Cricket is a very old game that is steeped in tradition. The earlier types of cricket go back to at least the thirteenth century and the roots of the game can be traced back to the south of England. It seems to have been popular among the families of farmers in the south east. A game that seems to be similar was even mentioned as early as thirteen hundred, although it is not sure that this was cricket. However, the first known reference to the name cricket was made in the late sixteenth century in the south of England. This was at a school where the game was being played.
The origin of the name "cricket" is not actually known, but there are many possible sources for the name. One of the most popular ideas is that it is from the French language. The word could even be from the French word criqet which means bat. Although there are also Flemish and Old English contenders for the title. Actually even the French word criqet is originally from the Flemish. So it is not really possible to say exactly where the name cricket is from, but it has been around since at least the end of the sixteenth century.
In the year sixteen hundred the game of cricket was first brought to India by the east India Company. During the seventeenth century the game became more and more popular in the south east of England and it was played by a lot more people at this time as there are numerous references to the game during the seventeenth century. After a while it was played in a more formal fashion in the later part of this century. It is even thought that there might have been professional players at this time. It is certain that some of these games were played for large amounts of money and there was a lot of gambling on the matches that were being played in the seventeenth century. This is also when the number of players was established at eleven on each side. This is a time that was very important for the game as it was when it really became the early prototype of the game that it is today, although the bowling technique had not yet been formalised.
During the eighteenth century there were more and more references to the game and it was much more widespread at this time. There were numerous references to the game being played and there were stories of very high stakes being bet on the games. It also became a much more popular spectator game with large crowds watching matches and more formal games being arranged. Lords cricket club in London was established in 1787 as the home of cricket. It is still one of the most important and traditional clubs in cricket today. It is the home of the MCC who are the official holders of the rules of cricket.
In the nineteenth century cricket became more like the game it is today with the start of over arm bowling. This made the game a lot better as it was more accurate and made it much more interesting to watch. In the mid nineteenth century, the first overseas tour was to America and it was then followed some years later by a tour to Australia to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In 1864 the great cricketer WG Grace began playing cricket. He was to influence the game more than any other single person. He was a doctor and continued to practice when he was not playing the game. He played at the top level for over forty years. He scored over one thousand two hundred runs in the year 1902 when he was fifty four. He was a very domineering character and was well known for arguing with the umpires when he did not like their decisions. In the mid twentieth century, the crowds got to see the greatest batsmen that ever lived, the Australian Don Bradman. He was so good that the England team resorted to very direct tactics in the "bodyline series", where they bowled at the man instead of the wicket in an attempt to beat the Australian team. This was so controversial that it led to strained diplomatic relations between England and Australia until the start of the Second World War.
In the sixties the game changed as limited over matches were played and made the game much more accessible to many more people. This started the one day internationals and the first one was played in 1971. The game became even more accessible in recent years with the start of Twenty20 cricket. This is where each team has a maximum of twenty overs and makes the game much faster and it generally lasts for no more than 3 hours. Even today the game continues to change and gets better and it is likely to carry on that way.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Stick Cricket A New Way To Look At A Great Game.
Want to play the English’s version of Baseball or perhaps you are just looking for a game that increases you hand eye coordination, then look no farther than Stick Cricket. The name Stick Cricket derives from the English Game Cricket and the neat graphics which make your players look like stick people.
Stick Cricket is a simple and easy game where you use the Arrow Keys or letters A, W, D, and S key to move your player and the stick bat to aim for your hit. The Keys mentioned do the following moves; W or Arrow Up Key moves are Straight Drive/ Defend/ and Let Go, the A or Backwards Arrow keys moves are Cow Corner/ Pull/ Hook, the D or Forward Key are Cut/ and Off Drive, and the S or Down Arrow Key is Duck. This is one set of keys you may want to remember since the ball can and will come straight at you.
I know I said simple and easy, the only really simple and easy things about this game is the Keys used to play, I found the arrow keys the easiest to use. To play you wait until the ball reaches you then you swing the bat using one of the keys, the overall goal is to hit it as far as possible without getting an out, scoring higher than the opposing team. The game is highly addictive, and fun for everyone. You will notice three sticks standing up out of the ground, if the ball hits one of these then you get an automatic out.
There are four figures in the outfield behind the pitcher who you need to aim away from if at all possible. They are there for one reason and one reason only to get you out, that perfect hit that took so long to get is caught by these menacing players. They are only doing their job though as they are on the opposing side.
