Cricket Rules for Beginners: How the Game Works
Cricket can look complicated from the outside, but the core idea is simple: one team bats and tries to score runs, the other bowls and fields and tries to get batters out. This guide explains the essentials, based on the Laws of Cricket maintained by the MCC.
The basics
- Two teams of 11 players.
- Play centres on the pitch, a strip 22 yards long with a wicket (three stumps topped by two bails) at each end.
- Two batters are in at once, one at each end.
- The fielding side's bowler delivers the ball from one end to the batter at the other.
- An over is six legal deliveries; then a different bowler bowls from the other end.
- An innings ends when 10 batters are out, the overs run out, or the batting side declares.
How runs are scored
Batters score by running between the wickets after hitting the ball: each completed run is one. If the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground, it is four; if it clears the boundary on the full, it is six.
Extras
| Extra | When it is given |
|---|---|
| Wide | Ball too wide for the batter to hit from a normal position |
| No ball | Illegal delivery, e.g. front foot over the popping crease |
| Bye | Runs taken when the ball passes the batter without touching bat or body |
| Leg bye | Runs taken after the ball hits the batter's body (with an attempted shot or evasion) |
| Penalty runs | Awarded for certain breaches, such as the ball hitting a fielding helmet on the ground |
Wides and no balls do not count as one of the six balls in the over.
How a batter can be out
| Dismissal | In brief |
|---|---|
| Bowled | The delivery breaks the batter's wicket |
| Caught | A fielder catches the ball off the bat or glove before it bounces |
| Leg before wicket (LBW) | The ball would have hit the stumps but hit the batter's body first (see our LBW guide) |
| Run out | The wicket is broken while the batter is out of their ground running |
| Stumped | The keeper breaks the wicket while the batter is out of their ground, not attempting a run |
| Hit wicket | The batter breaks their own wicket while playing the ball or starting a run |
| Hit the ball twice | Deliberately striking the ball a second time other than to protect the wicket |
| Obstructing the field | Wilfully obstructing or distracting the fielding side |
| Timed out | New batter not ready to receive the ball within the allowed time |
| Retired out | Batter retires without the umpire's permission or the opposing captain's consent to return |
Appeals
A batter is only given out if the fielding side appeals ("How's that?"), except when obviously out, such as bowled.
Does the ball have to bounce?
No. A bowler may pitch the ball or deliver it on the full. However, a delivery that passes above waist height of the batter standing upright without bouncing (a high full toss) is a no ball, and the Laws limit short-pitched bowling. Under Law 21, a ball that bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before reaching the popping crease is also a no ball, as is one that lands off the pitch before reaching the line of the striker's wicket.
Why are there three stumps?
The wicket is three stumps topped by two bails. Each stump stands 28 in (71.12 cm) above the ground and the full wicket is 9 in (22.86 cm) wide under Law 8. Early cricket used two stumps; a third was added in the 18th century after balls passed between the two without dislodging the bail.
Backyard and gully cricket
Informal games often use house rules such as one-hand-one-bounce catches, "tip and run", or no LBW. Agree on rules before you start; they are not part of the official Laws. For a tennis-ball game see our tennis ball cricket bat guide.
The umpires and the toss
Two on-field umpires apply the Laws. Before the match, the captains toss a coin; the winner chooses whether to bat or field first. Umpires decide on dismissals when the fielding side appeals, signal boundaries and extras, and judge whether conditions are fit for play.
Bowling legally
A delivery must be bowled, not thrown: the bowler's arm must not straighten during the delivery action, as described in Law 21. Part of the bowler's front foot must land behind the popping crease (it may be raised or grounded), and the back foot must land within the return crease. Breaching these makes the delivery a no ball.
Bowlers also cannot bowl two consecutive overs. Limited-overs competitions add playing conditions such as a maximum number of overs per bowler.
How a match is won
In limited-overs cricket, the side scoring more runs wins. In matches with two innings per side, a team must normally bowl the opposition out twice and score more runs to win; if time runs out first, the match is a draw. A tie occurs when scores finish level with the side batting last all out (or overs completed in limited-overs cricket).
Learn by playing
The fastest way to understand the Laws is to play. Many US clubs welcome beginners in social or lower-division teams.
Key terms for beginners
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Striker | The batter facing the bowler |
| Non-striker | The batter at the bowler's end |
| Crease | Lines marking safe ground and bowling limits |
| Declaration | Captain ending their side's innings early (in timed matches) |
| Follow-on | In two-innings matches, a side far behind may be asked to bat again immediately |
| Dead ball | Ball out of play, e.g. after a boundary or dismissal |
Where to read the official Laws
The MCC publishes the full Laws of Cricket on its website, with explanations and examples. Leagues add their own playing conditions on top of the Laws, covering format-specific rules such as overs per bowler, powerplays and ball type. When in doubt, check both.
More quick answers
How many balls in an over?
Six legal deliveries; wides and no balls are re-bowled.
Can a bowler bowl consecutive overs?
No, a bowler cannot bowl two overs in a row.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic rules of cricket?
Two teams of 11 take turns to bat and bowl. Overs have six balls. Batters score runs, and the fielding side tries to dismiss 10 batters.
How many ways can you be out in cricket?
Bowled, caught, LBW, run out, stumped, hit wicket, hit the ball twice, obstructing the field, timed out, and retired out.
Can a batter hit the ball twice?
Only to protect their wicket, and not to score runs. Wilfully hitting it twice otherwise is out.
Does a cricket ball have to bounce?
No, but a full toss above waist height is a no ball.
How far apart are the stumps?
The wickets are 22 yards (20.12 m) apart.
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