Why do bowlers and their fielders shine a cricket ball? In this guide, I’ll look a bit closer at the dynamics and why it is important to maintain that shine. Also under the spotlight are the ways in which you can and can’t treat the ball while on the field of play. How to Shine …
The Best Way to Shine a Cricket Ball – and How Does It Help Swing Bowling Read More »
It’s important to be comfortable in your cricket shoes in order to be at your best on the field and keeping your shoes in optimum condition can also prevent serious injury. I’ve already produced a guide on how to choose cricket shoes and, in this round up, I’ll take a look at how you can …
Cricket Shoes Maintenance Guide – How to Take Care of Your Cricket Shoes? Read More »
I always advise taking time and care when choosing any piece of cricketing equipment. Cricket shoes should last across more than one season so it’s essential to find a brand of shoes which you trust. Best Cricket Shoe Brands of Find below some of the best brands for cricket shoes, along with a couple of …
Best Cricket Shoes Brands for Batting, Bowling and Fielding Shoes Read More »
I’ve already worked through a guide to choosing a cricket bat and there’s also a piece on whether English or Kashmir willow is the best. One thing that’s left to look at is a list of the biggest and best bat manufacturers out there. This is a worldwide list covering India, Australia, England and others …
Top 12 Cricket Bat Brands Worldwide: Indian, Australian and English Manufacturers Read More »
Firstly, let’s start with defining what is a six in cricket: A six is also referred to as a ‘maximum’ as this is the most runs that can be scored in cricket from a single hit. There may be anomalies, such as instances where fielders allow for ‘overthrows’ but these are exceptionally rare. The Longest …
The Longest and Highest Sixes In Cricket – The Complete List Read More »
These are the bat brands that I’m most familiar with. Readers should also know them very well as they are used by some of the top international players around the world. This is a list of the best cricket bat manufacturers based in the UK. Gunn & Moore Personally, I’ve used Gunn and Moore bats …
Getting a batting order right is one of the most important parts of a cricketing strategy. I captained my club side on a few occasions and often found this to be the toughest part of my day. Here’s a guide on how to assess the eleven players taking part in the match and how to …
Batting Order in Cricket: How is a Batting Line Up Set Up? Read More »
Novice cricketers, but even seniors, often use other balls than regular cricket balls for training purposes. There are dozens of alternatives around to keep your precious Kookaburra from being damaged, but we have listed the best five for your cricket practice. 5 Types of Practice Cricket Balls At junior level and for seniors’ training, a …
Practice Cricket Balls: Which Ball is Best for Cricket Training? Read More »
In this guide I’m going to be looking at all the different cricket shots that are available to batsmen. I’ll also discuss the strategy and approach to selecting an appropriate shot to the ball that has been delivered. The aim is to help readers understand shot selection and to hopefully make them more prolific run …
All Cricket Shots – Types of Cricket Shots, Batting Technique Explained Read More »
I’ve seen some of the world’s greatest fast bowlers in action: In one of my earliest visits to a test match, I saw the great Michael Holding take England apart at The Oval and it was fascinating to see reel pace. But how fast do bowlers bowl in the modern game and what have been …
How Fast Do Bowlers Bowl? Cricket Ball Speed and the Fastest Deliveries Read More »
I’ve already walked you through the process of knocking in a cricket bat but there is a series of aftercare procedures that everyone should look at. This is your most expensive and valuable piece of equipment and it deserves to be looked after properly. Cricket bat care is essential! Cricket Bat Care and Maintenance Here …
![Largest Cricket Stadiums in the World by Boundary and Capacity ([date format='Y'])](https://www.itsonlycricket.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Largest-Cricket-Stadiums-feat.jpg "Largest Cricket Stadiums in the World by Boundary and Capacity ([date format='Y'])")
I’ve been lucky enough to watch cricket in three different countries so far – England, New Zealand and the West Indies. I’ve also seen some wonderful stadiums: Cricket grounds fascinate me and now we’re going to look at some of the biggest – both in terms of capacity and dimensions. Top 10 Largest Cricket Stadiums …
Largest Cricket Stadiums in the World by Boundary and Capacity (2023) Read More »
