Rules
The laws that shape every decision on the field. 1,207 guides, page 21 of 26.
Cricket Powerplay Rules: ODI and T20 Fielding Restrictions, How They Work, and Tactical Implications
In ODI and T20 cricket, 'powerplay' overs impose fielding restrictions — only 2 fielders (ODIs) or 2 fielders (T20s) may be outside the 30-yard circle during powerplay overs. In ODIs, the mandatory powerplay is overs 1–10 (with max 2 outside the circle). In T20Is, the powerplay is overs 1–6 (2 outside). The restrictions force fielding teams to defend the ring, making big-hitting in the first 6–10 overs crucial. India introduced the batting powerplay (overs 35–40, with 3 fielders max outside) in ODIs until 2015 when it was removed.
Read explainerThe Follow-On in Test Cricket: When Teams Are Asked to Bat Again and the Tactical Decision
The follow-on in Test cricket allows the team batting first to make their opponents bat again immediately after their first innings if the first-innings lead exceeds 200 runs (5-day Test). Enforcing the follow-on can save a team's lead; not enforcing it can be a tactical choice to rest bowlers or 'bat the opposition into the ground.' Famous follow-on decisions: Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on vs India at Eden Gardens in 2001 (India won by 171 runs after following on). The record follow-on win: England beat Australia by 10 wickets after following on (1894).
Read explainerCricket's Free Hit Rule: What It Is, When It Applies, and Why T20 Cricket Changed After Its Introduction
The free hit in cricket is a delivery following a front-foot no-ball in T20I and ODI cricket (since 2015, also applies to all no-ball types in T20Is). On a free hit, the batsman cannot be dismissed by most methods — only run out, handled the ball, obstructing the field, or hit the ball twice. The fielding side cannot change their field between the no-ball and the free hit (except for a change of over). The free hit was introduced in 2007 (T20Is) and 2011 (ODIs) to penalise bowlers for no-balls more severely.
Read explainerCricket Batting Stances, Guard, and Footwork: How Different Techniques Change a Batter's Game
A cricket batter's stance is their starting position before the bowler delivers — it influences their ability to play both off-side and on-side shots, and affects their vulnerability to specific dismissals. Common guards: middle (most common), leg (Steve Smith's unusual position), off-stump (rarely used). Stances range from side-on (classic) to open chest (modern aggressive). Footwork — front-foot vs back-foot play — determines which deliveries a batter can attack. Steve Smith's unusual back-foot style contrasts with Kohli's aggressive front-foot technique.
Read explainerOutswing, Inswing, and Seam Bowling: Techniques, Grip Differences, and Why the Duke's Ball Helps
Outswing bowling moves the ball away from the right-handed batsman in flight; inswing moves it toward them. The seam is held vertically, and the ball's orientation determines direction. James Anderson is cricket's master of outswing; Malcolm Marshall and Waqar Younis were inswing specialists. The Dukes ball (used in England and West Indies) maintains its seam prominence for longer than the Kookaburra, allowing English bowlers to swing the ball for up to 40 overs. The key grips: outswing (seam angled toward fine leg); inswing (seam angled toward mid-on).
Read explainerHow Rain Affects Cricket: Ground Covers, Wet Conditions, the Outfield, and When Play Is Called Off
Rain is cricket's most persistent disruptor. Groundstaff deploy large plastic covers to protect the pitch and bowler's run-ups when rain begins; they are trained to respond within 60 seconds. Play is suspended when: the umpires judge the pitch or outfield is too wet and unsafe, there is lightning, or visibility is severely reduced. The 'outfield' drains independently of the pitch — play can resume even with some standing water if it's away from the playing area. DLS (Duckworth-Lewis-Stern) adjusts targets in interrupted limited-overs matches.
Read explainerOff-Spin and Finger Spin Bowling: The Grip, the Turn, the Carrom Ball, and Why It Remains Effective in Tests
Off-spin bowling (right-arm finger spin) is bowled by rotating the ball with the top joints of the index and middle fingers to create sidespin that turns from off stump to leg stump for a right-handed batsman. The primary deliveries: the off-break (standard turn), the arm ball (goes straight), the floater (looping delivery), and the carrom ball (flicked with middle finger for unusual angles). R Ashwin's carrom ball is one of cricket's most discussed modern variations. Off-spin is generally considered more controllable than leg-spin but generates less turn.
