How To Get A Discount On 'Cricket Secrets:Revealed'

Hi Cricketers (well I assume you are a cricketer or want to learn how to play cricket, otherwise you wouldn't be here...?),

"Fact: Cricket is the best sport on the planet..."

Well I certainly think so anyway and I'm sure you'll agree with me on that on! ;-)

The problem with cricket though is it's not easy and at times it can be very difficult and frustrating (agree?).

If you've ever experienced the embarrassment of getting out for a golden duck or bowling loads of wides you'll know what I'm talking about (I've been out for a diamond duck - first ball of the match...I just wanted to be swallowed up by the ground I was that embarrassed, plus my team mates never shut up about it for months after!).

I feel your pain..

As a cricketer myself I understand what it's like to struggle for runs/wickets and form in general and if you don't practice properly you just don't get any better, it almost like a never ending cycle which seems impossible to get out off.

However, after playing under a few 'top' coaches I quickly learnt the importance of having a good coaching and instruction, the problem is it's hard to come by and often your team mates don't help which can be annoying.

Here's the solution...

...which I found and what I see as the next best thing, the gateway to playing better cricket....

If you read the blurb in the side bar on the left you'll see I'm recommending a cricket ebook called 'Cricket Secrets: Revealed', which is only available from Cricket Secrets.com.

"Why", you might ask? Well firstly it's an excellent product, as the saying goes, "it does what is says on the tin", and I've just found a little secret that'll help you save $12 off the RRP...Plus from my own experience I highly recommend it to any cricketer, especially to those who are new to cricket (definitely buy it!).

Like you, I was a bit sceptical at first because I've been playing for years and to be honest I didn't think I would learn much, but I took the gamble...the owner Ian, offers a 90 day or 60 day money back guarantee (I can't remember which, but I didn't need it), so if I didn't like it I could have got my money back...anyway, I picked up some great tips and I've started to perform better in the nets already - it's just a case of applying the info.

It's like having your virtual coach...before I go to nets I read over the sections covering the areas I've been struggling with, take some notes and when I practice I get my team mates to look at my technique and check it against what I should be doing (based on my notes). It's easy and it stops be slipping into bad habits.

Since I found CricketSecrets.com I've been watching it like a hawk and reading everything that the owner Ian puts out, I can't believe how many hours I've spent just browsing through the site and forum.

Here's the secret...I got an e-mail the other day about Ian's blog, so I headed over and started reading the post (it was about the world cup if I remember) ... I started browsing through the blog and I found something interesting that really got my attention, the video below shows you.....(if you can't see the video, listen to it and follow the steps below...sorry it's the best I could make)

How To Legally 'Steal' $12 To Get Your Discount On Cricket Secrets: Revealed!

Step 1: Follow this link to read the sales page so you know what you are getting (check out some of the feedback and bonuses (one is really powerful if you apply it!).

==> http://cricketsecrets.com/

Step 2: Navigate through the blog as I showed you in the video to the guestbook page and find the special buy link...bingo! Make your purchase and start playing better cricket! Read the book and apply the tips in practice.

==> http://cricketsecrets.com/blog/2006/12/10/guestbook/

It won't be long before Ian finds out about this video and pulls down the link (so don't tell him!)... Go to cricketsecrets.com right now and buy through the secret link asap, I can't stress that enough, once Ian realises that lots of people have found it, I'm sure it'll disappear!

Go go go, save yourself $12 and learn some top notch cricket tips at the same time....

9 All Time Great Cricketers

Throughout the history of cricket there have been those that were special, who were slightly different to their fellow cricketers and made the crowd sit up whenever they arrived on the pitch. Of course every game has it's hero's and cricket is no exception. And every nation has it's own cricketing legends that they believe were better than those of other teams. These are the ones that they like to think of as the role models for their cricketers so that they will, one day, regain past (or present) glories.

Imran Kahn is a great Pakistani cricketer who played at the highest level for over twenty years from his debut in 1971. He was a great all rounder who led the Pakistan team to their first world cup just before he retired. Always elegant in both action and speech he is one of the best all rounders that the game has ever had. He is now a politician in Pakistan and the leader of a major political party. He played in 88 tests with a batting average of 37.69. He took 362 wickets with a bowling average of 22.81

Shane Warne is an Australian spin bowler who is one of, if not the, greatest spin bowler the game has ever seen. He was born in 1969 in Victoria and has played test cricket since 1990. He has taken more test wickets than any other player in history. He was also the first player to take more than 600 test wickets. He has played in 140 tests and has taken 685 wickets with a bowling average of 25.25.