I’ve already discussed the art of swing bowling at length and how it can be used as an effective weapon. Now it’s time to take a closer look at some of the best exponents of swing bowling that the game has ever seen. Here are the 12 best swing bowlers of all time (strictly subjective). …
12 Best Swing Bowlers of All Time – Top Cricket Players Read More »
In this guide I’m going to look at the various component parts that make up a cricket bat. Each has their own use in the overall construction and I’ll explain the function of them all as you read through. At the end of the round up, you’ll understand why each piece is vital and what …
Understanding Cricket Bat Parts: A Beginner’s Guide Read More »
Over a long period of playing cricket, I’ve only ever used bats made from English willow. Recently, I’d been made aware of a preference among some players for Kashmir willow. The Kashmir willow vs English willow debate is about the question: is there a real alternative to English willow? So, I thought it was important …
Kashmir Willow vs English Willow: Types of Cricket Bats Read More »
In this guide we will look at the importance of a maiden century in cricket. This is the first time in a batsman’s career that they will score a hundred runs or more and it’s important for a number of reasons. Maiden Centuries can occur in all forms of the game and this major landmark …
When anyone purchases a new cricket bat, there is a desire to get out onto the field and use it as soon as possible. It is, however, important to understand that knocking in a bat ensures that the bat is fully prepared before it connects with the ball in order to avoid damage. Your bat …
How Knocking-In Your Cricket Bat Makes You a Better Batsman Read More »
Let’s explore the various techniques bowlers use to surprise the batsman. A cricket team looks to go into a match with a balanced bowling attack consisting of different types of bowlers. In general, those bowlers can be split into two very basic categories – fast and slow. In the following guide, I will explain how …
All Types of Bowling in Cricket: The Complete Guide Read More »
Official limited overs cricket matches were introduced in England in the 1960s. The international game followed suit in 1971 and the various formats are arguably the most popular within the sport. The Difference between Test and Limited Overs Cricket So what are the main differences between test cricket and limited overs cricket? Test cricket follows …
Limited Overs Cricket: Introduction and Rules for One Day Cricket Read More »
Fielding positions are an essential part of any cricket match and, if the captain places his or her players in the correct places, it can be key to the final outcome. Cricket is a sport with unique terminology and many of the fielding positions come with their own idiosyncratic language. In this guide we will …
Cricket Fielding Positions Explained: A Simple Guide Read More »
The basic aim in all forms of cricket is to score more runs than the opposition. Taking wickets will help to keep the total down but teams need runs in order to win any match, either in test cricket or either of the established limited overs formats. But how does cricket scoring work? This guide …
How does Cricket Scoring Work? – 4 Ways to Score Runs Read More »
It’s important to understand the difference between off side and leg side in cricket, and where are these two sections during the match for a number of reasons. They are particularly crucial in terms of field positioning and the laws of the game. What is Off Side and Leg Side in Cricket? A cricket field …
Explained: The Difference between Off Side and Leg Side in Cricket Read More »
Cricket teams field a varied bowling attack, including fast bowlers, which can be put into three categories – pace, seam and swing. Seam and swing bowling cause the ball to behave differently than it would have done had it followed its original trajectory. In the following article, you’ll get to understand the differences between swing …
The Difference Between Swing and Seam Bowling in Cricket Read More »
Before any game of cricket is played, the fielding side are given a brand new ball. Over the course of the match, the condition of that ball will deteriorate and, eventually, it would need to be replaced. Additional new balls are, therefore, part of the sport. In limited overs cricket matches, bowlers are not set …
When is a New Ball in Cricket? Cricket for Beginners Read More »
Different types of cricket balls can behave differently depending on the manufacturer and they now come in different colours depending on the format of the match in question. There is, therefore, far more to consider when it comes to the humble cricket ball. Let’s take a look at balls with regards to one day and …
Types of Cricket Balls: The Difference Between Colours and Brands Read More »
