
Everything you need to know about cricket — rules, formats, scoring, skills, history, and famous grounds.

The 1992 World Cup final saw Imran Khan's cornered tigers beat England at the MCG for Pakistan's first title. Full story, scorecard, XIs, and standings.

Disguised in a normal action, it arrives late and wrecks the shot. How the slower ball in cricket fools batters, and who bowls it best

It is the one wicket the bowler cannot claim. See how a run out in cricket works, which batter gets given out, and the version that still splits the game.

The toss in cricket is a coin flip deciding which team bats or bowls first. Learn how it works, what captains weigh up, and when it really matters.

The cover drive in cricket looks effortless and gets more batters out than any other. Here is how it works, why it is so risky, and who has mastered it.

It is cricket's most fearless fielding position, crouched just a few feet from the bat. Here is where silly point stands, why it is called silly, and why captains dare.

Timed out means a batter is out for not being ready in time. Learn the rule, the 90-second limit, and why Angelo Mathews called his dismissal disgraceful.

The soft signal was the umpire's first call before a DRS review. Learn how it worked, why it was so controversial, and why cricket has now scrapped it.

Line and length in cricket are the direction and bounce of a delivery. Learn what a good line and length looks like, and why it decides a bowler's success.

The twelfth man fields as a substitute but cannot bat or bowl. Discover his real duties, why he gets no cap, and the surprising exception to the rule.

A leg bye in cricket is a run off the batter's body, not the bat. Learn when it counts, when it's disallowed, and how it differs from an LBW appeal.

A bump ball in cricket is when the batter hits the ball into the ground and it loops to a fielder, looking like a catch. Learn why it's never out.

A bye in cricket is a run scored when the ball passes the batter untouched. Learn how it differs from a leg bye, who it counts for, and why it happens.

A dead ball in cricket is when the ball is out of play, so no runs or wickets count. Learn when it happens, how the umpire signals it, and why it matters.

List A cricket is the official classification for top one-day matches, covering ODIs and major domestic games. Learn what counts and why it matters.

What is retired hurt in cricket? An injured batter leaves the field, losing no wicket. Learn the rules, when they can return, and how retired out differs.

Obstructing the field is a rare dismissal for deliberately blocking the fielding side. Learn what counts under Law 37, why it's rare, and notable examples.

A free hit is a bonus delivery after a no-ball, and the batter can only be run out. Learn when it's awarded, how dismissals work, and why the rule exists.

Net run rate is the tie-breaker that ranks teams level on points in a tournament. Learn the NRR formula, the all-out rule, and how to improve it.

Economy rate is the average runs a bowler gives away per over. Learn the formula, what a good economy rate is in T20, ODI, and Tests, and why it matters.

A century in cricket is 100 or more runs by a batter in one innings. Learn the scoring milestones, the nervous nineties, and the records that stand out.

A Super Over is a one-over tie-breaker for a tied T20 or ODI. Learn how the six balls work, the two-wicket limit, and what happens if it is also tied.

The follow-on in cricket is when a team with a big lead makes the other bat again. Learn the runs needed, why captains enforce it, and why some avoid it.

An all-rounder bats and bowls at a high standard, doing two jobs in one place. Learn how good they must be, the three types, and why they are so rare.

A batter's strike rate is runs scored per 100 balls. Learn how to calculate it, what a good strike rate is by format, and how bowling strike rate differs.

A beamer is a fast full toss that reaches the batter above the waist without bouncing. See why it's banned and how it differs from a bouncer.

A wide in cricket is a delivery too far for the batter to reach. Learn when umpires call it, how many runs it gives, and how it differs from a no-ball.

A bouncer in cricket is a fast, short-pitched ball that rises toward the batter's head. Learn why bowlers use it, how to play it, and how many are allowed.

Reverse swing is when an old ball swings toward its shiny side, opposite to normal swing. See how it works, why it suits dry pitches, and if it's legal.

A carrom ball is a spin delivery flicked from a bent middle finger. Learn how it's bowled, which way it turns, and how it differs from the doosra.

A doosra in cricket is an off-spinner's surprise ball that spins away from a right-hander, the opposite way to the off-break. Here's how it works and why.

A powerplay in cricket is a block of early overs when only two fielders can stand in the deep, so batters attack. See the ODI and T20 rules explained.

A googly is the leg-spinner's secret ball that turns the wrong way and fools batters. Learn what it means, how it's bowled, and how to spot one.

A yorker in cricket is a full delivery aimed at the batter's feet, near impossible to hit. Learn what it means, the types, and how bowlers bowl one.

A nightwatchman is a lower-order batter sent in early to protect a top batter late in the day. Here is what it means, why teams use one, and the risks.


A dolly in cricket is the easiest catch there is - a ball that loops gently to a fielder. Here is what it means and why players still drop it.

Willow grades run from Grade 1 (cleanest) to Grade 4 (affordable) - and the difference is mostly looks, not power. Here is which grade to buy.

Cricket boundary rules made simple: 4 if the ball bounces first, 6 if it clears the rope on the full. Plus rope catches, overthrows and boundary size.

The role of the cricket captain explained. Field placement, bowling changes, match strategy, and what separates great captains from average ones.

The complete history of cricket. From 13th-century English origins to global Test cricket, the World Cup, and the rise of T20. How the game evolved over 800 years.

Cricket rules explained simply for beginners. How the game is played, how runs and wickets work, and the basic laws every new fan needs to know.

Complete cricket bowling guide. Fast, medium, swing, seam, and spin bowling explained. Grips, actions, and variations every bowler should know.

Complete guide to cricket batting technique. Stance, grip, backlift, footwork, and every major shot from cover drive to pull, explained with practical tips.

A maiden over in cricket is six balls without a run conceded. How maidens are scored, their value in different formats, and the record holders for most maidens bowled.

All 35+ cricket fielding positions explained. Slip, gully, point, mid-off, square leg, fine leg, and every other position on the field with diagrams and roles.

The Decision Review System (DRS) explained. How players challenge umpire decisions, the technology behind Hawk-Eye, UltraEdge and ball-tracking, and the rules around umpire's call.

Exact cricket field dimensions explained. Boundary lengths, oval shape, the 30-yard circle, and how ground size varies between Test venues, ODI matches, and club cricket.

The exact dimensions of a cricket pitch. Length, width, crease markings, and how the 22-yard pitch affects bowling, batting, and match strategy.

How cricket scoring works. Runs, extras, boundaries, partnerships, run rates, and how scoring differs across Test, ODI, and T20 formats.

Every type of no ball in cricket explained. Front foot no ball, beamer, full toss, height rules, and why a no ball gives the batter a free hit.

Every way a batter can be dismissed in cricket. The 11 official methods of dismissal explained, from common ones like bowled and caught to rare modes like obstructing the field.

How many overs each cricket format has, what an over is, and how the overs structure shapes strategy in Test, ODI, and T20 cricket.

The three main cricket formats explained simply. How Test, ODI, and T20 differ in overs, rules, duration, and strategy - and which one suits you as a viewer or player.

Exact match durations for Test, ODI, T20, and franchise cricket. How long each format takes, what causes delays, and why some matches finish early.

LBW is cricket's most debated dismissal. Here's the rule explained simply, what the umpire checks and when you're out.