Comparison of baseball and cricket

Baseball and cricket fields compared.

Baseball and cricket have a number of rules, terminology and strategies which are either similar or which contrast with each other.

Both games are members of a family of vaguely similar bat-and-ball games, which also includes softball; stickball; rounders; Finnish baseball; the now-extinct "Massachusetts Game" of baseball, which was similar to rounders; and One Old Cat and Two Old Cat, early bat-and-ball variants which are usually discussed in a baseball context, and which also resembled a primitive form of cricket.

Bat-and-ball games, in general, are sports in which one team (the fielding team) has possession of the ball and delivers it to a member of the other team (the batting team), who tries to hit it. The two opposing teams take turns playing these two distinct roles which are continuous during a specified interval. This contrasts with "goal-oriented" games, such as all forms of football, hockey and basketball, in which possession of the ball or puck can change in an instant, and thus the "attackers" and the "defenders" frequently reverse roles during the live action of the game.

In both cricket and baseball, the players of one team attempt to score points known as runs by hitting a ball with a bat, while the members of the other team field the ball in an attempt to prevent scoring and to get batting players out.

Once a certain number of batting players are out (different in the two sports), the teams swap roles. This sequence of each team taking each role once is called an inning in baseball, and an innings in cricket (the singular form having a terminal 's'). The single/plural usage in cricket is comparable to the baseball slang term for a single inning as the team's "ups". A baseball game consists of nine innings, while a cricket match may have either one or two innings.

Despite their similarities, the two sports also have many differences, making them significantly different in aspects of play and strategy. A comparison between cricket and baseball is instructive to followers of either sport, since the similarities help to highlight nuances particular to each game.

Field

Minimum and example baseball and cricket field dimensions compared at the same scale.

Main articles: Baseball field, Cricket field, Cricket pitch

Baseball

Baseball is played in a quadrant of fair territory between foul lines. The official minimum distance from home plate to the far edge of fair territory is 250 feet (76.2 metres), but the recommended distances are at least 325 ft (99.1 m) along the foul lines and 400 ft (121.9 m) in center field[1]. This produces a recommended fair territory field area just over 100,000 square feet. Most Major League Baseball parks have fair territory areas in the range 110,000 to 120,000 square feet[2].

Cricket

In contrast, Test and One-day International cricket is played on a field with a minimum width of 420 ft (128 m) and length 426 ft (129.8 m), giving a minimum area of 140,500 square feet (assuming an elliptical shape). Test grounds around the world are typically 450×500 ft (137.2-152.4 m), an area of 175,000 square feet, and range up to the Melbourne Cricket Ground at 468×566 ft (142.6-172.5m), or 207,000 square feet.

Consequences

Discounting the pitcher/bowler and catcher/wicket-keeper, this means Major League Baseball fielders must cover an average of approximately 16,500 square feet per fielder, while Test cricketers cover 19,500 square feet per fielder. In practice, fielders in both sports cover variable amounts of territory, with outfielders potentially having to run much farther to field a ball than infielders do.

Bowling / Pitching distance

In cricket, the distance between the two lines that define where the bowler and the current batsman must stand is 66 feet, or 1 chain (4 rods) in the old English system of measurement. The rectangular area between the two lines is called the pitch. In baseball, the pitcher must deliver from a rubber slab (officially called the "pitcher's plate" and typically called "the rubber") whose front is 60.5 feet from the point of home plate (officially called "home base" and often simply "home"). Before the advent of the pitcher's mound and the rubber, the pitcher threw from within a rectangular "pitcher's box". There was a large rectangular dirt area, between the pitcher's box and the batting areas around home, which resembled the cricket pitch.

Play

Fielding

Main articles: Baseball positions, Baseball positioning, Fielding (cricket)

A view of the playing field at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

Baseball games have far lower scores than cricket matches. The largest combined runs total in a single game in the history of major league baseball is 49, whereas cricket matches frequently produce combined totals of several hundred runs. Each run in a baseball game is on a magnitude of roughly ten times the magnitude of a run in a cricket match; therefore moments of poor pitching (akin to bowling in cricket) and individual fielding mistakes are much more costly. A player who is a good batter, but who is not a competent fielder, will not play regularly, or only in the designated hitter position in leagues that use it.

Baseball players must often throw immediately after catching the struck ball (for example, the double play), while this is unnecessary in cricket due to the ball being "dead" when an "out" is achieved.

A cricket match in progress. The lighter strip is the cricket pitch.