The designers focused more on the fun you can and will have playing the game, than the actual graphics though definitely eye catching in their drawings.
Stick Cricket is a simple and easy game where you use the Arrow Keys or letters A, W, D, and S key to move your player and the stick bat to aim for your hit. The Keys mentioned do the following moves; W or Arrow Up Key moves are Straight Drive/ Defend/ and Let Go, the A or Backwards Arrow keys moves are Cow Corner/ Pull/ Hook, the D or Forward Key are Cut/ and Off Drive, and the S or Down Arrow Key is Duck. This is one set of keys you may want to remember since the ball can and will come straight at you.
I know I said simple and easy, the only really simple and easy things about this game is the Keys used to play, I found the arrow keys the easiest to use. To play you wait until the ball reaches you then you swing the bat using one of the keys, the overall goal is to hit it as far as possible without getting an out, scoring higher than the opposing team. The game is highly addictive, and fun for everyone. You will notice three sticks standing up out of the ground, if the ball hits one of these then you get an automatic out.
There are four figures in the outfield behind the pitcher who you need to aim away from if at all possible. They are there for one reason and one reason only to get you out, that perfect hit that took so long to get is caught by these menacing players. They are only doing their job though as they are on the opposing side.
The designers focused more on the fun you can and will have playing the game, than the actual graphics though definitely eye catching in their drawings.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Basic Facts And Rules Of Cricket
This article will introduce to you the basic facts and rules of cricket to help you understand it better.
The game of cricket is played between two teams and each team has eleven players. The team may use a substitute if a player is injured and if he recovers he may come back on to the pitch. Cricket has two umpires that enforce the rules, make and judge decisions. There are also two scorers that keep the score for both teams.
In cricket the ball is 22.4 to 22.9cm in diameter and weights between 155 to 163 grams. The cricket bat is 96.5 long and 10.8 wide. The cricket wicket/pitch is 22 yards long and 10ft wide. The wickets themselves are composed of three stumps, which are 28 inches tall and 9 inches wide with three bails on top. The bowling crease is 8.8ft long and as wide as the wicket, it is centred on the stumps. The condition of the pitch should be good and ideally should give an even bounce.
Cricket is played for one or two innings depending on the type of match. The innings is over when all of the batsmen are out, or the innings is forfeit, or if the limit of overs or time is reached as agreed by the two captains.
A 'follow-on' occurs in a two innings match when a team that is batting does not reach the limit for runs to allow them to play on. This is when they are behind the fielding team by 200 runs for a test match, 150 for a three day match and 75 runs for a one day match. The batting team then has to bat again at the discretion of the other team. The captain of the batting team may end the innings whenever the ball is not in play.
There should be a 10 minute break between each innings, and there are also breaks for lunch, tea and drinks as agreed by the captains, after which the play is started again by the umpires. In the final hour the fielding team must bowl at least 20 overs. The teams may practice before or after the game at the umpire's discretion.
The batting team scores a run when both batsman cross and reach the opposite ends of the wicket without getting out. If the ball goes over the boundary and does not bounce the batting team get 6 runs, if it does bounce then they get 4 runs. The team that gets the most runs is the winner. If they both get the same amount of runs it is a draw. Each over is 6 bowls long and then the next over is from the other end of the wicket.
If the batsman is not able to hit the ball from where he stands then the ball is wide This means that the batting team gets an extra run. There is also a no ball when the ball bounces more than one time on the way to the wicket when it has been bowled or the bowler does not bowl correctly. That gives the batting team an extra run. When the bowler bowls he may not put his foot over the crease and his arm must go over his shoulder and not bend.
If the ball is not hit when bowled, but the batsmen scores a run it is called a bye, but the batsman must play a shot. If the batsman makes a run when he has tried to hit the ball but it has bounced off of his pad then it is called a leg bye. The batsman is out if the ball is caught before it has hit the ground when he has hit it. He is out if the bowler knocks off the bails when the ball is bowled. The batsman is out if the bails are knocked off when he is out of the crease and the ball is in play.The batsman is out if he is not ready to face the ball in three minutes from the last batsman being out.
The batsman is out if he, hits the ball twice or gets hit by the ball after it is bowled and when it would have hit the wicket if he did not get in the way of it. The batsman is out when he purposely obstructs the fielding team when the ball is in play. The batsman is out when he is run out when the ball hits the wicket when he is not in the crease when he is running between the wickets. The wicket keeper stands behind the wicket and is able to wear gloves and pads. He can stump the batsman through knocking off the bails when the batsman is not in the crease.
