LivematchPro continues to set new standards in live sports tracking designed for sportsbooks and sports media with our advanced Players Stats feature now available for ice hockey. Advancedice hockey data STATSCORE’s fast and reliable sports data has long empowered...
Cricket! the basics
I don’t understand Cricket! Living and working in a county that doesn’t play cricket, means I hear this statement all too often. As a company, STATSCORE, provides a cricket feed in our SportsAPI, and for me it’s always a real pleasure to explain the finer points of this game to both colleagues and friend (if I can get them to listen).
Being British with a father from the Caribbean, Cricket was as much part of my upbringing as Football. I can remember endless summer days playing this great game with other like minded kids on our street. In this post I would just like share the basic formats of the international game to you.
THE TEAMS
Cricket is always between two teams of eleven, no matter what format of the game is being played. Teams are made up of two types of players, those that specialize in batting and those that specialize in bowling, although there is always room for the “all-rounder” who is good at both disciplines.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRICKET
Cricket is won by the team that scores the most runs, but a draw is also possible. Runs are scored by hitting the ball when it’s bowled to you. Each team will have a number of bowlers (usually 4 or 5). and the blowers will take it in turn to bowl six times. Each bowl they have is know as “a ball” and six balls are know as “a over”.
THE MATCH CRICKET
This is considered the most traditional and purest format of Cricket. International test matches were first played in 1877. Sometimes referred to as “red ball cricket” so it can be distinguish from the more recent formats of the game. Test Match Cricket is played over 5 days! That said, and just to complicate things a little more, the five days are not always required. The biggest difference between Test Matches and other forms of the game, is teams have the opportunity to bat twice (again, not always needed).
ONE DAY CRICKET
This is another very traditional format of Cricket and as the name suggests, it’s played over a single day. To make this achievable, both teams are limited to a maximum of 50 overs each. At the end of the match, the team with the most runs wins! Going back to the term “red bat cricket” one day matches are often played with a white ball.
More: read about 5 reasons to power up your business with STATSCORE’s SportsAPI.
TWENTY20 CRICKET
This is the most recent format added to the world of international cricket, and the first matches took place in 2005. Played very much along the lines of one day cricket, but instead of 50 overs, team are restricted to only 20 overs. This form of the game is by far the most explosive and there’s lots of action to be seen in a short space of time. Add to this it can be played from start to finish in a afternoon or an evening, makes it’s great for TV and has bought a whole new audience to the world of cricket!
If you want to get in touch to find our more about Cricket and other sports available in our SportsAPI, please contact our Customer Success Team at cst@statscore.com, so we can schedule a call and discuss how STATSCORE’s SportsAPI can help your organization!
Related articles
10 unknown facts about football in Qatar
As the start of the world's greatest football tournament is right behind the corner, STATSCORE takes a closer look at Qatar and its relations with football. The choice of Qatar as the host of the most important football tournament has clearly been controversial. A lot...
Women’s football is on the rise. What are its main drivers and challenges?
With over 13 million girls and women playing organised football around the globe, and a surge in TV viewership of professional women's competitions, there can be no doubt that the sport is thriving. Let’s learn more with STATSCORE! In recent years, the participation...
Water polo, bandy, kabbadi, charreria… Welcome to the world of national sports!
I'm presuming that if you're reading this, you are a sports fan! I'm also guessing that as a sports fan, you know your country's official "national sport", or do you? Below you will find a list of sports - let's see if you can match the sport to a country! Well, I...