Another major difference between the two sports is that the fielders in cricket are not allowed to use any sort of protection for the hands – padded or otherwise, in spite of the balls being of similar hardness. The only exception to this rule in cricket is made for the wicket-keeper, who is allowed to wear padded gloves as well as leg guards. In baseball, catchers wear mitts (which have no fingers), and first basemen may wear them. The other fielders wear gloves (which have fingers).

Pick-off attempt on runner (in red) at first base

Body contact between runner and fielder is frequent in baseball, particularly at home plate. This is driven to a large extent by the manner in which a runner is put out. In both sports, rules prohibit interfering with runners. However, in baseball, the runner himself (or the base he is advancing to, if forced) must be tagged by a fielder holding the ball, in order to be put out. The catcher awaiting a throw will often stand between the plate and the runner. Once he catches it, the runner might try to go around the catcher, or he might simply bowl the catcher over, if he thinks he can dislodge the ball by such contact; and if the catcher does not have the ball, the runner may still bowl the catcher over, which is considered fair because by rule a fielder without a ball cannot impede a runner. By contrast, in cricket, an out is made by the ball dislodging the bails from the stumps. The stumps are the target for "tagging" rather than the runner. No contact of the runners is either necessary or allowed. Contact between opposing sides is rare, and a matter for embarrassment and finger pointing.

Batting

Main articles: Batting (cricket), Batting (baseball)

File:Beiserebatedor.jpg

The follow-through in a baseball swing.

There are many possibilities for a batsman in cricket.

Because the cricket bat is wide and flat, while the baseball bat is narrow and round, on the whole cricket batsmen find it easier to hit and direct the ball than baseball batters. While bowlers can influence the ability of the batsmen to do so, perhaps the most famous episode being the now-banned Bodyline tactic, cricket batsmen are able to use a wider variety of batting strokes to direct the ball in many directions into a field which provides much more open space than in baseball. In addition, cricket batsmen are under no obligation to attempt to score a run after any stroke, but must strike balls in order to prevent them from hitting the wicket. Many strokes are in fact defensive in nature against a well-bowled ball.

By contrast, the balance of power is largely reversed in baseball. While particularly skilled batters have some ability to place hit and direct the ball to desired locations, the pitcher's influence is much more dramatic. Pitchers induce more ground outs, fly outs, or strikeouts, depending on the style of pitch. Thus particular pitchers are known for causing batters to make certain kinds of outs, depending on their mastered pitches. Also, in contrast to cricket, baseball batters must attempt to take first base on any ball put into fair territory, and failing to do so will result in an out, but the size of the strike zone more strictly limits the set of deliveries that must be swung at compared to cricket. Like cricket, baseball batters do have a defensive tactic available; many batters will often attempt to deliberately foul off pitches that are strikes yet difficult to hit well, by hitting them into foul territory, awaiting an easier delivery later in the at-bat. Since an uncaught foul ball cannot be a third strike (unless it was a bunt attempt), this tactic allows the batter to receive more pitches.

In the early generations of baseball, the emphasis was mostly on bat control, place hitting, bunting, etc. Starting in 1919, several factors resulted in a dramatic change in strategic direction, from "small ball" to the "power game": a "livelier" ball, due to better materials and a tighter weave; more frequent substitutions of new balls; lighter, more flexible bats; the outlawing of the spitball; and the increase in attendance which drove owners to build more outfield seating, thus reducing the outfield area significantly. The power game has been encouraged further in recent years, by the construction of new ballparks with smaller outfields than previously, and even the reduction of field size at "classic" ballparks known for spacious outfields; for example, the distance to the fence in deep left field at Yankee Stadium was reduced from 430 feet to 399 feet between 1984 and 1988.

The games emphasize power hitting to different degrees. Cricket requires the accumulation of large quantities of runs, so placement of the ball between the fielders produces runs quickly and is a better strategy than "swinging for sixes". In baseball, it is power hitting that produces runs more quickly and frequently, forcing pitching changes and other fielding moves. Teams that rely more on "manufacturing runs" or "small ball" typically score fewer runs in a game, and require a superior pitching staff in order to quell opponents who emphasize the power game more. But game situations can compel changes in strategy. The final play of the 2001 World Series was a bloop single to drive in the winning run. Batter Luis Gonzalez stated that he choked up on the bat and went for a single, a small ball strategy with a much greater likelihood of success than "swinging for the fences".

