Cricket is the game of England’s high society. It has been around since ancient times and has cherished its traditions, not changing them even after many years. Cricket has become a symbol of England, just like fog or the monarchy. The game, preferred by the gentlemen of high society, has always been popular among the common people as well. But official cricket clubs have always consisted only of the most noble persons. For this reason, membership of a cricket club served as the hallmark of an aristocrat. To this day, the waiting list for membership of the world’s finest cricket clubs can last for years.
History of the game’s origins
The game of English gentlemen and noble lords originated in the 13th century. Cricket was originally thought to be just a children’s game, but over time it has become a pastime integral to English tradition and sports betting. Cricket truly took off in the 18th century, when the rules were officially introduced and consolidated. This was also when professional cricket clubs started to appear.
Cricket was added to the Olympic register in 1990. However, the game, little known at the time, failed to capture the hearts of the public and cricket was soon removed from the Olympic programme. Since the early 20th century, cricket has become popular not only in England but also throughout Europe, Africa and even Australia.
What is cricket?
The game is played as follows. The pitcher throws the ball into the wicket, trying to break it. The opposing team’s batter must prevent this from happening and hit the ball back with the bat just in time. If the ball is struck, the batsman shall run to the other end of the playing area while another batsman of the same team at the opposite end of the area shall take his place. One point is awarded for a complete run – changing the batting positions.
Players of the opposing team who are not involved in the ball are spread out on the field of play. Their duty is to catch the ball and put it back into play. If the ball is caught and returned into play before the batsmen have finished running, the run is lost and the batsman is ejected. Also, the batsman is ejected if the ball is caught in the air or the pitch is not batted at all.
Each match comprises two phases, the immings. Imming ends when each team completes one series of innings. The teams switch places after knocking out 10 players. It is often the case that a cricket match can stretch over several days due to teams taking a long time to develop attacking tactics and defensive strategies.
The special features of cricket
Cricket seems to be a fairly simple game, however, keeping with the centuries-old tradition, there are many fine points and quirks of the game, the description of which occupies a weighty volume titled Cricket Laws.
The most important cricket ‘law’, non-compliance with which is particularly punishable, is presented in the following extract from the rule book: Players must report a breach of the rules, even if the umpire does not notice it. You can find a bet login and start betting on cricket.