Reading Cricket Cub

A key attribute of being an already is being able to consistently and significantly contribute with both the bat and ball. For a batsman, scoring over 100 runs in a match is considered well beyond average. For bowlers, taking more than 10 wickets in a match is exceptional. Fancy a player who scores over 100 runs and takes over 10 wickets in the same match. That must be some feat! Such a feat is it, that (at the time of writing) only three players have done this in Test cricket’s history – Australia’s Alan Davidson, England’s Ian Botham and Pakistan’s Imran Khan.

1. Alan Davidson – 124 runs and 11 wickets in December 1960

Against the West Indies in Brisbane, the left-arm fast bowler from New South Wales scored 44 and 80 runs in the first and second innings respectively. The second innings half-century was also the allrounder’s highest score in Tests. Davidson scalped two five-wicket hauls – 5/135 and 6/87 – to leave the Aussies 233 runs to win. Although the NSW left-handed batsman did his best to help Australia win, the match ended in a thrilling tie – the first-ever tie in Test history.

2. Ian Botham – 114 runs and 13 wickets in February 1980

Ian Botham was England’s greatest allrounder in his era and perhaps of all time. In the one-off Test against India at Bombay (now Mumbai), the England allrounder scored a test century and took two five-wicket hauls (6/58 and 7/48) to help England to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over the Indians. What was amazing was that Botham’s 114 came in an innings total of 296, where no other batsman passed 43. His bowling effort also dominated the wickets column, with John Lever being the next best bowler with only four wickets in the match.

3. Imran Khan – 117 runs and 11 wickets in January 1983

India – Pakistan Test matches were usually hotly contested. Pakistan legend, Imran Khan, saved his best all-round performance for his sub-continental neighbours at Faisalabad in 1983. He opened the bowling, to take 6/98 as India was bowled out for 372 runs in the first innings. Although that seemed to be a competitive score, India were forced to toil in the field as four Pakistan batsmen scored centuries – including Imran’s aggressive 117 off 121 balls.

When India batted again, the greatest Pakistani allrounder reverted to the role of innings destroyer, as he took 5/82 to leave Pakistan a straightforward target of 7 runs to win the match. Pakistan won by 10 wickets, due to the amazing all-round performance of the Imran Khan – the inspirational captain and world-beater.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket

The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history

A key attribute of being an already is being able to consistently and significantly contribute with both the bat and ball. For a batsman, scoring over 100 runs in a match is considered well beyond average. For bowlers, taking more than 10 wickets in a match is exceptional. Fancy a player who scores over 100 runs and takes over 10 wickets in the same match. That must be some feat! Such a feat is it, that (at the time of writing) only three players have done this in Test cricket’s history – Australia’s Alan Davidson, England’s Ian Botham and Pakistan’s Imran Khan.

1. Alan Davidson – 124 runs and 11 wickets in December 1960

Against the West Indies in Brisbane, the left-arm fast bowler from New South Wales scored 44 and 80 runs in the first and second innings respectively. The second innings half-century was also the allrounder’s highest score in Tests. Davidson scalped two five-wicket hauls – 5/135 and 6/87 – to leave the Aussies 233 runs to win. Although the NSW left-handed batsman did his best to help Australia win, the match ended in a thrilling tie – the first-ever tie in Test history.

2. Ian Botham – 114 runs and 13 wickets in February 1980

Ian Botham was England’s greatest allrounder in his era and perhaps of all time. In the one-off Test against India at Bombay (now Mumbai), the England allrounder scored a test century and took two five-wicket hauls (6/58 and 7/48) to help England to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over the Indians. What was amazing was that Botham’s 114 came in an innings total of 296, where no other batsman passed 43. His bowling effort also dominated the wickets column, with John Lever being the next best bowler with only four wickets in the match.

3. Imran Khan – 117 runs and 11 wickets in January 1983

India – Pakistan Test matches were usually hotly contested. Pakistan legend, Imran Khan, saved his best all-round performance for his sub-continental neighbours at Faisalabad in 1983. He opened the bowling, to take 6/98 as India was bowled out for 372 runs in the first innings. Although that seemed to be a competitive score, India were forced to toil in the field as four Pakistan batsmen scored centuries – including Imran’s aggressive 117 off 121 balls.

