A Beginner’s Guide to the Formats of Cricket and the International Game

1 month ago
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Cricket is one of the oldest sports in the world, crossing continents and drawing billions of viewers to its many formats and competitions. Over the last 50 years, the traditional form of the sport has evolved into other iterations of play, bringing out different qualities in the athletes that compete on the field.

While this does diversify the sport and create a form of entertainment that can appeal to a broader audience and variety of preferences, it can become confusing to newcomers and even those who know the sport well but have generally stuck to one format. Even this year, another new form of cricket looks to break into the mainstream and could potentially make it to the international ranks.

So, here’s what you need to know about each form of cricket and the colossal international competitions that draw in fans from around the world.

The four forms of professional cricket

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The only place to start when discussing the forms of cricket is Test cricket. The original form of the game has been played since 1877, with it being refined to a five-day set with two innings for each team. Due to the length of the game and how trying it is physically and mentally on both teams, Test cricket is still considered to be the pinnacle of the sport.

Tests begin with a coin flip to decide who will bat first. The first batting team tries to set a high run score before the attacking team can bowl out ten wickets or the defenders declare. Then, the two sides will swap, with those who bowled and fielded first coming in to bat. They need to chase that run score set and try to exceed it, with their ten wickets marking the end of the first innings. After this, a second innings is played, with it all needing to take place within a set five-day window.

Test cricket is now also referred to as ‘long-form cricket’ because, since the 1970s, a shorter form of the game has risen to prominence. In 1971, one-day cricket began, with each team having a limited number of overs that could be bowled, with the cap set at 50 for each team. So, the batsmen only have a maximum of 300 balls to strike runs off of – excluding wides and fouls – and the bowling side only has 300 balls to get ten wickets.

The 50-overs format added more urgency to the game, revamping a stamina and concentration-driven sport to one where speed, technique, and flair could shine. Stalwart Test players still had a home in one-day cricket, but it also opened the door to those who were technically gifted, but perhaps not as capable of doing a five-day stint.

In 2007, the shortest currently internationally recognized form of cricket began, with Twenty20 (T20) putting even more emphasis on high-scoring batsmen and aggressive bowlers. It proved to be a tremendous hit, and now, an even shorter domestic competition looks to take root. The Hundred gives each team 100 balls to score off of, which equates to just over 16 standard overs.

International competitions drive the sport

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As popular and money-infused as many of the domestic leagues have become, particularly in the case of the Indian Premier League, the sport greatly revolves around the international calendar. In a sport like football, international contests are spread out over a four-year cycle, being somewhat complementary to the domestic game. In cricket, internationals supersede the domestic games, often taking place at the same time.

Prestige drives cricket, and now there are three official and highly-respected World Cup tournaments to cover each form of the sport. They drive fans, engagement, and cricket bettors who attempt to predict game and tournament winners. Regardless of the form of cricket in play, the tips for using Cricket betting sites remain consistent throughout. The top cricket betting tips invariably include checking the weather forecast, waiting for the result of the toss, and reviewing the line-ups. That said, finding the best odds is also top of the agenda.

It’s these international contests that draw in the huge crowds of fans, with the oldest form of cricket only recently adopting a proper world cup format. Once predominantly contested in ICC rankings, there’s now the ICC World Test Championship, which takes place over a two-year window and concludes its inaugural contest in 2021. That said, one of the most raved-about Test competitions is still The Ashes, which sees England and Australia battle each other every couple of years.

The short forms of cricket lend themselves more naturally to the world cup format, with games wrapping up within a day each. The first is the Cricket World Cup, the one-day form of the game contest by the top short-form cricket nations in the world. It started in 1975 in England, but it took until the most recent edition for England to win the tournament. There’s also the T20 World Cup, which started in 2007 as an even more high-impact addition to the international calendar.

If The Hundred proves to be a success over the next couple of years, it could also join the recognised ranks of international cricket formats. For now, there are three mainstream forms and three major prestigious international titles to win, with many other rivalry trophies and domestic tournaments taking place, too.

 

Cricket Stars and Their NBA Equivalents

2 months ago
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Cricket Stars Meet Miami Heat Players

The worlds of cricket and basketball may seem very far removed, but there are plenty of similarities if we look closely enough. For example, some of the top cricketers can be compared to equivalents in the NBA for one reason or another.

The Intimidating Star Who Plays Aggressively – Chris Gayle and Russell Westbrook

Both of these players are tall and powerful, using their strength and agility to overpower rivals with ease at times. They are both known for an aggressive, driven approach too, with fans and team-mates often turning to them when some inspiration is needed.