When 10 out the 11 batsmen are out, or the amount of agreed overs or hours are completed, the innings is finished. The team that has the most runs at the end of the one or two innings are the winners. The amount of overs and innings is agreed between the two teams at the start of the game.
The game of cricket is played between two teams and each team has eleven players. The team may use a substitute if a player is injured and if he recovers he may come back on to the pitch. Cricket has two umpires that enforce the rules, make and judge decisions. There are also two scorers that keep the score for both teams.
In cricket the ball is 22.4 to 22.9cm in diameter and weights between 155 to 163 grams. The cricket bat is 96.5 long and 10.8 wide. The cricket wicket/pitch is 22 yards long and 10ft wide. The wickets themselves are composed of three stumps, which are 28 inches tall and 9 inches wide with three bails on top. The bowling crease is 8.8ft long and as wide as the wicket, it is centred on the stumps. The condition of the pitch should be good and ideally should give an even bounce.
Cricket is played for one or two innings depending on the type of match. The innings is over when all of the batsmen are out, or the innings is forfeit, or if the limit of overs or time is reached as agreed by the two captains.
A 'follow-on' occurs in a two innings match when a team that is batting does not reach the limit for runs to allow them to play on. This is when they are behind the fielding team by 200 runs for a test match, 150 for a three day match and 75 runs for a one day match. The batting team then has to bat again at the discretion of the other team. The captain of the batting team may end the innings whenever the ball is not in play.
There should be a 10 minute break between each innings, and there are also breaks for lunch, tea and drinks as agreed by the captains, after which the play is started again by the umpires. In the final hour the fielding team must bowl at least 20 overs. The teams may practice before or after the game at the umpire's discretion.
The batting team scores a run when both batsman cross and reach the opposite ends of the wicket without getting out. If the ball goes over the boundary and does not bounce the batting team get 6 runs, if it does bounce then they get 4 runs. The team that gets the most runs is the winner. If they both get the same amount of runs it is a draw. Each over is 6 bowls long and then the next over is from the other end of the wicket.
If the batsman is not able to hit the ball from where he stands then the ball is wide This means that the batting team gets an extra run. There is also a no ball when the ball bounces more than one time on the way to the wicket when it has been bowled or the bowler does not bowl correctly. That gives the batting team an extra run. When the bowler bowls he may not put his foot over the crease and his arm must go over his shoulder and not bend.
If the ball is not hit when bowled, but the batsmen scores a run it is called a bye, but the batsman must play a shot. If the batsman makes a run when he has tried to hit the ball but it has bounced off of his pad then it is called a leg bye. The batsman is out if the ball is caught before it has hit the ground when he has hit it. He is out if the bowler knocks off the bails when the ball is bowled. The batsman is out if the bails are knocked off when he is out of the crease and the ball is in play.The batsman is out if he is not ready to face the ball in three minutes from the last batsman being out.
The batsman is out if he, hits the ball twice or gets hit by the ball after it is bowled and when it would have hit the wicket if he did not get in the way of it. The batsman is out when he purposely obstructs the fielding team when the ball is in play. The batsman is out when he is run out when the ball hits the wicket when he is not in the crease when he is running between the wickets. The wicket keeper stands behind the wicket and is able to wear gloves and pads. He can stump the batsman through knocking off the bails when the batsman is not in the crease.
When 10 out the 11 batsmen are out, or the amount of agreed overs or hours are completed, the innings is finished. The team that has the most runs at the end of the one or two innings are the winners. The amount of overs and innings is agreed between the two teams at the start of the game.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Cricket Fielding Tips to boost your Performance!
That catches win matches is a very old saying and this is very rightly said. Many times in a cricket match, the fielding level of teams is the determining factor in the outcome of a match. A team may have the best batting line up, have the world’s deadliest fast bowlers and spin bowlers, but if the fielding of the team is not up to the mark, winning can be an impossible task. The whole team could be playing well and a misfield from a fielder could suddenly demoralize the whole team. Cricket is a team game and every member of the team must give his best if the team wants to win a match.
Fielding in a cricket match is all about anticipation. Better the level of your anticipation is, better will be your resulting fielding effort. Remember a good fielder is one who is comfortable in fielding at any position, be it the boundary or the slip cordon. Cricket fielding tips are capable of giving you proper fielding guidance if you follow them seriously.
