The Field

Cricket is played on an oval grass field. In the centre of the field is a hard grass pitch 20.1 metres long and rectangular in shape. The outer edge of the field is the boundary, marked by a rope.

At each end of the pitch stands a set of wickets. Each set of wickets consists of three stumps (tall sticks driven into the ground and standing in a row) topped with a pair of bails (two shorter sticks laying horizontally across the stumps).

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The fielding side provides the bowlers, who take it in turns to deliver the ball to the batsman. The batsman hits the ball with a long, flat-sided wooden bat.

The batting side provides two batsmen at a time, who stand at each end of the pitch. One batsman faces the bowler. If the ball is hit, the batsmen have the opportunity to run to opposite ends of the pitch, scoring a run. If there is adequate time before the ball is returned to the pitch by the fielders, the batsmen may choose to score more runs by switching places again.

Running is not required if the ball hits the boundary rope without being stopped by a fielder - the batting team automatically scores four runs, known as a "four". A "six" is similar - when the ball goes over the boundary without bouncing.

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