Chris Gayle is from Jamaica and is the most capped West Indies player in their history. He has smashed his way to some incredible batting records over the years, such as being the first batsman to hit a 6 from the first ball of a Test. He has also stormed to history in the Twenty20 format, where he scored the first ever century and currently has the most number of runs.

As for Russell Westbrook, this point guard from California currently plays for the Washington Wizards. His intense, athletic style of play means that he is often the one driving his team on at crucial moments when others are tired or losing the faith. He has set numerous scoring records since joining the NBA in the 2008 draft.

The Precise Shooter/Bowler – Jasprit Bumrah and Stephen Curry

Being able to shoot precisely is crucial in basketball, as the top players are expected to make tough shots consistently and even under intense pressure. In cricket, the ability to bowl with unerring accuracy time and time again is a huge attribute too.

The title of the world’s best, most accurate bowler is up for discussion. In the past, Glenn McGrath was renowned for his outstanding consistency but in the modern game, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is possibly the top name. With his deliveries regularly reaching 150mph, the accuracy he achieves is almost unbelievable, earning 48 wickets in his first year playing test matches.

In the NBA, no one shoots better than Stephen Curry. The Golden State Warriors point guard has gained a huge reputation for placing the ball exactly where he wants it to go. This has led to him having the highest free throw percentage in the history of the NBA, at an incredible 90.6%. He has averaged 23.5 points in NBA games since turning pro in 2009.

The Most Versatile Player – LeBron James and AB De Villiers

Every successful team needs a versatile player who can carry out just about any role to a high standard. This is the type of star who doesn’t look out of place playing in any position and in any type of game.

While many cricketers take on different roles, such as batting and bowling, AB de Villiers has regularly been called the most versatile player in the sport. He started as a wicketkeeper and batsman before settling into his primary role as a middle-order batsman. The South African retired this year after an extraordinary career where he had a batting average of over 63 in World Cups and became famed for his unorthodox shots that no one else would even try.

LeBron James is arguably the greatest basketball player in the world right now. He is most often seen as a small forward or power forward, although he has also played in other positions during his career. James’ playing style has a uniqueness to it, as he is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history as well as being an outstanding passer and terrific at defending too.

There you have it, some similarities between the worlds of cricket and NBA. If you want to know more about basketball, head on to Twinspires Edge where you can find some interesting facts like the shortest players in the history of the league.

Top 4 Fastest International Bowlers Ever

2 months ago
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Fast bowling, much like wrist spin, is becoming something of a lost art on cricket’s elite stage, as men with myriad change-ups and cross seam deliveries are preferred to genuine pace bowlers in so many forms of the game.

Of course, there are some exceptions, with the likes of Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah bucking the trend. Here we take a look at some of the legends of pace bowling, who the new breed of fast men look up to.

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All of these bowlers had batsmen around the world scrambling to get off strike as fast as they could

Shoaib Akhtar – Rawalpindi Express

Pakistan has always been known for having a fearsome pace attack with Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram forming one of the deadliest bowling partnerships the sport has ever seen, that made betting tipsters wary of ever backing against them.

However, whereas their calling card was quick bowling combined with wicked swing, Shoaib Akhtar focused on the sort of pace that struck fear into the hearts of batsmen – trembling in their boots down the other end of the pitch – as well as sports bettors who dared wager against the Rawalpindi Express.

He regularly clocked in deliveries that came close to breaking the 100mph mark, culminating in him bowling the fastest delivery ever in the 2003 World Cup against England. This is the sort of pace that cricket fans will be hoping to see at the 2023 version of the ODI World Cup, as they look for new bowlers to back with their sports free bets and bonuses.

Brett Lee – Batsmen Given no Leeway

For years Brett Lee steamed to the crease for Australia, having memorable battles with men like Andrew Flintoff, who recognised Lee’s never-say-die attitude.

The fastest delivery he ever clocked was just 0.2kmph shy of the world record held by Shoaib Akhtar.

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Few batsmen dared come down the pitch to these fearsome pace men

Shaun Tait – Injuries Held Him Back

From one pacey Aussie to another, and Shaun Tait, whose wild action and lightning quick runup earned him the moniker of, Wild Thing.

Unfortunately, the Wild Thing’s bowling career was cut short by injuries, with a dodgy elbow eventually forcing him to call time on his bowling exploits. Thankfully he is still heavily involved in the game.

Jeff Thomson – Blast from the Past

There is a general feeling in the game that cricketers who operated prior to the 1990s and 2000s were somehow not as dedicated to the sport when it came to training, and that this had a knock-on effect on the pace of delivery they could muster.

Jeff Thomson showed this to be entirely unfounded, as he regularly clocked deliveries of well in excess of 160kmph throughout the 70s and 80s.