Read explainerThe Super Over in Cricket: How T20's Ultimate Tiebreaker Works and Its Most Famous Moments
A Super Over is a one-over tiebreaker used in T20 and ODI cricket when the scores are tied at the end of the regular innings. Each team nominates 3 batters (2 at the crease, 1 as backup) and 1 bowler. The team scoring more in the Super Over wins; if the Super Over also ties, another Super Over follows (from 2020 onward — previously, boundary countback decided it). The most famous Super Over: 2019 Cricket World Cup final (England vs New Zealand — tied, Super Over tied, England won on boundary countback).
Read explainerThe Slog Sweep, Reverse Sweep, and Paddle Scoop: Cricket's Most Unorthodox Shots Explained
Modern cricket has produced a range of 'unorthodox' shots that weren't seen in the classical era: the slog sweep (hitting the ball with a horizontal bat across the line toward the boundary from a kneeling position), the reverse sweep (sweeping in the opposite direction, batting left-handed from a right-handed stance), and the paddle scoop (a deflection over the wicketkeeper's head). Kevin Pietersen was the pioneer of the switch hit (turning to bat left-handed against spinners). These shots are now standard in T20 cricket.
Read explainerThe Cricket Seam: New Ball vs Old Ball, Scrambled Seam, and Why the Ball's Condition Changes Everything
The cricket ball's seam — the raised ridge of stitching — is central to all forms of bowling movement. A new ball (overs 1–15) has a prominent seam that aids conventional swing and seam movement. The seam deteriorates over 80+ overs but enables reverse swing. 'Scrambled seam' is a deliberately disoriented presentation of the seam to produce unpredictable movement. The 'cutter' delivery involves using the seam at an angle to cut the ball off the pitch. Understanding ball condition is fundamental to Test match strategy.
Read explainerT20 Spin Revolution: How Wrist Spinners Changed T20 Cricket and Why Leg-Spin Dominates Modern Formats
The growth of T20 cricket created an unexpected revolution: wrist spinners (leg-spin and chinaman) became the most valuable bowling commodities in franchise cricket. Rashid Khan, Adil Rashid, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Adam Zampa all command massive IPL and BBL contracts. Unlike off-spin (which can be hit over the top), leg-spin's variety of deliveries (googly, flipper, slider) creates confusion even among world-class T20 batters. The short boundary of T20 makes the risk of a mis-hit significant for batters attempting to attack leg-spin.
Read explainerCricket Tour Matches and Warm-Up Games: Why Teams Play Practice Matches Before International Series
Before major Test series, touring teams typically play 1–2 tour matches or warm-up games against state/provincial teams or Cricket Board XIs. These matches allow players to acclimatize to pitch conditions, weather, and jet lag; batters to build form; and bowlers to find rhythm. The 2021–22 Ashes was notable for a controversial reduced warm-up schedule. England's poor preparation in Australia contributed to their 0–4 loss. Warm-up matches are less common in the T20 era but remain important for Test preparation.
Read explainerTest Match Sessions, Lunch, Tea, and the Over-Rate: How a Day of Test Cricket Is Structured
A Test match day consists of 3 sessions of play separated by a lunch break (40 minutes) and a tea break (20 minutes). Each session typically lasts approximately 2 hours. The over-rate requirement is 15 overs per hour — 90 overs per day. Teams that bowl too slowly can face fines and points deductions. In T20 cricket, the over-rate target is 14.11 overs per hour. Bad light or rain can curtail sessions. The 'scheduled close of play' is 6 hours of play (excluding breaks).
Read explainerThe Cricket Hat-Trick: Rule, Famous Examples Across Tests, ODIs, and T20s, and Why It's So Rare
A hat-trick in cricket is when a bowler takes three wickets on three consecutive deliveries — they may span two overs or two innings in Tests. The term originated when a hat was awarded to the first bowler to achieve the feat in the 19th century. Famous hat-tricks: Peter Siddle (Australia, 2010 Ashes, first ball of his birthday), Stuart Broad (2011 WC), Wasim Akram (WC 1999), Jasprit Bumrah (2019 Test vs West Indies). The hat-trick is cricket's rarest and most celebrated individual bowling achievement.