Gary Sobers was a highly talented cricketer who was born in Barbados in 1936. He played 93 tests for the West Indies and scored an impressive 8032 runs. He had a batting average of 57.778. He was also a very good slow left arm bowler, taking 235 test wickets, with an average of 34.03. He is best known for being the first batsman ever to score six sixes in one over in 1968 in a first class cricket match while playing for Notts against Glamorgan.

Ian Botham was a great English all rounder. He was the scourge of bowlers with his prodigious batting ability and he was just as adept as a fast medium paced bowler. He was born in Cheshire in 1955 and played mainly for Somerset. He was very much a true all rounder as he was as good at bowling as batting. He played in 102 test matches and scored 5200 runs, with an average of 33.34. He took 383 wickets and had an average of 28.40.

WG Grace is thought by many to be the most influential cricketer the game has ever seen. He was born in 1848 at a time when cricket was not the massive sport that it is today. He is one of the reasons, with his great batting ability, that the reason became so popular. When he was out first ball at a match once, he refused to go telling the umpire that "the crowd are there to watch me bat and not to watch you umpire!". There were not many test matches then so he played only 22 and scored 1098 runs with an average of 32.29. He took 9 wickets with an average of 26.22. This average is low even though he was playing into his late fifties!

Allan Border was born in 1955 in Sydney and was the Australian captain. He still has the world record for the greatest number of uninterrupted test matches. He also had the record, at the time, for the most runs in test matches at 11174 in 156 tests. He was also one of the most prolific hitters of centuries with 27 in test matches. He also took 39 wickets with an average of 39.10.

Shaun Pollock is a South African medium fast bowler who is well know for his accuracy and reliability. He is also a very good batsman who has scored 3406 runs in 100 test matches with an average of 31.24. He has taken 395 wickets at a average of 23.25. He is South Africas most prodigious wicket taker in both one day international and test matches.

Viv Richards, is one of the all time greats of West Indian cricket. He was a very successful captain to one of the best West Indian sides ever. He was a powerful batsman and scored an average of 50.23, scoring 8450 runs in 121 matches. He only lost 8 matches in the 50 that he captained.

Don Bradman was born in 1908 in New South Wales and was not only the best Australian but is thought, by many, to be the best batsman of all time. His batting skill was so good that the England cricket team in the 1928-1929 tests resorted to bowling at the batsmen rather than the wickets in order to try to win. This was known as the bodyline series. The dispute from this was so bad that it was nearly a diplomatic dispute between England and Australia. He played in 52 tests and scored 6996 runs so he had an incredible average of 99.94. These statistics make him the best batsman ever.

There are many great players in test cricket and also at the club level and the one guarantee is that there will be many more. If the players of the past are anything to go by, then there are some great games yet and some great players as well.

Cricket Formats/Types

There are a number of different types or formats of cricket currenlty being played around the world. Although they are different they are all similar in their aims. This article will give you a brief overview of the different formats you may come across:

Test Cricket

The most commmon form and one of the best known is test cricket. This is one format played when the teams that are playing are international teams (such as England and Pakistan) and it was first played in the late nineteenth century. The test match is played over two innings for each of the teams and is played for five days or until each side has been bowled out twice. This gives more time for the top players to play the game to the best of their abilities and gives them a chance to put on more of a show than the traditional four day game usually played in first class county cricket.

4 Day Cricket

The more usual four day, or first class game is also played over two innings and is one of the most popular types of cricket that is being played on a regular basis week in and week out. The main league in England is the county championship and each match is played over four days. This gives the domestic league players a lot more scope than the shorter types of cricket and allows them to show off their abilities (such as patience, consistency, will-to-win, perserverance and so on) over longer periods of time as required by the best players in the test arena. The best players from the domestic leagues form the basis for the teams selected to play in the international team and test matches.

One Day Cricket

One day cricket is the short form of cricket that is also known as limited overs. One day cricket was first played in the early nineteen sixties. It was introduced in response to public opinion that there was a need for a shorter type of cricket where the result could be seen in one day. Although these were not the first one day matches, it was really the limiting of the overs that was the real innovation. This meant that the crowd knew when the game was going to be finished by and that they would see a result. This made it much easier to watch as they would actually see the end of the game. There are alsofloodlit games that are played in the evening called day-night matches. One day matches in England are usually played for either 40, 45 or 50 overs depending on the league or competition.