Fielding in the boundary can be very tricky if you do not have the right amount of concentration. The boundary is the nosiest area in a cricket field and any lapse can prove to be fatal to the team. If you are fielding in that position, never be distracted by the noise and bantering from the crowd. Cricket fielding tips suggest that your sole aim must be to follow the movement of the ball and anticipate in advance where the ball is likely to end up.
The golden rule of taking catches while fielding is not to celebrate too soon. Remember what happened to Herschelle Gibbs, when he started his celebrations a bit too early after taking the catch of Steve Waugh in a crucial world cup encounter. South Africa was knocked out from the tournament and Australia went on to win the trophy, all because of a missed catch. Remember to secure the ball in your hand for enough time before you start celebrating. Never get carried away when you have taken the catch, even if you have caught the world’s best batsman for a duck.
Following the cricket fielding tips are crucial while fielding at any position in the cricket field. While fielding at close in positions like slips, gully and short leg, make sure that your stance is proper. Keep a proper distance in between both your feet so that your body weight is divided evenly. Rest lightly on the balls of your feet so that you can easily maneuver yourself to the direction in which the ball is going past you. Remember, that catches should always be taken with soft hands. If you are a close in fielder, never neglect to wear protective gears like helmet and pad. Remember injuries sustained while fielding can turn to be life threatening for a player.
Always be alert while you are fielding, be it at any position. This is a golden cricket fielding tips, which will surely lead you to succeed in the cricket field. If you are fielding in the deep, take care to avoid the sun. Wear protective sunglasses to keep away the sun while you are running to take a catch. Remember the outcome of a match depends on the way you field for your team. Catches really do win matches.
Fielding in a cricket match is all about anticipation. Better the level of your anticipation is, better will be your resulting fielding effort. Remember a good fielder is one who is comfortable in fielding at any position, be it the boundary or the slip cordon. Cricket fielding tips are capable of giving you proper fielding guidance if you follow them seriously.
Fielding in the boundary can be very tricky if you do not have the right amount of concentration. The boundary is the nosiest area in a cricket field and any lapse can prove to be fatal to the team. If you are fielding in that position, never be distracted by the noise and bantering from the crowd. Cricket fielding tips suggest that your sole aim must be to follow the movement of the ball and anticipate in advance where the ball is likely to end up.
The golden rule of taking catches while fielding is not to celebrate too soon. Remember what happened to Herschelle Gibbs, when he started his celebrations a bit too early after taking the catch of Steve Waugh in a crucial world cup encounter. South Africa was knocked out from the tournament and Australia went on to win the trophy, all because of a missed catch. Remember to secure the ball in your hand for enough time before you start celebrating. Never get carried away when you have taken the catch, even if you have caught the world’s best batsman for a duck.
Following the cricket fielding tips are crucial while fielding at any position in the cricket field. While fielding at close in positions like slips, gully and short leg, make sure that your stance is proper. Keep a proper distance in between both your feet so that your body weight is divided evenly. Rest lightly on the balls of your feet so that you can easily maneuver yourself to the direction in which the ball is going past you. Remember, that catches should always be taken with soft hands. If you are a close in fielder, never neglect to wear protective gears like helmet and pad. Remember injuries sustained while fielding can turn to be life threatening for a player.
Always be alert while you are fielding, be it at any position. This is a golden cricket fielding tips, which will surely lead you to succeed in the cricket field. If you are fielding in the deep, take care to avoid the sun. Wear protective sunglasses to keep away the sun while you are running to take a catch. Remember the outcome of a match depends on the way you field for your team. Catches really do win matches.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Cricket Batting Tips: The Sweep Shot And Reverse Sweep
The sweep and the reverse sweep are two batting shots which are not commonly used, especially the reverse sweep which is rarely used. However both shots can be used in certain batting situations and are an effective way to score runs and keep the score board ticking over.
There is a high element of risk with the sweep shot, so good judgement and excellent timing is essential. Avoid playing the sweep and reverse sweep early on in your innings especially to straight deliveries, as it is not a good idea to play it until you have your eye in and know how the pitch is playing and what the bowler is doing. As for example, if the ball stayed low it would be quite easy to misjudge and get out LBW or bowled which you definitely want to avoid, so be patient and play yourself in first.
The sweep and reverse sweep are both cross batted shots and should ideally be played to slow deliveries which are of a good length and not too full. To play the orthodox sweep shot, first wait for the ball to be released before making any movement – DON'T PREMEDITATE THE SHOT!