Bowling/pitching

A cricket ball

Main articles: pitching (baseball) and bowling (cricket)

File:Strike zone.png

The "strike zone" into which baseball pitches must be thrown.

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Cricket bowlers, since they are not restricted to a small strike zone as their target, also use a wide variety of approaches which are not available to baseball pitchers. These involve varying the line and length of deliveries and using unpredictable movement caused by the ball bouncing on the pitch before it reaches the batsman. Baseball pitchers, by contrast, must use changes in ball speed and movement caused only by air friction and spin to deceive batters, as most pitches which come near touching the ground are ineffectively allowed to pass as balls. Furthermore, pitchers must begin their throw from a stationary position, while bowlers may run up to their delivery. Baseball pitchers also throw from an elevated mound (10 inches/25.4 cm above the level of home plate), while cricket bowlers are at the same height as the batsman and must bowl with an overarm rotation of the arm during which the arm may not straighten. Despite the differences in delivery action, the delivery speeds are similar for both sports with the fastest bowlers and pitchers propelling the ball in the region of 95mph-100mph: the fastest recorded cricket delivery is 100.2mph with baseball's record marginally quicker at 103 mph .

Cricket's bowlers are grouped into different categories based on their bowling style: pacemen, seamers, off-spinners, leg-spinners, wrist-spinners (as opposed to finger-spinners), etc., though a bowler often falls into more than one category. Baseball's pitchers are grouped primarily by their throwing hand (left or right) and their usual role in games (a starting pitcher begins a game and usually pitches five or more innings, while a relief pitcher enters later in a game and usually pitches fewer innings, and some even specialize further strictly as closers brought in for the final one or two innings of a game); they are sometimes secondarily grouped according to pitching style, type of pitch most often used, or velocity. However, there are many different variations on how the pitch is actually delivered, this includes the conventional overhand style as well as the less common 3/4, sidearm, and submarine deliveries.

File:Baseball (ball) closeup.jpg

A baseball

The typical bowling action of a fast bowler.

In addition, if a baseball batter is struck with a pitch, he is awarded first base; "hitting" the batter includes hitting loose parts of his uniform without hitting his body (baseball rules specify that a player's person includes his uniform and equipment). Pitchers may throw close to the batters, but deliberately hitting one is not common, chiefly because it is punished severely. If the umpire believes a batter was intentionally hit, the pitcher will be expelled from the game and usually suspended. The suspension is intended not only to protect batters but to avert fighting; being hit by a fastball is taken seriously by batters, and bench-clearing brawls occasionally result when one team decides the other is deliberately throwing at its batters.

In cricket, bowlers consider the right to hit batsmen as part of their armoury; indeed, one of the most common methods of dismissal (leg before wicket) requires the bowler to hit the batsman's body rather than his bat. A fast bowler will punctuate his overs with deliveries intended to bounce up toward the batsmen's head, either to induce a poor shot from self-defence, or to intimidate the batsmen, making him less likely to play forward to the next few deliveries for fear of injury. These tactics are an accepted part of cricket, probably in part because batsmen wear helmets and heavy padding, so that being struck by the ball only rarely results in significant injury – though it is nevertheless often painful, sometimes causing concussion. Baseball players wear helmets, but they are smaller than cricketers' and unsecured. An equivalent ball to striking the batter in baseball would be a beamer, where the ball hits the batman's upper body area without bouncing first. These are extremely rare and usually caused by the ball slipping out of the top of the bowler's hand. The even rarer intentional beamer provokes a pretty strong reaction from batsman and crowd alike.

The typical motion of a baseball pitcher.

There is a major difference in the way in which different bowlers or pitchers contribute to a single game. In baseball, a single pitcher starts the game, and makes every pitch until a point where the coach replaces the tiring pitcher with a relief pitcher. Replaced pitchers cannot return to pitch again in the same game (unless they are shuttled to another position in the field and thus stay in the lineup, a move rarely done in the major leagues), and a succession of pitchers may come into the game in sequence until it ends. In cricket, multiple bowlers begin the game, with those not actively bowling spending time as fielders. Bowlers alternate bowling overs of six balls each, moving to fielding positions to rest before returning to bowl again later in the game. Although moving a pitcher to a fielding position and returning him to pitch later in the game is legal in baseball, it is a rarely used and potentially risky strategy, as the pitcher may be unprepared to play another position.

The terms "bowling" and "pitching", as words, both denote underarm deliveries, as were once required in both games. The rules for delivery were also initially very similar. Once overhand deliveries were permitted in the respective sports, and pitchers were compelled to toe the pitching rubber instead of throwing from anywhere within the "pitcher's box", the actions of bowling and pitching diverged significantly.

