The Starter's Guide To Cricket - Batting

The Starter's Guide To Cricket - Batting

Batsman play more aggressively the shorter the format of the game - or if the longer game requires it, say if a team wants to get quick runs to declare, or chase a target

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Batsmen aim to first protect their wicket from being broken and then score runs by hitting the ball with their bat – the dimensions of which are tightly regulated.

A run is scored when both batsmen successfully reach the other end of the wicket. Four runs are awarded if the ball reaches the boundary, six if it travels over the boundary without bouncing.

Any part of the bat can be used by the batsmen, although it is rare for anything other than the face to be used in a conventional manner.

A batsman may still run even if he has not hit the ball, provided he has made an attempt to do so. He will not, however, be credited with the runs against his name.

Batsmen are expected to score their runs quickly if they are playing a limited overs match, and even more so if it is a Twenty20 game, but put a higher price on their wicket in the longer form of the game so often score runs slower, taking fewer risks.