Twenty20 Cricket

This is the newest format of cricket and has grown massivly since it's first introduction. Twenty20 was originally brought in in 2003 to make the game more popular and primarily to encourage more people to play the game. The reason for the name is simple in that each team gets one twenty over innings each to bat/bowl. This means that the game is finished much more quickly, plus there are also unique new rules which encourge faster play. One key change to the game is that if a no ball is bowled then there is a free hit for the batsman. The fact that it is limited to such few overs makes the teams much more likely to play positive shots to score runs quickly, creating more of an exciting spectacle of the crowd.
There are many different types of cricket and it is likely to keep on changing to keep up with the times as well.

Cricket History

Cricket is a very old game that is steeped in tradition. The earlier types of cricket go back to at least the thirteenth century and the roots of the game can be traced back to the south of England. It seems to have been popular among the families of farmers in the south east. A game that seems to be similar was even mentioned as early as thirteen hundred, although it is not sure that this was cricket. However, the first known reference to the name cricket was made in the late sixteenth century in the south of England. This was at a school where the game was being played.

The origin of the name "cricket" is not actually known, but there are many possible sources for the name. One of the most popular ideas is ththat it is from the French language. The word could even be from the french word criqet which means bat. Although there are also Flemish and Old English contenders for the title. Actually even the french word criqet is originally from the Flemish. So it is not really possible to say exactly where the name cricket is from, but it has been around since at least the end of the sixteenth century.

In the year sixteen hundred the game of cricket was first brought to India by the east India Company. During the seventeenth century the game became more and more popular in the south east of England and it was played by a lot more people at this time as there are numerous references to the game during the seventeenth century. After a while it was played in a more formal fashion in the later part of this century. It is even thought that there might have been professional players at this time. It is certain that some of these games were played for large amounts of money and there was a lot of gambling on the matches that were being played in the seventeenth century. This is also when the number of players was established at eleven on each side. This is a time that was very important for the game as it was when it really became the early prototype of the game that it is today, although the bowling technique had not yet been formalised.

During the eighteenth century there were more and more references to the game and it was much more widespread at this time. There were numerous references to the game being played and there were stories of very high stakes being bet on the games. It also became a much more popular spectator game with large crowds watching matches and more formal games being arranged. Lords cricket club in London was established in 1787 as the home of cricket. It is still one of the most important and traditional clubs in cricket today. It is the home of the MCC who are the official holders of the rules of cricket.

In the nineteenth century the cricket became more like the game it is today with the start of overarm bowling. This made the game a lot better as it was more accurate and made it much more interesting to watch. In the mid nineteenth century, the first overseas tour was to America and it was then followed some years later by a tour to Australia to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In 1864 the great cricketer WG Grace began playing cricket. He was to influence the game more than any other single person. He was a doctor and continued to practice when he was not playing the game. He played at the top level for over forty years. He scored over one thousand two hundred runs in the year 1902 when he was fifty four. He was a very domineering character and was well known for arguing with the umpires when he did not like their decisions. In the mid twentieth century, the crowds got to see the greatest batsmen that ever lived, the Australian Don Bradman. He was so good that the England team resorted to very direct tactics in the "bodyline series", where they bowled for at the man instead of the wicket in an attempt to beat the Australian team. This was so controversial that it led to strained diplomatic relations between England and Australia until the start of the second world war.

In the sixties the game changed as limited over matches were played and made the game much more accessible to many more people. This started the one day internationals and the first one was played in 1971. The game became even more accessible in the year 2000s with the start of Twenty20 cricket. This is where each team has a maximum of twenty overs and makes the game much faster and it generally lasts for no more than 3 hours. Even today the game continues to change and gets better and it is likely to carry on that way.

Cricket Equipment

When you are just starting out playing cricket it is not always easy to decide what you need to buy. If you go into a sports store and ask them what you need, you will end up getting a lot of equipment. So it is best to work out what you need before you go shopping. That way you are more likely to get what you need, rather than what the store owner thinks you need.

Below, is more or less a comprehensive cricket equipment list, you don't need everything on this list, as mamy clubs will lend you equipment especially at junior level:


Cricket whites, cricket bat, ball, helmet, gloves, batting (wicket keeping) inner gloves, wicket keeping gloves, batting pads, wicket keeping pads, box, chest pad, arm guard, inner thigh pad, cricket boots (bowling boots; batting boots), box (groin guard), stumps and bails.