Once you have determined that the ball is there to play the sweep shot to, move your front foot as far down the wicket towards the pitch of the ball as you can. As you are moving forward bend both knees simultaneously so that you whole body is low down, let your back knee touch the ground to act as an extra base of support. Try to stay balanced and relaxed. Bring the bat down from the off side and across the ball towards the leg side and aim to hit it either in front of or behind square leg. You can roll your wrists over the ball as you hit to help keep it on the ground. Aim to have your arms fully extended when you contact the ball.
To play the reverse sweep, get in to the same position as for the orthodox sweep, however this time, bring you bat down and across from leg side towards the off side, so you are aiming to hit the ball through the gully area. This shot requires very good coordination and timing as you have to twist the bat round so that the bat face faces the off side at the point of contact without altering your grip.
Common problems:
-Premeditating the shot- deciding to play the shot before the bowler has bowled the ball. Wait until the ball is released from the bowlers hand before deciding to play the shot.
-Playing the sweep too early in the innings before getting your eye in. Wait until you are set and know how the pitch is playing and what the bowler is doing before attempting the shot.
-Trying to hit the ball too hard. Good timing and technique is better and more effective as you need to reduce the risk as much as possible.
-Playing the shot to deliveries which are either too full or too short, so good judgement of length is required.
Remember that the sweep and reverse sweep are quite hard shots to master and carry quite a lot of risk, so make sure that if you intend to use them, practice the shots in the nets and in training to get a feel for the shot and so you know when to play it; so that when you come to use them you are confident and skilled enough to do so.
There is a high element of risk with the sweep shot, so good judgement and excellent timing is essential. Avoid playing the sweep and reverse sweep early on in your innings especially to straight deliveries, as it is not a good idea to play it until you have your eye in and know how the pitch is playing and what the bowler is doing. As for example, if the ball stayed low it would be quite easy to misjudge and get out LBW or bowled which you definitely want to avoid, so be patient and play yourself in first.
The sweep and reverse sweep are both cross batted shots and should ideally be played to slow deliveries which are of a good length and not too full. To play the orthodox sweep shot, first wait for the ball to be released before making any movement – DON'T PREMEDITATE THE SHOT!
Once you have determined that the ball is there to play the sweep shot to, move your front foot as far down the wicket towards the pitch of the ball as you can. As you are moving forward bend both knees simultaneously so that you whole body is low down, let your back knee touch the ground to act as an extra base of support. Try to stay balanced and relaxed. Bring the bat down from the off side and across the ball towards the leg side and aim to hit it either in front of or behind square leg. You can roll your wrists over the ball as you hit to help keep it on the ground. Aim to have your arms fully extended when you contact the ball.
To play the reverse sweep, get in to the same position as for the orthodox sweep, however this time, bring you bat down and across from leg side towards the off side, so you are aiming to hit the ball through the gully area. This shot requires very good coordination and timing as you have to twist the bat round so that the bat face faces the off side at the point of contact without altering your grip.
Common problems:
-Premeditating the shot- deciding to play the shot before the bowler has bowled the ball. Wait until the ball is released from the bowlers hand before deciding to play the shot.
-Playing the sweep too early in the innings before getting your eye in. Wait until you are set and know how the pitch is playing and what the bowler is doing before attempting the shot.
-Trying to hit the ball too hard. Good timing and technique is better and more effective as you need to reduce the risk as much as possible.
-Playing the shot to deliveries which are either too full or too short, so good judgement of length is required.
Remember that the sweep and reverse sweep are quite hard shots to master and carry quite a lot of risk, so make sure that if you intend to use them, practice the shots in the nets and in training to get a feel for the shot and so you know when to play it; so that when you come to use them you are confident and skilled enough to do so.
Finally, A Cricket Equipment Review Site Worth Talking About
With the continued growth of the number websites on the internet in the last few years it’s not surprising that a lot of these don’t meet the demands of the users as webmasters and business owners seek to make easy money.
For example there are a number of cricket review sites on the internet which appear to be ‘spam’ sites with nothing more than ‘sponsored listings’ and no reviews. This is just one problem experienced by many cricket players searching the internet for cricket equipment reviews.
There are a lot of review websites out there on the internet but very few of them focus specifically on cricket equipment, therefore they lack detail and often have very few reviews which leaves users engaged in a perpetual search for the information they want and need.
