of cricket as it involves one player against another. It has known periods of huge popularity, especially in the mid-18th century and in the first half of the 19th century. One bowls to the other for a fixed number of balls, or until the batsman is out, and then roles are reversed. The remaining tournament players act as fielders until it is their turn to bat or bowl. The winner is the one with the most runs, and that player moves to the next round to play the winner from another pair.^{[citation needed]}

Vigoro [link]

It is a form of cricket that also resembles baseball, mainly played by women.^{[citation needed]}

Placa [link]

It is an obscure variation, played in the streets of Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic between two couples, usually making use of broomsticks as bats, rubber or tennis balls, and old license plates as wickets (with its ends twisted to make them stand up). The game is divided in alternate 3-out innings like in baseball. The first team to reach 100 or 200 runs wins. A similar version is played on the streets of Brazil and is known as Bats or Taco ('taco' being Portuguese for 'bat').^{[citation needed]}

Trobriand cricket [link]

It is a peculiar form of cricket played in the Trobriand Islands, in Papua New Guinea. Although cricket was introduced by the British as part of colonial agenda, it was adopted into local Trobriand culture and many modifications and cultural adaptations were made over the years. Some of these include: under-arm bowling; outs are celebrated with dances; the "home" team (the tribal community which organized a match) always wins; any number of players can take part in a match; players dress in traditional war costumes.^{[citation needed]}

Cricket simulations without ball or pitch [link]

Pencil Cricket [link]

A one-person game played with pencils marked by hand to function as 'long dice'. A Japanese variant of these for use in other games are called 'battle pencils'.^[1] It may also simply be played with conventional dice. The aim is to generate scores and attribute them to imaginary players and teams by compiling a scorecard. The game has been marketed commercially featuring plastic or metal long dice (rollers) and playing rules.^[2]
See also Owzthat.

Armchair Cricket [link]

A card game based on cricket. See main article.

Pub cricket [link]

Also called Car Cricket. A travel game based on the names of public houses passed on the route. Runs are scored according to the number of legs, arms or other items featured in the pub name. The exact rules vary according to the participants. See main article.

Book Cricket [link]

It is popular with school children in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It has several variants and is mostly played by 2 players. The runs are scored by flipping the book open at random and the last digit of the right-side (even-numbered) page is counted as the number of runs scored. 0 (and sometimes 8) are assigned to special rules, typically a wicket is lost when a person scores 0 and scoring 8 would be substituted for a No ball run and an additional chance. To give an example, if the batting side opened the book at page 26, then 6 runs would be scored. For the toss, what is generally done is that both the players open a page and the one whose last digit is greater wins. Try out the game based on Book Cricket Game

Yet another version of cricket appeared during the 1950s in the UK in the Eagle comic. A page was chosen and each letter or symbol was counted according to a formula as follows:

• a = 0
• b = 1
• c = 2
• d = 1
• e = 0
• f = 1
• g = 0
• h = 1
• i = 0
• j = 3
• k = wicket (lbw)
• l = 1
• m = wicket (followed by a to l - bowled followed by m to z, else caught)
• n = 1
• o = 0
• p = 1
• q = wicket (bowled)
• r = 1
• s = 0
• t = 0
• u = 0
• v = 4
• w = 2
• x = 4
• y = 2
• z = 4
• A = 2
• B = 4
• C = 2
• D = wicket (caught)
• E = 2
• F = 4
• G = 2
• H = 1
• I = 0
• J = wicket (bowled)
• K = 6
• L = 2
• M = 4
• N = 2
• O = 0
• P = 4
• Q = no ball
• R = 4
• S = 2
• T = 2
• U = 1
• V = wicket (caught)
• W = wide
• X = 6
• Y = 3
• Z = wicket (stumped)
• dot = 0
• comma = 0

This produced a remarkably realistic scorecard with the majority of innings around 150 to 300 scored at about 4 runs per over.

Hand Cricket [link]

It is widely popular among the school children in India and Pakistan.

• It is played through gestures (called 'throws'), each of them signifying a number, that are made simultaneously by 2 players, each using 1 hand, by locking the wrist before the throw and immediately releasing certain fingers (as determined by the player) before the other player, who does it simultaneously before him.
• In the popular variant, each released finger counts as 1 but the thumb when released alone counts as 6 and if the wrist is left unlocked then it can mean 2 things:
  • 0 or any no. from 7-10
  • (for the batsman) as much runs as the bowler's throw (if not the same, else the batsman is out).
• In some variants, there are gestures even for large nos. like 20, 25, 50 and even 100.
• Mostly 2 individuals play this game, but sometimes 2 teams of players do (they may differ by 1 player and not have a captain).
• The no. of overs per side may or may not be fixed (a side may play until it loses all its wickets).
• The no. of wickets per side is fixed by the players. If a team has 1 player less than the other, then one of its player gets an extra wicket.
• If 2 teams are playing, the bowling may not be regular. Quite often, a bowler can continue to bowl uninterrupted until:
  • He feels like giving it up to someone else OR
  • His team mates ask him to do so OR
  • A limit they set has been reached.
• For the toss (if done), both the players (or the captains/players of the team) select from 'odd' and 'even' and make throws; if the sum of these (i.e. their nos.) is odd/even, then the side having chosen that wins.
• For the play, The batsman and the bowler make throws at every ball; if the throws are the same, the batsman is out, else the throw gets added to the batsman's runs.
• It is generally played in an ODI-like format with each side having 1 innings to bat.

The craze for this form is so much among the school children across the subcontinent that they play it in schools secretly during lectures with their hands under their desks and get detention if caught. They even play it in teams of 3-6 players, maintain records and organize tournaments.

References [link]

External links [link]