Cricket

High Quality Cricket Goods Is a Must for Ensuring Performance

Cricket as many of us know is a wonderful sporting spectacle. However, at present there are only 12 test playing nations playing cricket from all over the world. The reminder of the countries who participate in very few major events or tournaments are yet to establish themselves as a cricketing nation at the international arena. International Cricket Council (ICC) has structured their organization in such a manner to protect its fraternity and gives lots of opportunities for these underdog nations to develop their cricket and prove their international credentials.

When it all started couple of centuries ago, there were only 3 or 4 teams that were to known to play high quality cricket and they represented International arena. Now we have come a long way where many new teams have been added to the list as ICC looks to expand and take the sport across the globe.

Cricket as a sport has come a long way. It was traditionally played as a gentleman's sport with elegance and style. The appropriate word that could be used to define the way in which the sport was being played would be orthodox with defined patterns. This face was entirely changed by the cricketing God and Master Sir Donald George Bradman. Many think wrongly that it was Sir Viv Richards who revolutionized the sport.

Viv was indeed an aggressive batsman by nature but it was the don who revolutionized the sport. In those days there were hardly any protective goods used for playing the sport. You barely had a cricketing leg guards made out of cotton and had buckles for tying it around your legs. The cricket batting gloves was made out of cotton with soft padding on top of each and every finger. The moment the 5 and half ounce thing of matter struck you in the fingers at quite a rapid pace, you surely bound to break your finger badly. We all know about the ever debatable Bodyline series and the injuries caused because of the intensions and poor quality equipments used back then in 1932-33 series. Helmets were not even in the frame of the portrait until the late 1980's.

You got struck on your head; you are certainly a dead meat until helmets came into the picture. Bert Oldfield got one his forehead during the 1932-33 Ashes series and if not for his cap's pointy forehead he would have died that day.

The quality of the cricket bats back then was also quite poor. They often used to break or incur damage while playing strokes. In fact you ought to season it for at least 6 months to a year before using it in matches. However, this scenario has changed today. Science and Technology has aided a lot and revolutionized cricketing world by several degrees. Today you have high quality Cricket bats being manufactured out of special willows treated with wonderful chemicals such that you can immediately use it the moment you strip off its cover.

Also today you could find leather gloves with wonderful cushioning that incorporates more protection. The cricket bats have become more powerful because of its sturdiness and essentially mistimed shots can lead into the fence with much ease. The weight of the cricket ball being used in the games still remains to be the same. However, their quality has been drastically improved. Today a ball, ca easily last up to 80 odd over's without being disfigured and the leather pronunciations are more predominant and outlasting as well.

Cricket Tips

Rules of Softball for Kids

The objective in softball is to score greater number of runs than the opposing team. Runs are scored by running between the bases after hitting the ball. Let us know more about what are bases, scoring, and other softball rules for kids through following paragraphs.

Field Dimensions
The softball field is bound by foul lines. The batters cannot hit the ball outside the area marked by these foul lines. There are two sections/parts of the field i.e. infield and outfield. The infield is generally made of dirt or brick-dust. However, grass or artificial turf can also be used for the infield. Outfield is made of grass. The infield contains a diamond-shaped area (made up of 4 bases). The lines which connect these bases are called baselines. The length of these baselines ranges from 45 - 65 feet. Pitcher's circle is at the center of this diamond-shaped area bound by baselines. The ball is pitched from the point at the center of pitcher's circle. One can easily get the setup by referring to a softball field diagram.

Bat and Ball
The bat used in softball is made of metal, wood or even a composite material like carbon fiber. Length of the bat is variable however, it should not be more than 34 inches. The diameter of bat is around 2.25 inches and it weighs around 38 oz. The ball used for playing this game is around 12 inches in the circumference; the weight of this ball ranges from 6.25 - 7.0 oz. Material used for making the core of this ball is either a mixture of rubber and cork, kapok (fiber) or a polyurethrane mixture. Two pieces of leather are sewn together to cover the core; generally a red colored thread is used to sew these pieces.

Gameplay
Batters and pitchers play an important role in the game of softball. Pitcher has to throw the ball at the batter by means of an underarm action. Batter hit the ball, he and his teammates occupying the other bases run around them and come back to the home plate (first base) to score a 'run'. The objective of opposing team is to get the batters out before they can reach the home plate. It is necessary to get out 3 batters of the opposing team. A game of softball is divided into innings; seven innings are played in a single game. This number (innings) can be 6 for youth softball games.


Innings
The opposing teams play an offense and defense once in a single innings. The team on offense has to score maximum runs while, the opposing team (defense) has to get 3 players out as quickly as possible.

Pitching
The pitching action is made after the umpire says "Play Ball". A pitching plate (made of rubber) is where the pitcher has to stand and throw the ball. As stated earlier, an underarm action is used for pitching the ball. This action is often referred to as 'windmill' action. Release of the ball should be at a level/point below the hip and while doing so throwing the ball in the strike zone of the batter is necessary. Strike zone is the area which batters use to strike the ball. If the batter misses (upon swinging the bat) despite the ball pitched in the strike zone, then it is called a strike. The pitcher cannot step forward or sideways while pitching the ball; stepping forward at the time of pitching is allowed. Pitchers can bring about variations the manner of throwing the ball. The variations include curves, risers, drops, etc.

Batting
Batters have to hit the ball thrown by the pitcher. Upon hitting the ball, batters have to run around the bases to score runs. The ball after being hit is fielded by opponents in the outfield. One has to cover as many bases as possible (and reach back to the home plate) before the ball is returned by these outfield players. The condition in which the batter misses out on 3 consecutive balls bowled by the pitcher is referred to as strike out.

Score
Home Run is a condition in which the ball is hit by the batter over the fence. If the batter is able to run up to the first base before the ball is returned by the fielder, the run is called single. The condition is referred to as double when the player reaches the second base; if the player is able to reach the third base, it is referred to as triple.

Terms Used in Softball
Here are few commonly used terms in softball. One should understand the rules of this game in a better manner with the knowledge of these terms.

• Grounder: This term is used to describe a condition in which the ball is hit on the ground.
• Fly Ball: The term, fly ball is used when the ball is hit in the air in the infield area.
• Ball: A 'ball' is referred to as the condition in which the ball is pitched outside the strike zone

The basic softball rules for kids presented in this article should help them understand the game with ease. There are many details and nuances about the game that should be explained as the player becomes proficient. The instructions presented above, should be useful for beginners.