A ‘duck’ is an unwanted thing for any cricketer. Whether they are an experienced, capable batsman or a tailender, it’s something to avoid. Scoring a duck in cricket simply means that the batter hasn’t scored any runs in their innings before being dismissed. Over the years, the game has evolved to include terms for a …
What is a Duck in Cricket? Types of Ducks – from Golden Duck to Platinum Read More »
If a team is unhappy with a decision made by the on field umpires, they have the option for the third umpire to take a look at the standing umpire’s call. This is often referred to as DRS in cricket: By using available technology, that TV umpire can establish whether that original decision should be …
What is DRS in Cricket? Explanation for Beginners Read More »
A century is one of the most important statistics in cricket. In the following article, I discuss the meaning of the term and its significance in a batsman’s career. Also keep on reading, if you are interested in our up-to-date interactive charts about players with the most centuries. Centuries may not win games of cricket …
What is a Century in Cricket? – Records and the Most Centuries Read More »
Cricket is a global sport, now more than ever. This british sport is now played in more parts of the world than ever before and some might find it odd to ommit a popular sport like cricket from the Olympics. But was cricket ever included in the Olympics? And why is it missing now? Let’s …
Is Cricket an Olympic Sport? – Cricket at the Summer Games Read More »
With cricket bats costing up to several hundred pounds for top of the range products, choosing the right one is essential. Along with the question of budget, there are other elements to consider including the weight and the overall length. It’s a very personal decision and it’s important for the buyer to have as much …
Cricket Bat Size Guide: How to Choose a Cricket Bat Read More »
The cricket field and pitch are two very different parts of the cricket ground. In order to avoid confusion, the field and the pitch carry very specific definitions and their dimensions are also clearly defined. In the following article, we will take a closer look at the different parts of the cricket ground, including the …
Cricket Field and Cricket Pitch Sizes – Understanding the Cricket Ground Read More »
In the sport of cricket, those who are responsible for upholding the laws on the field of play are the umpires. There are three of them directly involved in the match while another is held in reserve. In addition, there is a referee who has an entirely different job to undertake and most of their …
Originally there were 11 of them, but as the laws of cricket changed, there are altogether 10 ways to get out in cricket as of . Dismissals play a major role in any cricket match and they are pivotal to the overall result. The fielding side needs to claim dismissals in order to progress towards …
10 Ways to Get Out in Cricket: Dismissals Explained Read More »
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport and it’s the one that attracts the so-called ‘purists’. Based on the original laws, this is simply the first class game played at an international level. From the early days of the 1870s, test cricket has grown from the original two participating nations to include other …
What is Test Cricket? Rules of the Original Cricket Format Read More »
Powerplay in cricket is a significant factor in deciding the match result, at least in limited overs cricket. This is a period in the match where the fielding team is put under certain restrictions. A secondary Powerplay is traditionally taken by the batting side but it can, in certain circumstances, be taken by the fielding …
It’s not unusual for a limited overs cricket match if it ends in a tie. In the modern day, the game demands a more positive result and that’s why a super over has been introduced. Fans want to see a winner and that’s exactly what the Super Over looks to determine. What is a Super …
In order that the bowler doesn’t gain an unfair advantage, there are certain safeguards in place for the batsman. A no ball will be called and signalled if, in the umpire’s opinion, an illegal delivery has been sent down. There are a number of ways in which a delivery can be called illegal and be …
What is a No Ball in Cricket? – All 16 Types of No Ball Read More »
As the sport of cricket has evolved, organisers have continually introduced new formats in order to attract a new audience. Traditionally, test and first class cricket had been the only form of the game but, in more recent years, one day formats have been implemented in order to produce more attacking batting and a feast …
Cricket Formats – Let’s Explore the 4 Types of Cricket Read More »
