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To begin the match, the captains of both sides toss a coin and the winner decides to either field or bat first. At the start of play, the fielding side will be strategically placed in different positions, and the two batters will take their place at either end of the pitch.

Each fixed period of time in which each team bat is called an innings.

The first ball will be bowled at the batter 'on strike' and the bowler delivers the ball overarm at the cricket stumps. If the batter decides not to hit the ball or misses it, the fielding team's wicketkeeper usually retrieves it.

However, if the batter strikes the ball then the two batters will decide if they should run or remain stationary. In situations where the ball is hit very well and it crosses the boundary, four runs are awarded and if it passes over the rope without touching the floor then six runs are awarded.

Each bowler is awarded six deliveries per over, unless the umpire calls a no ball or wide and in this situation an additional delivery is added.

If a bowler is dismissed ('out') the player returns to the pavilion and the next player comes out to bat. The two teams change batting and fielding positions when ten of the eleven members of the batting side are out, a set number of overs have been bowled, or the batting team declares (when the captain voluntarily brings their innings to a close).

Scoring

The aim for the batter in cricket is to try to score as many runs as possible throughout their innings.

To score a run requires the batter to strike the ball and run to the opposite end of the pitch while their batting partner runs in the other direction. To record the scoring run, both batters need to touch the floor behind the popping crease with either their bat or body. In situations where the fielding team has not recovered the ball, the batters return back to score two or more runs. It is also possible to score runs without running the length of the pitch, if a batter can hit the ball past the boundary line (four runs) or over the line without bouncing (six runs).

Rules

• The winning team in cricket is the side that scores the most runs, although in some situations a draw is recorded if they both get the same number of runs.
• A cricket team consists of 11 players and they take it in turns to bat and bowl.
• The bowler must not throw the ball, but bowl the ball overarm at the stumps, which are at either end of a 22-yard area called a wicket.
• A batter is declared out if the bowler knocks off the bails of the stumps with a delivery.
• A batter is declared out if a fielder or wicketkeeper catches the ball directly off the bat and before it hits the ground.
• A batter is declared out if the umpire believes that the bowler's ball would have hit the stumps if the batter had not obstructed the ball with their pads. This is known as leg before wicket (or LBW).
• A batter is declared run-out when they are going for a run but do not make the batting crease before fielding team knocks off the cricket stumps.
• A batter is declared out if the wicketkeeper stumps them.
• A batter is declared out if they knock over their stumps while playing a shot or avoiding a delivery.
• There are other, less common ways of being out in cricket, but these are quite rare.
• A batter is declared out if the umpire believes the batter has purposely obstructed a fielder who is about to take a catch or attempt a run-out.
• The end of an innings is called when 10 of the 11 batting team are given out. At this point, both teams swap over. In competitive games, teams can have one or two innings.

Officials

During a competitive game of cricket there are two umpires officiating a match. An umpire is required to enforce the laws of the MCC by making decisions on:

• no balls
• byes
• legs byes
• wides
• boundaries

One umpire is positioned behind the stumps at the bowler's end of the pitch and they make decisions on LBW (leg before wicket) appeals, no balls, wides and leg byes. The second umpire stands at square leg and they make decisions on stumpings and run outs.

At the end of each over, the umpires change position.