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Cricket Rules Explained: A Simple Guide for Beginners

Cricket can look complicated because several contests happen at the same time. The core rules become simple when you separate runs, wickets and overs.

Quick read: A beginner guide to runs, wickets, overs, innings, formats and common dismissals.

  1. The aim

    One team bats to score runs while the other bowls and fields to stop runs and take wickets.

  2. Runs

    Batters run between wickets or hit boundaries; four if the ball reaches the rope, six if it clears it.

  3. Overs

    An over is six legal balls; T20 has 20 overs per side, ODIs have 50, Tests can have two innings each.

  4. Dismissals

    Common wickets include bowled, caught, lbw, run out and stumped.

  5. Extras

    Wides, no-balls, byes and leg byes add to the total.

  6. Fielding

    Captains place fielders to block scoring areas or create catching chances.

  7. Winning

    In limited overs, the higher score wins; in Tests, time and wickets also shape results.

Once you understand runs, wickets and overs, cricket becomes a set of tactical choices.
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Last reviewed: June 2, 2026. Rankings are editorial where no official all-time ranking exists.