Cricket spirit and useful terms

Preamble — Responsibility for the game

The Spirit of Cricket places respect and fair play alongside the written Laws. Captains have a central responsibility, but players, officials and, in junior cricket, coaches, teachers and parents also contribute. Accepting decisions, showing self-control and treating opponents constructively are part of that responsibility.

Appendix A — Players and places

The striker receives the delivery; the non-striker’s ground is at the bowler’s end when the ball is delivered. A batter’s ground is the area behind the popping crease at an end. The striker’s end remains the named end for that delivery even if the batter moves.

The square is the prepared area containing the match pitch. The outfield lies between the square and boundary. In the Laws, “during the match” extends from the toss until the match concludes, including times when play is stopped.

Appendix A — What counts as the bat

For applying the Laws, the bat includes the glove on a hand holding it, or that bare hand when no glove is worn. A hand merely touching any part of the bat counts as holding it. This matters when deciding bat contact, catches and free-hand obstruction.

A fielder’s complete ball control means they could, without outside contact, keep holding it as long as they choose or release it where they choose. Batters have crossed only when the whole of each person and bat has passed the other person and bat.