The "wide" in cricket and the "ball" in baseball both derive from the concept of a "fair" delivery, i.e. a delivery that the batter or batsman has a fair chance of making contact with his bat. While there is no sharply defined "strike zone" in cricket as there is in baseball, in both cases the umpire must judge whether the ball was delivered fairly. Both the "wide" and the "ball" result in a "penalty". In cricket, a single run is charged. In baseball, a ball is called, possibly leading to a run. In extreme circumstances, a wide or ball could lead to a cricket match or baseball game respectively being decided.

Running

Running plays a much larger role in baseball because of the low scoring, because runners may remain in play (that is. on the bases) without scoring, and because baserunners can advance to the next base before the ball is hit again (steal the base) as soon as the ball is live. Base stealing often requires sliding, in which the runner throws himself to the ground to avoid a tag. The runner may also deliberately slide into the fielder at the base he is trying to steal to keep him from catching the ball or to disrupt a double play. At home plate the runner often will simply, and legally, run into a catcher who is blocking the baseline but who does not have the ball (a player without the ball may not impede the runner).

The equivalent in cricket is almost impossible because the bowler is next to the runner, and in fact used to be able to mankad him if he strayed out of his crease; nowadays the batsman can leave the crease when the bowler's back foot touches the ground during his delivery action without risk of being 'Mankaded'. Tactical running in cricket rarely strays beyond the consideration of "can I make it to the other end before the ball does", while in baseball, steals, sacrificial running, forces, double plays, intimidation, and physical contact enter into the equation.

Making contact with a fielder, as baserunners often do, would be unsportsmanlike in cricket, and unnecessary, as play stops when a single wicket is taken. Occasionally a cricket runner will dive over the crease, but in baseball this is a regular occurrence, as players are frequently forced to run even when their chances are slim.

Since a team almost always scores fewer runs in a baseball game than its number of outs (indeed, it will have fewer runners than its number of outs), a baserunner will frequently take risks attempting to advance an extra base or score a run, resulting in close plays at a base. In cricket, since the number of runs scored is much greater than the number of wickets taken in a match, a batsman would be very foolish to risk getting run out in an attempt to score an extra run without a very high expected chance of success.

Strategy

The normal fielding arrangement in baseball.

A wide array of factors affect both games (from composition of the pitch or field soil to weather conditions, wind, and moisture) and numerous strategies in both games can be employed to exploit these different factors. Other than the bowler, cricket places very few restrictions on fielding placement, even for the wicket-keeper, and its variety of bowling styles, 360 degrees of open field, wide bowling area (target zone), and so on provide for strategic play. On notable exception would be the limit of two fielders in the leg side quadrant, introduced to prevent the use of Bodyline tactics. Baseball has very specific rules about the positions of the pitcher and the catcher at the start of each play. The positioning of the other seven fielders is as flexible as cricket, except that each one must start the play positioned in fair territory. The fielders are otherwise free to position themselves anywhere on the playing field, at their discretion based on the game situation.

Batting first or last

In cricket, the team that wins the coin toss has the choice of batting first or last. This is comparable to games such as American football, in that the team winning the toss may have a variety of reasons for wanting to take the batting or the fielding position first. Playing conditions and the specific talents of the respective teams figure into the decision. In baseball, the "home" team always bats last. This was not originally the case. In the early years, the winner of a coin toss could decide whether to bat first or last. By the late 1800s, the rule was fixed. At a "neutral" site, the "home" team may be decided by coin toss, but that "home" team must bat last.

Fielding strategy

Cricket strategy requires creative use of the many possible fielding positions.

In baseball, though only the positions of pitcher and catcher are prescribed by the rules, fielders' positions are dictated closely by custom, and shifts in fielders' positions according to circumstance are less dramatic; the strike zone and smaller angle of fair territory limit the usefulness of some strategies which cricket makes available to batsmen. The chief occasion on which fielding placement differs markedly from the usual is the presence of a pull, or dead-pull, hitter at bat (such hitters almost never, except on the rare occasion of a fluke or mishit, hit the ball in any direction except towards the same side of the field as they stand at the plate, i.e. a right-handed pull hitter hits everything toward left field). In such case the fielders will move so far in the direction of the pull that one half of the field is almost completely unprotected. This is called an overshift. A six-man infield has also been used when circumstances warrant. For the great majority of batters, however, the traditional lineup is used, with minor changes in position to accommodate the batter's power or bat-handling ability, the location of runners, or the number of outs. (For example, with a base runner on third the importance of fielders being able to throw quickly to home plate on a bunt is increased, and the infielders will play closer to home plate.)