TOP FIVE BEST ENGLAND CRICKETERS

April 27, 2021
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TOP FIVE Best ENGLAND CRICKETERS

With more than 140 year of rich international cricket history for the all-white team, England has certainly made their mark in the cricket world. The England cricket team has played more than 1890 matches across all three formats of the game. Only Australia have made more appearances than the English team with over 1900 games under their belt.

More so, the ability to shift the momentum of the game as well as the capacity to perform against the best among the rest are given higher value in any sport rating and the best English cricketers ranking is not immune to this. Defining performances in the series as well as game-changing contributions in ICC tournaments are equally considered to hold greater significance.

However, with the next cricket world cup coming up so fast in 2023, the England team will hoping that the like of Joe Root could be at their game come 2023 for their chance to upscale the India who is touted by odds calculated as the favorite at 3.40 odd and the England is rightly behind at 4.00 odd.

Moreover, with exquisite attribute of the England captain as he guided his team to 2019 world cup triumph on their turf and as much eye are onto him do the magic again come 2023, the England skipper has certainly lived to be among the best in the rich history of the England’s cricket but here are the top five best cricket player that ever played for the England’s cricket national team.

Sydney Barnes

Sydney Barnes

The record books describe him as a canny cricketer who whipped up a deadly concoction of swinging deliveries and spinning balls. While the Englishman set the trend for future cricketers and majorly the bowlers absolute use of the new ball and landing the hard cherry on its seam.

However, opposing the perception of the moder day cricket devotees, Barnes’ wickets did not come against amateur batting lineups, while South Africa and Australia were the only opponents on international level.

More so, while Australia had already established a culture of producing technically strong batsmen, South Africa contained the likes of Aubrey Faulkner and Dave Nourse among others.

However, many argue the legitimacy of the Smethwick Cricket Club bowler as one of the legends in the game but his impact for the England cannot be overly emphasized and if one goes by the stat alone, Barnes has a legitimate claim to be the most lethal bowler of all-time. Among all bowlers in Test history with at least 150 wickets, his average of 16.43.

Sir Len Hutton

Sir Len Hutton

For someone that needed multiple bone graft to find a solution to a fracture sustained in a grueling training session, just four years after he made his international debut at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Moreover, the England first professional test captain had to dug deep in his mental reservoir to completely remolded his game to suit his physical disadvantage and despite his altered technique, the former Yorkshire County Cricket Club opening batsman picked himself up from where he left off and continued to score runs aplenty against different types of bowlers in the game and while he was able to occupy the crease for long period in his career, the veteran batsman also enthrall the spectators with his captivating stroke-play and exquisite run accumulator but the regal batman had 6971 runs from 79 matches at an average of 56.67 with 19 centuries and 33 fifties within his 18 years that his career span

Sir Ian Botham

Sir Ian Botham

Alongside some fellow superstars like Imran Khan, Kapil Dev and Sir Richard Hadlee, Sir Ian Botham was one of the treasured cricketers in the 1980s.

While his batting was explosive and often game-changing, the right-armer’s aura and sharp intellect helped the ever-charismatic opening batman pick up heaps of wickets in his prime. However, without a shred of doubt, Sir Ian Botham remains the most charismatic cricketer to play for England.

More so, at the helm of his career, Botham was the center of attention of all eyes. While it was occasionally manifestation for a cricketer to triggered such outpourings of euphoria in England. But, the Jubilee Test in Bombay and the 1981 Ashes have become a part of cricket folklore for the single-handed dominance of the spectacle all-rounder.

While his 5000-plus Test runs were scored at an amazing strike-rate of 60.71, his 383 wickets were also the most by any bowler from his country until James Anderson usurped the record. Even though he declined rapidly in the latter part of his career, Botham still managed to pick up 16 wickets in the 1992 World Cup and played a key role in England reaching the final of the tourney.

The astonishing magician had 383 wickets from 102 matches at an average of 28.40 and strike-rate of 56.9 with 27 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls; 5200 runs at an average of 33.54 and strike-rate of 60.71 with 14 centuries and 22 fifties in the test series and 145 wickets from 116 matches at an average of 28.54 and rate of 3.96; 2113 runs at an average of 23.21 and strike-rate of 79.10 with nine fifties at ODI’s. Truly the former star man was a blessing to the game.

Fred Trueman

Fred Trueman

Right from his debut moment, all spectators in the stadium were aware that a freak of nature had arrived. From the moment he set foot in Test cricket, Fred Trueman terrorized numerous batsmen with his hostile pace and unplayable movement.

Steaming in from a lack of energetic run-up, Trueman’s smooth action and unyielding will enabled him to consume the fast-bowling scene in the 50’s. In his show of magnificent, Fred was the dream pacer.