However many webmasters and online business owners are finally waking up to the fact that website visitors want high quality content and not just a bunch of junk links. For example the release of cricket-equipment-reviews.com has been met with praise and relief as it provides a place for all cricketers to congregate and to read and post reviews without having to waste time trawling many different websites.
The site allows users to register and suggest different types of cricket equipment for review under eight different categories, as well as post their own reviews of the cricket equipment which is already listed on the website. This is exactly what many of website users and especially cricketers have been waiting for and need, as it allows cricketers to read reviews of new and old products alike and make informed decisions before making a purchase.
Thus the onus is now on the business owners to make the extra effort and change their focus back to the user and not on making a fast buck.
For example there are a number of cricket review sites on the internet which appear to be ‘spam’ sites with nothing more than ‘sponsored listings’ and no reviews. This is just one problem experienced by many cricket players searching the internet for cricket equipment reviews.
There are a lot of review websites out there on the internet but very few of them focus specifically on cricket equipment, therefore they lack detail and often have very few reviews which leaves users engaged in a perpetual search for the information they want and need.
However many webmasters and online business owners are finally waking up to the fact that website visitors want high quality content and not just a bunch of junk links. For example the release of cricket-equipment-reviews.com has been met with praise and relief as it provides a place for all cricketers to congregate and to read and post reviews without having to waste time trawling many different websites.
The site allows users to register and suggest different types of cricket equipment for review under eight different categories, as well as post their own reviews of the cricket equipment which is already listed on the website. This is exactly what many of website users and especially cricketers have been waiting for and need, as it allows cricketers to read reviews of new and old products alike and make informed decisions before making a purchase.
Thus the onus is now on the business owners to make the extra effort and change their focus back to the user and not on making a fast buck.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
9 All Time Great Cricketers
Throughout the history of cricket there have been those that were special, who were slightly different to their fellow cricketers and made the crowd sit up whenever they arrived on the pitch. Of course every game has its heroes and cricket is no exception. And every nation has its own cricketing legends that they believe were better than those of other teams. This article will introduce you to 9 of the world's great cricketers from past and present.
Imran Kahn was a great Pakistani cricketer who played at the highest level for over twenty years from his debut in 1971. He was a great all rounder who led the Pakistan team to their first world cup just before he retired. Always elegant in both action and speech he was one of the best all-rounders that the game has ever had. He is now a politician in Pakistan and the leader of a major political party. He played in 88 tests with a batting average of 37.69. He took 362 wickets with an excellent bowling average of 22.81.
Shane Warne is an Australian spin bowler who is one of, if not the, greatest spin bowler the game has ever seen. He was born in 1969 in Victoria and has played test cricket since 1990, retiring in 2007. He has taken more test wickets than any other player in history. He was also the first player to take more than 600 test wickets. He played in 140 tests and has taken 685 wickets with a bowling average of 25.25.
Gary Sobers was a highly talented cricketer who was born in Barbados in 1936. He played 93 tests for the West Indies and scored an impressive 8032 runs. He had a batting average of 57.78. He was also a very good slow left arm bowler, taking 235 test wickets, with an average of 34.03. He is best known for being the first batsman ever to score six sixes in one over in 1968 in a first class cricket match while playing for Notts against Glamorgan.
Ian Botham was a great English all-rounder. He was the scourge of bowlers with his prodigious batting ability and he was just as adept as a fast medium paced bowler. He was born in Cheshire in 1955 and played mainly for Somerset. He was very much a true all rounder as he was as good at bowling as batting. He played in 102 test matches and scored 5200 runs, with an average of 33.34 and he took 383 wickets with an average of 28.40.
WG Grace is thought by many to be the most influential cricketer the game has ever seen. He was born in 1848 at a time when cricket was not the massive sport that it is today. He is one of the reasons, with his great batting ability, that cricket became so popular. When he was out first ball at a match once, he refused to go telling the umpire that, "the crowd are here to watch me bat and not to watch you umpire!". There were not many test matches then so he played only 22 and scored 1098 runs with an average of 32.29. He took 9 wickets with an average of 26.22. This average is low even though he was playing into his late fifties!
Allan Border was born in 1955 in Sydney and was Australian captain. He still has the world record for the greatest number of uninterrupted test matches. He also had the record, at the time, for the most runs in test matches at 11174 in 156 tests. He was also one of the most prolific hitters of centuries with 27 in test matches. He also took 39 wickets with an average of 39.10.
