How to follow cricket
Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. Over a billion people worldwide watch cricket regularly, and it is estimated that number could be much higher. For many, though, it can seem a daunting and intimidating sport to get into. Its rules seem esoteric and confusing. That’s why today, we’re going to look at a few basic tips for how to follow the cricket—from the basics about getting to know the rules to other ways you can make it a bit more interesting.
Let’s get started.
- Watch and read
Cricket’s rules might seem a bit confusing and a considerable barrier to entry, but this really isn’t the case if you take the time. Start by just watching games of cricket. Even if you aren’t fully clear on what’s happening, it will give you the idea of the structure of an average game. This is a much better starting point to then go and read up on the rules.
With a basic understanding of how the game looks, you can more easily understand the rules in written form. Once you’ve gotten a grip on that, you’ll have the basic building blocks needed to follow it in the long term. You’ll eventually learn just by watching, and the more games you watch, the better your understanding of the game will be.
But it’s important you make yourself aware of the different versions of cricket.
- Understanding versions of cricket
At the highest level, cricket is played in three different forms. You have test cricket, one day international cricket, and Twenty20 International Cricket. There are of course many other forms, but these are the most popular. For test cricket, you have a match consisting of four innings, which can last up to five days. This is first-class cricket played at International Level.
One day international is a more limited form of the game, again played by teams with international status. Teams face a fixed number of overs, usually 50, and the game can last up to five hours.
- Betting
Of course, there’s always the option of betting on the sport to make it a bit more interesting. This gives you a big incentive to keep up with the games, and can make you much more invested in a team you would otherwise have no emotional attachment to.
Most major bookmakers offer odds on all the biggest international cricketing events, so you will be able to find a market for what you want to bet on. As you bet, you’ll begin to understand the minutiae of the game even better, which will further aid in your understanding and ability to follow it.
So, however you want to watch it, there’s something you can do to get into it. Whether you just want to watch it, even without understanding it all that well, or if you want to know it inside out so you can make bets on it, cricket is not as daunting as you might think. Don’t be put off.