Read explainerICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU): How Cricket Fights Match-Fixing, Spot-Fixing, and Player Education
The ICC Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) was established in 2000 following the match-fixing scandals involving Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Mohammad Azharuddin (India), and Salim Malik (Pakistan). The ACSU investigates corrupt approaches to players, educates players about threats, and prosecutes corrupt conduct. The 2010 Pakistan spot-fixing scandal (News of the World sting — Butt, Asif, Amir bowled deliberate no-balls) tested the ACSU's enforcement. Lifetime bans and prison sentences followed.
Read explainerCricket Fielding Positions: Every Position Explained
Cricket has over 30 named fielding positions arranged in a circle around the pitch. Understanding fielding positions is essential to following tactical discussions. Key positions: slip (1st, 2nd, 3rd — catching behind the wicket on the off side), gully (wider than slip), point (square of the wicket on the off side), cover (between point and mid-off), mid-on, mid-off, square leg, fine leg, long-on, long-off (boundary), deep mid-wicket. The captain arranges these positions based on the bowler type, pitch conditions, and batter's tendencies.
Read explainerRare Dismissals in Cricket: Obstructing the Field, Hit the Ball Twice, and Handled the Ball Explained
Cricket has 10 ways to be dismissed. The rarest are: Obstructing the Field (deliberately impeding the fielder — e.g., Len Hutton, 1951, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, 2006), Hit the Ball Twice (deliberately striking the ball a second time, not to protect the wicket), and Handled the Ball (now merged into Obstructing the Field under 2017 Laws). Timed Out (the new batter taking more than 3 minutes to arrive) has been given only once in international cricket — Angelo Mathews vs Bangladesh, 2023 World Cup.
Read explainerExtras in Cricket: Wides, No-Balls, Byes, Leg-Byes, and How Extras Are Recorded on the Scorecard
Extras are runs scored in cricket not off the bat — they are given by the umpire for bowling violations (wides, no-balls) or credited to the batting side from fielding failures (byes, leg-byes). No-balls and wides in T20s also result in a free hit. England's 2023 Ashes at Edgbaston saw 45 extras in a single Test innings. Understanding extras is essential to reading a scorecard and understanding bowling discipline.
Read explainerTypes of No-Balls in Cricket: Front Foot, Beamers, Height Rules, and All Bowling Violations Under Law 21
A no-ball can be called for multiple reasons: the most common is front-foot overstepping (the bowler's back foot lands outside the return crease or front foot lands beyond the popping crease). Other no-balls: a ball above waist height without bouncing (beamer), more than 2 bouncers per over, delivering from the wrong side of the wicket. A no-ball adds one run to extras and, in ODIs and T20s, results in a free hit (next delivery, batter can only be dismissed run-out). In Tests, no free hit applies.
Read explainerPenalty Runs in Cricket: The 5-Run Penalty for Ball Tampering, Obstructing a Fielder, and Deliberately Wasting Time
Under the Laws of Cricket, the umpires can award 5 penalty runs to the batting or fielding side for specific offences. A fielder using an illegal substance on the ball receives 5 penalty runs to the batting side and a warning. If the batting side deliberately damages the pitch or obstructs fielding, 5 runs go to the fielding side. In Tests, teams can also be penalised for a slow over-rate (the WTC deducts 2 points per over short). The 5-run penalty is rarely seen but has appeared in international cricket at important moments.
Read explainerPink Ball Cricket: Day-Night Tests, Floodlights, and How the Pink Ball Behaves Differently from Red and White
Pink ball Test cricket was introduced by Cricket Australia (Adelaide Oval, 2015) to allow day-night Test matches. The pink ball is more visible under artificial lights than the red ball. However, it behaves differently: the lacquer coating deteriorates faster (the ball becomes harder to control after 25–30 overs), reverse swing triggers earlier, and the seam remains prominent longer. The twilight period (transition from afternoon sun to artificial light) creates the most difficult batting conditions. India hosted their first day-night Test in 2019 (vs Bangladesh, Kolkata).