Shaun Pollock is a South African medium fast bowler who is well known for his accuracy and reliability. He is also a very good batsman who has scored over 3406 runs in 100 test matches with an average of 31.24. He has taken 395 wickets at an average of 23.25. He is South Africa's most prodigious wicket taker in both one day international and test matches.
Viv Richards is one of the all time greats of West Indian cricket. He was a very successful captain to one of the best West Indian sides ever. He was a powerful batsman and scored an average of 50.23, scoring 8450 runs in 121 matches. He only lost 8 matches in the 50 that he captained.
Don Bradman was born in 1908 in New South Wales and was not only the best Australian but is thought, by many, to be the best batsman of all time. His batting skill was so good that the England cricket team in the 1928-1929 tests resorted to bowling at the batsmen rather than the wickets in order to try to win. This was known as the bodyline series. The dispute from this was so bad that it nearly caused a diplomatic dispute between England and Australia. He played in 52 tests and scored 6996 runs so he had an incredible average of 99.94. These statistics make him the best batsman ever.
Imran Kahn was a great Pakistani cricketer who played at the highest level for over twenty years from his debut in 1971. He was a great all rounder who led the Pakistan team to their first world cup just before he retired. Always elegant in both action and speech he was one of the best all-rounders that the game has ever had. He is now a politician in Pakistan and the leader of a major political party. He played in 88 tests with a batting average of 37.69. He took 362 wickets with an excellent bowling average of 22.81.
Shane Warne is an Australian spin bowler who is one of, if not the, greatest spin bowler the game has ever seen. He was born in 1969 in Victoria and has played test cricket since 1990, retiring in 2007. He has taken more test wickets than any other player in history. He was also the first player to take more than 600 test wickets. He played in 140 tests and has taken 685 wickets with a bowling average of 25.25.
Gary Sobers was a highly talented cricketer who was born in Barbados in 1936. He played 93 tests for the West Indies and scored an impressive 8032 runs. He had a batting average of 57.78. He was also a very good slow left arm bowler, taking 235 test wickets, with an average of 34.03. He is best known for being the first batsman ever to score six sixes in one over in 1968 in a first class cricket match while playing for Notts against Glamorgan.
Ian Botham was a great English all-rounder. He was the scourge of bowlers with his prodigious batting ability and he was just as adept as a fast medium paced bowler. He was born in Cheshire in 1955 and played mainly for Somerset. He was very much a true all rounder as he was as good at bowling as batting. He played in 102 test matches and scored 5200 runs, with an average of 33.34 and he took 383 wickets with an average of 28.40.
WG Grace is thought by many to be the most influential cricketer the game has ever seen. He was born in 1848 at a time when cricket was not the massive sport that it is today. He is one of the reasons, with his great batting ability, that cricket became so popular. When he was out first ball at a match once, he refused to go telling the umpire that, "the crowd are here to watch me bat and not to watch you umpire!". There were not many test matches then so he played only 22 and scored 1098 runs with an average of 32.29. He took 9 wickets with an average of 26.22. This average is low even though he was playing into his late fifties!
Allan Border was born in 1955 in Sydney and was Australian captain. He still has the world record for the greatest number of uninterrupted test matches. He also had the record, at the time, for the most runs in test matches at 11174 in 156 tests. He was also one of the most prolific hitters of centuries with 27 in test matches. He also took 39 wickets with an average of 39.10.
Shaun Pollock is a South African medium fast bowler who is well known for his accuracy and reliability. He is also a very good batsman who has scored over 3406 runs in 100 test matches with an average of 31.24. He has taken 395 wickets at an average of 23.25. He is South Africa's most prodigious wicket taker in both one day international and test matches.
Viv Richards is one of the all time greats of West Indian cricket. He was a very successful captain to one of the best West Indian sides ever. He was a powerful batsman and scored an average of 50.23, scoring 8450 runs in 121 matches. He only lost 8 matches in the 50 that he captained.
Don Bradman was born in 1908 in New South Wales and was not only the best Australian but is thought, by many, to be the best batsman of all time. His batting skill was so good that the England cricket team in the 1928-1929 tests resorted to bowling at the batsmen rather than the wickets in order to try to win. This was known as the bodyline series. The dispute from this was so bad that it nearly caused a diplomatic dispute between England and Australia. He played in 52 tests and scored 6996 runs so he had an incredible average of 99.94. These statistics make him the best batsman ever.
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