Cricket, a Civilized Game

Many different sports and games have been invented and started in England. Many of these are still played and remain very popular to the people of that country. The game of cricket is a very complicated sport to those who have never played with all of the rules and regulations but is one to be enjoyed by all. The exact measurements of the cricket playing field have not been officially agreed upon. The area is usually around 450 feet by 500 feet. When setting up the wicket, three stumps and driven into the ground. Each stump is about 31 inches along with one pointed end and one rounded end (Formals 24). Twenty-eight inches is left above the turf of the field. The three stumps are placed in a line with one another and the space between is just small enough to prevent a ball from passing through. When aligned they measure nine inches from the outside edges of the outer two stumps. On the rounded end of each stump is cut a half-inch groove in which the two remaining pieces of wood are placed (Formals 26). These two small, cylindral objects, called bails are what the bowler is intent on knocking off. After one wicket has been constructed, another is set up sixty-six feet away. Near each wicket a set of lines are drawn, these marks are the bowling and popping creases. Each wicket has its own bowling and popping crease. The bowling crease is drawn in the straight line with the three stumps measuring four feet on each side of the two end stumps. The second line, the popping crease, as drawn parallel to and four feet in front on the first line (Formals 29). Both bowling and popping creases are drawn by using a chalk or whitewash line about 11/2 inches wide. Batting in cricket is very similar to the style of batting used in baseball. Batsmen may hit the ball in any direction and, after hitting the ball, can elect to run to the opposite crease. If the batsmen runs, the partner runs for the crease the batter has just left. If both runners reach the opposite