Read explainerCricket Umpire Signals: The Complete Guide to Every Signal
Cricket umpires communicate decisions through physical signals visible to players, scorers, and crowds. Key signals: Out — index finger raised; Four — arm waved across body; Six — both arms raised overhead; Wide — both arms extended horizontally; No-ball — one arm extended horizontally; Dead ball — both arms crossed below waist; Leg-bye — hand touches raised knee; Bye — hand raised; Five penalty runs — hand touches opposite shoulder. Scorers must confirm each signal by raising their hand.
Read explainerCricket Crease Markings: Popping Crease, Return Crease, Bowling Crease
A cricket pitch has three sets of crease markings at each end: the bowling crease (where the wickets are placed), the popping crease (4 feet in front, marking the batter's safe zone), and the return crease (at right angles to the others, marking the bowler's delivery corridor). Understanding these markings is essential for run-outs, no-balls, and LBW. The distance from popping crease to popping crease (22 yards) is the pitch length, one of cricket's fundamental measurements.
Read explainerCricket Bat Grip and Wrist Position: How Holding the Bat Affects Shot-Making, Power, and Defensive Technique
The cricket bat grip is fundamental to every shot. The 'V-grip' (thumbs and forefingers forming V-shapes aligned down the bat's face) is the standard. Wrist position changes throughout the innings: at the top of the back-lift, the wrists are cocked (bat face pointing to gully or slip); at impact on a drive, the wrists release through the ball. Incorrect grip reduces power, control, and timing. Batting coaches focus on grip as the foundation of technique — all major adjustments flow from a correct grip.
Read explainerThe Cricket Declaration: How and When Captains Declare Innings in Tests, and the Strategy Behind the Perfect Declaration
A declaration is when the batting team voluntarily ends their innings before all 10 wickets are taken — allowed only in Tests and multi-day first-class cricket. The captain must balance: giving their bowlers enough overs to take 10 wickets, setting a target that is achievable by the batting team but just out of reach for a cautious chase. Too early: batting team may lose. Too late: draw results instead of win. The art of declaration is one of Test cricket's most strategically complex decisions.
Read explainerHawkeye and Ball-Tracking Technology in Cricket: How LBW Predictions Work and the Margin of Error
Hawkeye uses multiple cameras to triangulate a cricket ball's trajectory and predict its path after impact with the batter's pads (for LBW decisions). The system has a claimed margin of error of approximately 2.5mm. 'Umpire's Call' is applied when the ball-tracking prediction shows the ball clipping the edge of the stumps within a 2.5cm zone — the original umpire's decision stands in these marginal cases. Critics argue Hawkeye's predictions beyond the pad contact point are speculative; defenders argue it is more accurate than human judgment.
Read explainerODI Powerplay Rules: History from Field Restrictions to the Current 3-Powerplay System and Its Evolution
ODI cricket's fielding restrictions (powerplay rules) have evolved significantly since their introduction in 1992. The current system (since 2012): Powerplay 1 = overs 1–10 (mandatory, 2 fielders outside 30-yard circle); Powerplay 2 = overs 11–40 (maximum 4 fielders outside circle); Powerplay 3/Death = overs 41–50 (maximum 5 fielders outside circle). Earlier systems included optional batting and bowling powerplays (2005–2012) that captains could deploy strategically.
Read explainerLBW (Leg Before Wicket) in Cricket: The Complete Rule Explained
LBW (Leg Before Wicket) is cricket's most complex dismissal. A batter is out LBW if: the ball hits any part of the body (not the bat), the ball pitched in line or outside off-stump, the ball would have hit the stumps, and the batter did not make an attempt to play the ball. Key exceptions: if the ball pitches outside leg stump, the batter is NOT out LBW regardless of where it hits. If the impact is outside the off-stump line, it's not LBW. Modern DRS Hawkeye predictions now determine 'would have hit the stumps.'