In cricket, coaches cannot intervene or direct gameplay; the captain must make all the calls once the players are out on the field, and the coach is reduced to a mere spectator. In baseball, by contrast, managers and coaches will often direct the players (through hand signals) to carry out a play (such as a stolen base or hit and run), or to field at a particular depth.

Strategy over the course of the game

In both sports strategy varies with the game situation. In baseball, pitcher, batter and fielders all play far differently in the late innings of a close game (e.g., waiting for walks, trying for stolen bases or the squeeze play to score a decisive run) than they do early, or when one team has already scored many more runs than the other (where batters will be likely to swing at many more pitches and try for home runs). The number, speed, and position of baserunners, which have no equivalent in cricket, all dramatically change the strategies used by pitcher and batter. In leagues which do not allow designated hitters, strategic thinking also enters into substitutions. For example, substitutions of pitchers often are combined with substitution of another player who takes the pitcher's traditional spot in the batting order so that the pitcher will come to bat later (pitchers are almost uniformly poor hitters). Since players may not return to the game after being substituted for, a manager cannot take lightly the decision when and if to substitute a better-fielding but worse-hitting player if his team is ahead.

First-class cricket also has a number of strategic elements not found in baseball simply because the maximum time duration of the game is fixed (which can be up to five days for Test cricket) and a match not completed by the end of the time duration results in a draw regardless of the relative score. By contrast, baseball games are played to completion regardless of the time duration and there is no possibility for a tie or draw (outside of exhibition games). There are no equivalents in baseball, for example, of deciding when to declare or to make your opponent follow on.

Strategy based on the playing surface

The condition of the playing strip (the pitch) in cricket is of vital significance as, unlike baseball, the ball is deliberately bounced on the pitch before reaching the batsman. While in baseball, playing conditions between different stadia are much the same (except for perhaps small differences in the dimensions of the field and whether the outfield is fast or slow), the physical characteristics of the cricket pitch can vary over the course of the game, or from one field to another, or from one country to another. On the Indian subcontinent, for instance, pitches tend to be dry, dusty and soft. These pitches offer less assistance to fast bowlers because the ball tends to bounce slower and lower, where most fast bowlers rely on bounce and speed to defeat the batsman. On the other hand, spin bowlers prefer this surface because it gives greater traction to the ball and will result in the ball breaking or turning more when it hits the surface. Such a pitch is usually called a "turner". Conversely, pitches in Australia tend to be hard, true surfaces, called "batting wickets" or "roads" because the ball bounces uniformly and thus batsman find it easier to score runs, although these wickets suit fast bowlers more than spinners. Accordingly, teams are generally much harder to beat in their own country, where both their batters and bowlers are presumably suited to the types of pitches encountered there. On any given pitch, however, conditions will become more suitable for spinners as time progresses and the pitch becomes softer and worn through use, making the spin bowler something of a cricketing "closer".

Baseball parks are not completely uniform, however. Stadiums with retractable roofs, for example, usually play differently with and without the roof. For example, with the roof open the wind will affect how far the ball carries. Against a running team the basepaths may be heavily watered. Many stadiums have idiosyncratic features – for example, the short left field and high left field wall (called the Green Monster) at Fenway Park, the hill and flagpole in the outfield (Tal's Hill) at Minute Maid Park, or numerous "porches" (parts of the grandstands hanging over the outfield) which allow short home runs. The altitude of the stadium (most notably Coors Field) can also impact the distance a batted ball travels and the amount of ball movement a pitcher can generate with his deliveries. The baseball behaves differently in those stadiums with artificial turf as well. The amount of moisture in the dirt on the basepaths can also affect the behavior of ground balls and the ease with which players may steal bases; some teams are known to alter the amount of watering done to the dirt depending on the skills of the home and visiting team. On the whole, though, these variations do not produce effects as great as variations in cricket pitches, with one arguable exception being Coors Field.

Strategy based on batting order

The batting order in baseball must be declared before the game begins, and can only be changed if a substitution occurs. Batting out of turn is a rule violation resulting in a penalty. When a manager makes a substitution, the new player must occupy the same place in the batting order as the old one. To allow more complicated changes in batting order, managers may use the double switch, substituting for two players simultaneously. This is typically used to replace the pitcher but put the new pitcher in a spot in the batting order that will not come up to bat soon, previously occupied by another fielder (pitchers are almost uniformly poor hitters).