For most games that you play you will need your own set of whites. Cricket whites consist of white cricket trousers and cricket shirt. Make sure that you get a proper pair of cricket trousers and also a good white cricket shirt and jumper as it can get cold if you are standing out on the field for a long time especially if you are playing in England (the start and end of the season are the coldest).

If you can not borrow equipment from your club the other most important items of equipment are a cricket bat and box. A good cricket bat is essential if you intend to score lots of runs and is a very personal piece of equipment, spend some time choosing your bat, ideally you should go to a shop and pick one up beofre you buy so you know how it feels to play with. (Once you know what you want you can often buy bats online cheaper). You need a good box to protect your groin from the ball, as getting hit 'down below' is extremely painful (I know from experience), so investing in a good box before you start is a must - you can't bat without one.

Cricket batting pads and batting gloves are the next most important thing that you need when you are starting to play (often you should be able to borrow them from your team mates or club if you can't buy them). Cricket pads will protect your legs and if you get a good pair they will make you much more comfortable on the pitch. When you are buying pads, it is also better to go to the store to make sure that you get a pair that fit you and are easy for you to wear and to play in. Even if you see a pair that look good at an online, you would be better to pay a bit more in the store so that you make sure that you get a pair that is right for you. Cricket batting gloves are also important to protect you hands when you are batting, as fingers can be easily broken when hit with a hard cricket ball.

If you are young player it is a good idea to buy a helmet to keep your head safe from any high balls or balls that deflect off your bat towards your face. Regulations now mean that young players under 18 have to wear helmets when batting (or if you're a wicket keeper if you are standing up). You might be able to borrow a helmet from your teammates or club but if you are serious about your cricket it's definitly worth investing in one.


Serious cricketers should also invest in a pair of cricket boots. As it is very important to buy these as your feet can suffer if you do not have the right shoes. Having the cricket ball hit your toes when batting is very painful and good pair of cricket boots will provide more protection than a simple pair of trainers.

You do not need a huge amount of gear to play cricket, as often you can borrow gear from your team mates or club, plus if you invest in high quality cricket equipment then it will last you a very long time as well.

Cricket An Overview

Cricket, although international and popular all over the world, is quintessentially a very English game. It is played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. At any time on the field that are two from one side (the batting side) and eleven from the opposing side (who would be bowling/fielding).

The first team that have all eleven players on the pitch are the fielding team and the team that have just two players on the field are the batting team. Cricket is usually played on a large oval pitch on which the fielders are distributed around the pitch according to the instructions of their captain and bowler. In cricket there are specific fielding positions on the pitch, all with their own unique name.

In, or around, the middle of the pitch, there is an area called "the wicket". This is a thin strip of grass that is 22 yards long, 8 foot 8 inches wide and very flat. It has a set of three stumps also know as wickets, at each end. The three "stumps" are about a yard high and they are set in to the ground a few inches apart. They are connected by two wooden "bails" that are balanced on indentations on top of the stumps. The aim for the bowler is to knock the bails off of the top of the stumps by "bowling" the ball at them. And the object for the batsman is to defend the wicket from the ball. "Bowling" is a way of throwing the ball that is unique to cricket, where the arm must remain straight as the ball is delivered.

The bowler has to "bowl the ball overarm while keeping his arm straight all of the time. If he bends his arm and is, in effect, throwing the ball, it is not allowed and called a 'no ball'. The bowler bowls the ball six times each "over", then another bowler bowls six balls from the other end of the wicket. The bowlers can be changed for other members of the fielding team, as usually each team will have at least four people who would be classed as bowlers.

The object for the batsman is to hit the ball away from his wicket, far enough from the fielders so that he has enough time to run between the two sets of stumps and so score a "run". He can also score a run without hitting the ball as long as he can run before the fielders knock the bails off of the stumps, this is called a 'bye'.

The other batsman stands at the other end of the wicket and has to run at the same time as the batsman facing the ball. The batsman has to reach the other end of the wicket to the crease before the fielders knock the bails off of the stumps. The batting crease is an area that is 122cms in front of the stumps. When the batsman is in this he cannot be out by the fielding team knocking the bales off of the stumps.

When the bowler is bowling the batsman has to defend the stumps from the ball being bowled with his bat whether or not he is standing in front of the crease. But if he stops the ball from hitting the stumps by using his legs then he can be out by LBW, or "leg before wicket".

He can also be out by one of the fielders catching a ball that he has hit before it has bounced on the ground. When the batsman are running between the stumps, if either of the batsmen are not in the crease when the fielder hits the stumps and knocks the bails off with the ball, then they are "run out".