When India batted again, the greatest Pakistani allrounder reverted to the role of innings destroyer, as he took 5/82 to leave Pakistan a straightforward target of 7 runs to win the match. Pakistan won by 10 wickets, due to the amazing all-round performance of the Imran Khan – the inspirational captain and world-beater.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket

The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history

A bat – ball game that entertains the whole mass of people gathered and also the ones who watch it live in the televisions. Cricket a world class game captivates hearts and souls of many individuals across the world. People die to watch the game, literally starve to enter the gates of the ground in which the game is played. The fans all over the world know that cricket is definitely an entertaining game.

But in this game of cricket, can you guess who are the important players without bat and ball? They are the decision makers of the game who can make happiness or break it amongst teams. They ought to the good informers. They ought to be keen watchers of the game. They will have to be the wise decision makers irrespective of their favorites. They can earn good names if they are perfect. They are vulnerable to fans’ critical comments. Their decision is very crucial for the match. The guess can never be as simple as this one is. Of course, they are umpires. Umpires are the most important players in the field. They are different types and they are three in number.

An umpire in the game of cricket plays crucial role. This word ‘Umpire’ is from the Old French word ‘Nompere’ which means not equal, i.e. not a member of one of the teams. He is the person who has the authority to make decisions on the cricket field, according to the International Laws of Cricket under ICC. Apart from making decisions about wicket appeals, delivery laws, legalities involved, conduct and the manners in the game, the umpire has a track of all the records. It involves all the deliveries and announcements of the completion of an over.

To preside over the match, there are two on-field umpires present. The umpires are different in the positions and that makes the difference. There is one umpire who stands just behind the bowler’s wicket. He is the most important umpire and he decides and acts as a judiciary for most of them. There is another umpire standing with a side view from the batsman’s view. He is called the square leg umpire, the reason of the name being the filed position is called square leg. He helps the main umpire for many decisions that concerns his views. If he is able to see better, then he helps the umpire. The professional matches have the other option called third umpire. Third umpire has the technology to support him. If there is a condition for the umpires on field to make flaws or if there are any difficulties, there is a third umpire who has an access to television replays.

At its simplest, cricket is a game of bat and ball- willow and leather. However, what is inside a cricket kit is not limited to these. The modern cricket player has a lot of protective wear, apart from cricket clothing. Inside a cricketer’s bag, you will find bats, balls, pads, gloves, clothing and protective guards. Depending on the specialty of a player (batting/ bowling/ wicket keeping), the emphasis on equipment may be different.

Wicketkeepers

Wicketkeepers are fielding specialists. They use the normal protective equipment of batsmen but have specialist equipment- wicketkeeper gloves and pads. The wicketkeeper’s gloves are larger and less padded than batsmen’s gloves- designed specifically for catching. Inside of their gloves, wicketkeepers wear ‘inside gloves’ to reduce friction. The wicketkeeper’s pads are more slender than the batter’s pads so it would not hinder mobility.

All cricketers will have batting equipment as part of their kit. They may also have regulation cricket balls, regardless of whether they are specialist batsmen or bowlers. The basic cricket equipment includes:

a) A wooden bat (made with English willow). The bat has a cylindrical handle and a smooth face and is made to specification of the laws of the game.

b) Leg pads are necessary to protect the shin and knees from damage when batting and are mandatory batting equipment.

c) Batters’ gloves: The gloves that batters wear are more compact, padded and webbing-free when compared to wicketkeepers’ gloves.

d) Red or white balls made with a base of cork, a leather exterior and a seam.

e) Cricket clothing (white or coloured): These consist of a polo shirt (short/long sleeved) and long trousers.

f) Helmets, sun hats or cricket caps: Batters or close fielders do not need to wear helmets, but it is advisable. Batters or fielders can also choose to wear sun hats and cricket caps for protection against the sun.

g) Spiked shoes: Cricket involves running on grass and bare turf sometimes. Spiked shoes are necessary to increase traction. Spiked cricket shoes are not compulsory, however. Some cricketers use basic sneakers with adequate traction.

Protective equipment

Shin guards provide extra protection close fielders- who are near to the striker and risk injury without added protection. Batsmen usually wear thigh guards inside their trousers. Other guards that batters use include arm guards, chest guards and abdomen guards. Batsmen sometimes use abdomen guards to protect the ‘family jewels’.

During the winter- in countries like England and New Zealand, pullovers are often part of a cricketer’s kit- as a matter of course. Batting equipment alone accounts for the majority of a cricketer’s kit. It is easy to glean why cricket is a very expensive sport. Wind-ball cricket- cricket played with a tennis ball- requires much less equipment. Without the necessary equipment in hardball cricket, you risk injury or even death.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen:

The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket
The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history