Despite gaining the ability to generate extravagant swing, the Englishman never sacrificed on his biggest asset. Even as age began to take its toll in his later years, Trueman continued to bowl at fearsome pace and motored to the then-unprecedented landmark of 300 Test wickets.

With 307 wickets from 67 matches at an average of 21.57 and strike-rate of 49.4 with 17 five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls in his participating test series, Fred Trueman was a true legend in the game and not just for the England team only.

Sir Jack Hobbs

Sir Jack Hobbs

If it wasn’t for the World War-1 that robbed the true legend of the game off his peak years, Jack Hobbs could have added more stint of a stat to the resounding number he pulls throughout his career in which amount to staggering 5410 runs and while he was unparalleled in his importance to England’s sporting history which was vindicated in 1953 when he became the first professional cricketer to receive a knighthood.

Sir Jack is affectionately revered as ‘The Master’, Hobbs’ dominance encompassed every level of the game, forming cricket’s one of the most storied opening partnership with another test great, Hobbs embodied himself as a defensive wall at the top of the order and consequently left an untrickable footprint in the annals of the sport.

No batsman has come close to his phenomenal collection of 61760 runs and 199 centuries from a humongous 834 first-class matches. His legacy of the self-made genius in his unswerving dedication and unbridled love for cricket can forever be storied in such a career that span through 1980 till 1930 and a quality numbers in test series that includes 5410 runs from 61 matches at an average of 56.94 with 15 centuries and 28 fifties.

Cricketers Who Became Music Stars

April 19, 2021
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The modern cricket player is expected to be so much more than just a good bowler, batsman, or fielder. Television networks and live crowds clamour after personalities such as Chris Gayle who are as entertaining to watch as they are effective out on the field of play.

This had led to many top cricketers diversifying into industries outside of sport, especially when they call time on their career and go in search of fresh challenges.

Music is just one avenue that several famous cricketers of past and present have turned to, some with favourable results and others that turned out to be total car crashes. Here we present a mixture of both.

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All of these cricket stars swapped bat and ball for mic and guitar

Freddie Flintoff – Combining Love of Music and Football

This rugged all-rounder has become a full-blown celebrity in his native UK, since retiring as one of his country’s greatest ever players.

He regularly appears on comedy quiz shows as well as reality TV series, but few people know that he has also turned his hand to being a recording artist.

All of this came about in 2018, when there was outcry that the England football team did not have an official anthem to take with them to Russia.

Up stepped Freddie and his best mate Ricky Wilson, who knows a thing or two about music having been the Kaiser Chiefs’ frontman. The song they recorded together was a remix of Boney M’s ‘Rasputin’, which was a rather on-the-nose nod to where Harry Kane and co. would be heading that summer. The catchy lyrics for Rasputin Rebooted kept aspects of the original version’s chorus intact and then, in true football anthem style, enmeshed some questionable verses around it.

Meanwhile, this is not Flintoff’s only venture into singing as in the same year he also played a lead role in Fat Friends The Musical, which was a sell-out hit in the player’s home city of Manchester.

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Most pro cricketers are born entertainers, so in theory they should be pretty competent up on stage, but things do not always turn out that way

Dwayne Bravo – Rubbing Shoulders with Beenie Man

Dwayne Bravo is one of the most decorated cricketers in West Indian history and can still be found breaking records in various T20 competitions around the world.

However, everything he has done on a cricket pitch pales in comparison to the collaboration he did with West Indian music mogul, Beenie Man.

Their most famous song together is entitled ‘Beenie Man & Bravo’ and sees the two men argue about whether football is better than cricket, all adjudicated by a plethora of backing dancers.

The two friends have also combined to great effect for another song called ‘Go Gyal Go’.

Mark Butcher – Manages Not to Butcher Lyrics or Chords

Neither Bravo nor Flintoff have what you would call cultured singing voices, but the same cannot be said of Mark Butcher, who is probably better at warbling than he ever was at opening the batting for England.

Butcher certainly takes his music seriously, as is evidenced by his highly professional website that is dedicated to the tunes he creates both as a solo artist and as part of his very own band.

Sachin Tendulkar – Sing Along with the Little Master

There really is nothing that the man known as the Little Master cannot do, and so creating a hit tune was never going to be a problem for the greatest batsman the world has ever seen.

He made his music debut with a song called ‘Sachin’s Cricket Wali Beat’, which paired the legendary star with established recording artist Sonu Nigam.

Tendulkar is far from the only Indian national team star to try his hand at singing. Other famous players like MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh have also braved the mic, with Harbhajan even going so far as to release an entire album, showing he can tweak out both mean off-spinners and killer lyrics.