Introduction To Blog
Cricket is a sport which was invented nearly 4000 years ago and still keeps evolving. Even though, the basic principles remain same. So, it’s not surprising to find out that players have been trying their best to enhance their skills ever since they were born. If we look at the history of cricket, we would realize that it wasn't always smooth sailing for the cricketers. Their lives used to become difficult due to lack of proper facilities and equipment. It's almost impossible to imagine a world where there weren't bats and gloves. But thanks to technology advancement, now we live in a time where everything is possible. And even something as difficult as playing cricket can be made simple. There are certain things that make a player good or bad. Similarly, there are certain things that can help them improve their game. Here are some tips that will surely help you get better results:
Field layout
The field layout is the first step towards success in any sport. When putting together a cricket match, we have some choices to make depending on how long we want our game to last. If we think that the game will take at least three hours then a proper pitch should be laid out. However, if we plan to play for about two or so hours, then we may not need a proper pitch. In this case, we could just use a flat piece of ground where there is no grass. We can still put boundaries around the edge of the area to keep players safe, however, they should not be set deep enough so that the ball can travel easily across the outfield. Also, there should be a goal area on each side of the field, and this can be done either with sticks and nets or with a proper goal post.
Ball selection
We should choose balls that will allow us to score runs easily. If we want to play a fast paced game, then we should opt for softballs, and these are balls similar to baseballs. If we want to have a slower pace in our game, we should use hard balls. These are balls that bounce higher and tend to go further. We also need to ensure that the ball is not too heavy so that we do not get injured while playing.
Batting and Bowling order
When it comes to batting orders, we should always start with the best batsmen first. By doing this, we give them the opportunity to bat first and set the tone for the rest of the team. In between each innings, we should rotate who goes in next. This way everyone gets to bat and makes their contribution to the team's performance. If we decide to bowl first, we should always aim to bowl the weaker batters first. This gives them fewer opportunities to score and helps the stronger ones to dominate the weaker ones. Therefore, the bowler with the highest average will be chosen to bowl first. We should also focus on bowling bouncers and wide deliveries. Our strategy should be to hit the batter on his body and not head.
Player rotation
In cricket matches, we often have player rotations. We rotate the position of the wickets according to the batting lineup. This means that we change the positions where the batsman stands after he has batted. Each time a batsman scores a run, we move him back to the previous spot. So, if a wicket falls before a batsman has scored, we move the wicket back to its original place.
Fielding
Fielding is also known as ‘Ducking’ and it’s considered pretty important. A good fielder will make your team win, while a bad fielder can cost you the match. Heading the field is done in various ways and each method involves specific skills. Practice them diligently until you acquire mastery over them.
Bats
Nothing can beat a quality bat. It gives you power and helps you strike the ball well. Whether you are looking for an extra edge or you want to improve on your technique, a good bat will certainly help you perform better. However, you should only buy a bat that fits your style of play. If you choose a bat that is too big for you, then you may damage your hand or wrist.
Gloves
As mentioned above, gloves are an important piece of equipment. Without gloves, you wouldn't be able to catch the ball well. It’s also quite obvious that without gloves, you won’t be able to hit a shot and hence won’t be effective. So, practice catching with different types
Pitch conditions
Sometimes, the pitch
gets damaged due to excessive rain. We should bring a bucket to collect water
that drips off the pitch. Then, we should try to drain it away using a hose or
sprinklers. Sometimes, we may find that the pitch is uneven, and this requires
us to fill in holes and remove bumps.
Playing eleven
When it comes to
number eleven, we should never leave anyone out. Even though we might feel bad
leaving someone out, it is worth sacrificing the morale of the team to make
sure that the team wins the match.
Batting first
When you bats first, you have the
advantage where you get to choose how much time is given to bat and how many
runs you need to score. If you are batting second, then you are at the mercy of
the other team’s bowling capabilities. You might not face any bowlers who are
slow or whose deliveries are full tosses. You may even find that the conditions
are suitable for the team to use their fast bowler. In case if you are batting
first, you should try to keep an eye on what kind of wickets they are playing
onto while trying to make sure you don't keep wasting lots of runs on the
board.
Spin bowling
A
spin-bowling attack is useful in situations where the opposition is relying
heavily on pace. Your spinners can take away their speed and turn their balls
both ways with varying amounts of bounce. As long as you have got decent
spinners, you don't have to worry about facing them too often.
Pitching
A pitch
that has some grass on it gives you the advantage of having a good grip on the
ball. Grass makes it easier for your team to control the ball and also helps in
reducing the amount of seam movement.
Umpiring
During a cricket
match, it is essential for the umpire to remain calm and composed. He should
maintain eye contact with the bowler and ensure that he does not allow him to
throw the ball outside the legal limits. Likewise, the umpire should check if
the bowler has taken a full swing. He should also watch the batsmen closely to
confirm whether they have left the ground or not. The umpire should call out
the batsmen's name, and the captain should inform him if he is not ready to
receive the ball.
Play to win
As soon as the ball
comes to the batsman, he should play the ball in front of him, rather than
trying to play it back to the bowler.
Stay alert
When the batsman is playing, he should always remain aware of the ball that is being thrown by the bowler and try to anticipate his throw. If he does not do this, the batsman might easily get defeated.
Change bowlers
If the batting side
wishes to change the bowler, it would need to ask the umpire’s permission, and
this is done by getting down on the ground and asking the umpire for
permission. If the request is granted, the bowler changes ends.
Leg glance
Leg glances are
mainly performed to beat the spin bowlers. A leg glance involves hitting the
ball between the legs and spinning it off the pitch.
Dummy batting
Dummy batting is also
called “double-dummy” or “false double-dummy” batting. It happens when a player
hits a shot and immediately turns around to stand behind the wicket and waits
for the fielder to throw the ball back to him.
