South African spin bowler Tabrez Shamsi stunned those on the field and the
spectators in the stand after celebrating a wicket by performing a magic
trick. Shamsi dismissed Wihan Lubbe during a T20 match in South Africa
before taking out a red handkerchief from his pocket and turning it into a
stick. The trick happened during the match between Paarl Rocks and Durban
Heat in South Africa’s premier T20 tournament
What is Cricket?
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven
players on a field at the centre of which is a 22-yard (20-metre) grass
or artificial pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails
balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striking the
ball bowled at the wicket with the bat, while the bowling and fielding
side tries to prevent this and dismiss each player (so they are "out").
Means of dismissal include being bowled, when the ball hits the stumps
and dislodges the bails, and by the fielding side catching the ball
after it is hit by the bat, but before it hits the ground. When ten
players have been dismissed, the innings ends and the teams swap roles
The game is adjudicated by two umpires, aided by a third umpire and
match referee in international matches. They communicate with two
off-field scorers with a series of calls and signals. The scorers record
the match's statistical information in a special book and operate a
scoreboard which informs the spectators about the progress of the match.
There are various formats ranging from Twenty20, played over a few hours
with each team batting for a single innings of 20 overs, to Test
matches, played over five days with unlimited overs and the teams each
batting for two innings of unlimited length. Traditionally cricketers
play in all-white kit, but in limited overs cricket they wear club or
team colours. In addition to the basic kit, some players wear protective
gear to prevent injury caused by the ball, which is a hard, solid
spheroid made of compressed leather with a slightly raised sewn seam
enclosing a cork core which is layered with tightly wound string
As well as a reference site, we provide a list of scenarios
submitted by viewers of our site and there is a comprehensive Index
of cricket terms