Each time the two batsmen run successfully between the two sets of stumps, they get one run. If the batsman manages to hit the ball over the rope that marks the boundary when it has bounced or rolled on the ground, he gets four runs. If he hits the ball over the boundary without it bouncing on the ground, then he gets six runs. Each "innings" lasts until 10 out of the 11 batsmen are out (two batsman must always be on the wicket, so one batsman can not bat on his own). This is because the batting team need two players on the pitch at a time so that one can be at each end.

The team that wins is the team that has the highest number of runs after everybody has batted or the number of overs being played runs out. If the two teams have he same score then the match is a draw, unless one team has less players out than the other. Most club games are played over one "innings". This means that each team bats and fields once. But some games are played over two innings where each team bats and fields twice. Games are very often played over a certain number of "overs" that are agreed beforehand by the captains or according to league regulations and can be altered according to the weather, if play is interrupted. In club cricket both teams usually play in cricket whites.

Basic Cricket Rules and Laws

Basic Facts and Rules of Cricket

The game of cricket is played between two teams. Each team has eleven players. The team may use a substitute if a player is injured. If the player gets better he may return.

The game has two umpires that make the enforce the rules and make decisions.

Two scorers keep the score for both teams.

The ball is 22.4 to 22.9cm in diameter and weights between 155 to 163 grams.

The bat is 96.5 long and 10.8 wide.

The pitch is 22 yards long and 10ft wide. The wickets composed of three stumps, which are 28 inches tall and 9 inches wide with three bails on top.

The bowling crease is 8.8ft long and as wide as the wicket, it is centered on the stumps.

The condition of the pitch should be good and give an even bounce. It should be agreed by both teams at the start of the game.

The game is played for one or two innings depending on the type of match. The innings is over when all of the batsmen are out, or the innings is forfeit, or if the limit of overs or time is reached as agreed by the two captains.

A 'follow-on' occurs in a two innings match when a team that is batting does not reach the limit for runs to allow them to play on. This is when they are behind the fielding team by 200 runs for a test match, 150 for a three day match and 75 runs for a one day match. The batting team then has to bat again at the discretion of the other team. The captain of the batting team may end the innings whenever the ball is not in play.

There should be a 10 minute break between each innings. And there are breaks for lunch , tea and drinks as agreed by the captains. The play is started again by the umpire. In the final hour the fielding team must bowl at least 20 overs. The teams may practice before or after the game at the umpires discretion.

The batting team scores a run when both batsman cross and reach the opposite ends of the wicket without getting out. If the ball goes over the boundary and does not bounce the batting team get 6 runs. If it does bounce then the get 4 runs. The team that gets the most runs is the winner. If they both get the same amount of runs it is a draw. Each over is 6 bowls and then the next over is from the other end. When the ball that has been bowled has been hit or runs to a stop and the runs are over then the ball is dead. When there is a dead ball the batsman is not able to be out or score any runs.

If the batsman is not able to hit the ball from where he stands then the ball is wide This means that the batting team gets an extra run. There is also a no ball when the ball bounces more than one time on the way to the wicket when it has been bowled or the bowler does not bowl correctly. That gives the batting team an extra run. When the bowler bowls he may not put his foot over the crease and his arm must go over his shoulder and not bend.

If the ball is not hit when bowled, but the batsmen scores a run it is called a bye. If the batsman makes a run when he has tried to hit the ball but it has bounced off of his pad then it is called a leg bye. The batsman is out if the ball is caught before it has hit the ground when he has hit it. He is out if the bowler knocks off the bales when the ball is bowled. The batsman is out if the bales are knocked off when he is out of the crease.The batsman is out if he is not ready to face the ball in three minutes from the last batsman being out.

The batsman is out if he, hits the ball twice or gets hit by the ball after it is bowled and when it would have hit the wicket if he did not get in the way of it. The batsman is out when he obstructs the fielding team when the ball is in play. The batsman is out when he is run out when the ball hits the wicket when he is not in the crease when he is running between the wickets. The wicket keeper stands behind the wicket and is able to wear gloves and pads. He can stump the batsman through knocking off the bales when the batsman is not in the crease.

When 10 out the 11 batsmen are out, or the amount of agreed overs or hours are completed, the innings is finished. The team that has the most runs at the end of the one or two innings are the winners. The amount of overs and innings is agreed between the two teams at the start of the game.