Read explainerCricket Pitch Preparation: The Curator's Art
A cricket pitch is prepared over weeks by a groundsman (curator). Red clay-based pitches are rolled and watered for weeks before a Test to create the required hardness. English pitches (loam-based) are prepared differently from Indian (black clay) or Australian (hard red clay) pitches. The pitch's moisture content on Day 1 determines its early behaviour; the grass covering determines whether it will seam. A flat pitch favours batters; a green seaming pitch favours pace bowlers; a dusty dry pitch favours spinners.
Read explainerCricket Nets and Training Facilities: How Professional Cricketers Prepare
Professional cricketers spend far more time in training than in matches. A typical Test match week includes 2 days of net practice, video analysis sessions, fielding drills, fitness training, and batting machine practice. 'Nets' refers to a covered practice lane where batters face bowlers or bowling machines. Modern cricket academies (NCA India, Kookaburra Australia) use GPS tracking, biomechanical analysis, and ball-tracking technology in training. The quality of net practice often determines in-game performance.
Read explainerSpinner's Art: Flight, Dip, Topspin, and Drift
Spin bowling creates movement through the revolutions imparted on the ball at release. Topspin (backspin) causes the ball to dip sharply — Flight and dip are the spinner's greatest allies. Overspin makes the ball bounce less (it falls straight down). Drift: the Magnus Effect causes the ball to drift in flight — an off-spinner's ball drifts into a right-hander before pitching. Shane Warne's 'big leg-break' had maximum revolutions, creating sharp turn and bounce. Off-spinners use the 'carrom ball' (flicked with middle finger) to vary turn.
Read explainerDeath Bowling in T20 Cricket: Yorkers, Slower Balls, Wide Yorkers, and the Art of Bowling Overs 17–20
Death bowling (overs 17–20 in T20 cricket) is the most high-pressure discipline in the format — a single over can swing a match. Key deliveries: yorker (full, targeting toes), slower ball (change of pace, 15–20% slower), wide yorker (angled outside off-stump, harder to hit straight), bouncer (at the throat or shoulder, upsetting the batter's rhythm). Specialists: Bumrah, Boult, Starc, Natarajan. The death is where T20 matches are won and lost — and where bowlers earn or destroy their reputations.
Read explainerCaught Behind in Cricket: How Edges Reach the Keeper, Snickometer Technology, and When It's Out vs Not Out
Caught behind (caught wicketkeeper) is the most common method of dismissal in Test cricket — approximately 30% of all dismissals. The batter edges the ball (bat's outside or inside edge) to the wicketkeeper, who catches it cleanly. The DRS uses Snickometer (audio spike + bat path analysis) and Hotspot (infrared heat detection) to determine whether the bat genuinely made contact. Famous controversies: Sachin Tendulkar's 2011 WC caught behind decision that wasn't referred.
Read explainerWicketkeeper Technique: Stumping, Standing Up vs Standing Back, Gloves, and the Art of the Keeper
The wicketkeeper is the most important fielder in cricket — involved in more dismissals (caught, stumped, run out) than any other position. Standing up (close to the stumps, against spinners) vs standing back (30+ metres, against fast bowling) requires different technique. A stumping occurs when the wicketkeeper removes the bails with the ball before the batter returns behind the crease. Modern keepers: Buttler, Dhoni, Gilchrist, Healy. The 'keeping standard' is rising: modern keepers must also contribute significantly with the bat.
Read explainerCricket Fielding Evolution: How Fielding Standards Changed from the 1970s to Modern Day
Cricket fielding has transformed from a secondary skill to a primary match-winning discipline. Jonty Rhodes (South Africa) is credited with revolutionising fielding standards with his athletic dives and direct-hit run outs (1992–2003). Modern fielding metrics: missed run outs, boundary saves, catches dropped. IPL era (2008+) accelerated fielding standards globally. Teams like India (2024) have dedicated fielding coaches and GPS-tracked training. A direct hit (fielder throws and hits the stumps directly) is now a standard expectation for international fielders.
Read explainerSwing Bowling Explained: Conventional Swing, Reverse Swing, and Contrast Swing
Swing bowling is the art of making a cricket ball curve in flight. Conventional swing: the ball swings toward the shiny side (polished by fielders). Reverse swing: old ball (60+ overs), rough side leads — the ball swings the opposite direction, unexpected by batters. Contrast swing (white-ball): with one side heavy and one side lighter. Key bowlers: James Anderson (conventional/reverse master), Waqar Younis (reverse swing pioneer), Zaheer Khan. The Dukes ball (England) swings more than the Kookaburra (Australia/Asia) due to seam prominence.
Read explainerUsing DRS: When to Review, When Not to, and Why Teams Sometimes Keep Reviews Until the Final Over
The Decision Review System (DRS) gives each team 2 reviews per innings (3 in Tests). A team uses a review when they disagree with the on-field umpire's decision. A review is retained if the decision is overturned. If the decision stands (the umpire was correct), the review is lost. Poor review usage is a major tactical problem: teams that use reviews early and incorrectly often enter the 40th ODI over or final Test session with no reviews — unable to challenge potentially incorrect LBW decisions. Data shows successful teams use reviews approximately 65% correctly.
Read explainerDukes vs Kookaburra vs SG: Which Cricket Ball Does Each Country Use?
A detailed comparison of the three main cricket balls — Dukes, Kookaburra and SG — covering which countries use each, how they swing differently, and why the seam matters.
Read explainerPowerplay Rules in ODI Cricket: Fielding Restrictions, Strategy and History
Everything you need to know about the ODI powerplay — mandatory overs 1-10, fielding restrictions, how the batting powerplay evolved, and how it changed one-day cricket strategy forever.
Read explainerLBW Law in Cricket Explained: 5 Conditions, Umpire's Call and DRS
A complete guide to the LBW law in cricket — the five conditions that must all be met, why pitching outside leg is exempt, what umpire's call means, and how DRS technology changed LBW decisions forever.
Read explainerNo-Ball Types in Cricket: Overstepping, Full Tosses, Free Hit Rules Explained
A complete guide to the different types of no-balls in cricket — front-foot overstepping, head-height full tosses, dangerous bouncers, underarm deliveries — and what happens next, including the free hit in T20 and ODI cricket.
Read explainerCricket Pitch Preparation: Curator's Role, Drop-In Pitches and How Surfaces Change
Everything you need to know about how cricket pitches are prepared — the curator's role, drop-in pitches at the MCG and Adelaide Oval, Day 5 rough, and why pitches behave so differently across different conditions.
Read explainerDew Factor in Cricket: How Evening Dew Affects T20 Matches and Why the Toss Matters
A detailed explanation of how dew affects cricket — its impact on the ball, the outfield, and spin bowling in evening T20 and ODI matches, why chasing teams have an advantage, and why the toss is so crucial in dew-affected conditions.
Read explainerHawk-Eye Ball Tracking in Cricket: LBW Trajectory Prediction, Margin of Error, and Umpire's Call
Hawk-Eye uses six or more high-speed cameras to triangulate a cricket ball's 3D trajectory and predict where it would have gone after hitting the batter's pad, enabling DRS LBW reviews. The system claims a margin of error of approximately 2.5mm. Umpire's Call applies when the ball-tracking model shows the ball clipping the edge of the stumps within a defined marginal zone, meaning the on-field umpire's original decision stands. The technology has been central to DRS since 2009 but continues to attract debate over how accurate predictions beyond the point of pad impact genuinely are.
Read explainerUltra-Edge and Real Time Snickometer: How Audio Waveform Analysis Detects Bat-Ball Contact in DRS
Ultra-Edge (by Hawk-Eye Innovations) and the Real Time Snickometer (RTS, originally developed by Allan Sherwood for Channel 4) both use audio waveforms from stump microphones to detect whether a cricket bat has made contact with the ball for DRS edge decisions. A spike in the audio waveform synchronised precisely with the ball passing the bat edge is the key signal. Hotspot — an infrared thermal imaging system — provides a complementary visual check but is not always available. The third umpire correlates audio, visual, and Hotspot evidence when reviewing catches and LBW edges.
Read explainerWides, Byes, and Leg Byes in Cricket: How Extras Are Scored and the Rules in Each Format
Extras in cricket — wides, no-balls, byes, and leg byes — are runs added to the batting team's total that are not credited to the batter. Wides are awarded when the bowler delivers too wide for the batter to play; in Tests, the threshold is wider than in ODIs and T20s where height-wides (above shoulder height) are also called. Byes are runs scored when the ball passes the wicketkeeper without touching the bat or body. Leg byes are scored when the ball deflects off the batter's body (not the bat) and the batter completes runs, provided the batter was attempting to play a shot or avoid the ball.
Read explainerDuckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) Method Explained: Rain Interruptions in Limited-Overs Cricket
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method is the mathematical formula used by the ICC to adjust targets in rain-interrupted limited-overs cricket matches. Originally developed by statisticians Frank Duckworth and Tony Lewis in 1997 and adopted by the ICC in 1999, the method was revised by Steven Stern in 2014. DLS replaced the simpler Average Run Rate method that had produced unfair results, most famously in the 1992 Cricket World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa. The method models the runs a batting team is expected to score based on wickets in hand and overs remaining.
Read explainerCricket Fielding Positions Explained: Slip Cordon, Covers, Mid-On, Fine Leg, and the Full Position Map
Cricket has approximately 30 named fielding positions across the arc surrounding the batter. The positions are divided into the on side (leg side, behind the batter's legs for a right-hander) and the off side (opposite). Key positions include the slip cordon (first slip, second slip, gully) behind the batter on the off side for edge catches; cover point and extra cover in the off side for drives; mid-on and mid-off either side of the pitch for straight shots; fine leg and square leg on the on side; and deep fielders on the boundary. Understanding the positions helps with reading field placements, DRS reviews, and commentary.
Read explainerRules — Cricket Guides
The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and have governed the game since 1744. Understanding them separates a casual viewer from someone who truly follows what is happening on the field.
The most debated law in cricket is Law 36 — Leg Before Wicket (LBW). A batter is out LBW when the ball hits their body (not the bat) and the umpire judges it would have gone on to hit the stumps, provided the ball pitched in line or outside off stump, and the batter was not playing a shot outside their leg stump. The introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) has made LBW decisions far more accurate: ball-tracking technology predicts the ball's path with sub-centimetre precision, and 'Umpire's Call' retains the on-field decision when the ball is clipping the stumps rather than hitting them full.
Fielding restrictions shape the scoring patterns of every limited-overs match. In an ODI, Powerplay 1 (overs 1–10) restricts the fielding team to two fielders outside the 30-yard circle, creating an open outfield that rewards early aggression. Batting Powerplay (the optional five overs, typically taken in the middle) can be used strategically to attack a weakened bowling spell. In T20Is the first six overs are mandatory Powerplay with only two fielders outside the circle. These restrictions evolved to encourage higher scoring and make limited-overs cricket more watchable — and the data shows run rates in the first six overs of a T20I now average above 9 per over at the highest level.
The free hit rule, introduced to penalise no-balls, awards the batter a delivery from which they cannot be dismissed by any fielded method — only a run-out or handling the ball applies. In T20Is, a front-foot no-ball typically costs 2–3 additional runs (the extras plus the free-hit delivery) when a batter capitalises. The wide rule differs by format: in Tests, a ball must be genuinely out of reach to be called wide; in T20Is the umpire stands closer to the stumps when calling wides, meaning straighter deliveries are penalised even if the batter could theoretically reach them. These rules, and dozens more, are covered in depth across this collection of 1,200+ guides.
Rare dismissals — handled ball, hit the ball twice, timed out, obstructing the field — appear occasionally at all levels and cause confusion even among experienced fans. The DRS protocol, the no-ball review process (now referred to the third umpire), ball-change procedures, the follow-on threshold (200 runs in Tests, 150 in five-day matches), and the Mankad (non-striker run-out pre-delivery) all feature in detail across the guides in this section. Whether you want to settle a pub argument about whether a batter can be given out obstructing the field for accidentally deflecting a return throw, or understand exactly when a match referee can intervene, you will find the answer here.
← Back to all cricket guides · Cricket Glossary (1,900+ terms) · Test your knowledge →