Unlike baseball, the batting order in cricket is not fixed, and can be changed at any time, provided each player bats at most once. This gives rise to the "pinch hitter" in cricket - a non-specialist batsman promoted up the order to get quick runs -, and the "night watchman". This latter is typically a non-batsman promoted up the order at the end of the day to avoid a better batsman having to make two cold starts, a particular risk.

The roles of individual players in the batting order are strikingly similar. In both sports, the players near the top of the batting order are considered superior batters or batsmen. The initial batters or batsmen generally specialize in avoiding making outs, while the third through fifth batters and batsmen are considered their team's best at providing runs. After that, the talent generally drops off, with the pitchers and bowlers generally being the worst at batting. However, since in baseball a batter who puts the ball in play does not get another at-bat until the entire batting order is cycled through, the opposing team may pitch around a skilled batter, walking him or otherwise relying on getting other batters out. In cricket, a batsman remains at the pitch until he is out (or the team is all out or declares), and the other team must bowl to him until he is out.

Game length

Baseball games are much shorter than cricket games. Most Major League Baseball games last between two-and-a-half and four hours. Minor league and amateur games tend to be shorter due to fewer innings being played and/or the lack of television commercial breaks. Test Cricket games can last up to five days. The shorter version of the game (termed one-day games) lasts for anything from a couple of hours to 8 hours especially when the game is close.

A new form of cricket, called Twenty20 for its two innings of twenty overs each, has recently and successfully debuted in domestic and international competitions. The average time it takes to play an individual game of Twenty20 cricket is similar to the amount of time it takes to play a game of baseball, around two-and-a-half to three hours.

Equipment

Wicket-keeping gloves worn only by the wicket-keeper in cricket.

Baseball players use thin, round bats and wear gloves to field, while cricketers use wide, flat bats and field barehanded (except for the wicket-keeper, who wears gloves and protective leg pads). In cricket a batsman wears protective gear such as pads, gloves, thigh pads, helmet, an arm pad and a centre pad (which is used to protect the groin area), whereas the only required protective gear for baseball batters is an unsecured helmet; many batters also use elbow, shin, or ankle protectors, and almost all use batting gloves to aid grip.

A typical cricket bat made of wood.

Another difference between the two sports involves the condition of the ball as a match progresses. In cricket, if a ball is hit into the stands, the spectators must return it to the field. Also, a ball that is scuffed or scratched will continue in use; a ball must be used for a minimum number of overs (currently 80 in Test cricket) before it can be replaced. If a ball is damaged, lost, or illegally modified, it is replaced by a used ball of similar condition to the old one. Finally, cricketers are allowed to use natural substances (e.g. saliva and sweat) to modify the ball, and may polish it on their uniforms, although they cannot deliberately scratch the ball. In Major League Baseball, a ball that is hit into the stands is not returned to play even if caught by a fielder before it touches the ground; spectators are free to keep any balls that come into their possession (although local tradition, rather than the rulebook, may provide for a ball to be thrown back). Because baseball hitting is extremely difficult, baseball rules prohibit the deliberate scratching or scuffing of a ball, or the application of any foreign substance that could conceivably affect the flight or visibility of a ball. Balls that are deliberately made harder to hit by foreign substances are known as spitballs. Both spitballs and those that become scuffed or scratched due to normal game play are immediately removed from play and never reused. The current rules regarding the condition of baseballs did not come into effect until 1920 due to the death of Ray Chapman after being hit with a spitball. However, these rules were not consistently enforced for several decades afterwards; before then, they were far closer to those still present in cricket. Because of financial or practical limits on the supply of fresh balls, enforcement of these rules is much more limited in minor league and amateur baseball games, where balls become worn and scuffed in the course of play; even so, use of the spitball is universally forbidden.

Statistics

Both games have a long history of using a vast array of statistics. Every play in baseball is logged, and from the log, or scoresheet, is derived a summary report of times at bat, base hits, RBIs, stolen bases, errors, strikeouts and other occurrences. These are then often used to rate the player. Although cricket uses statistics as a guide they are not always considered a true reflection of the player. Ian Botham is noted as a player who, despite relatively poor averages, was particularly noted as one of England's greatest cricketers for his ability to dominate games.

In baseball, questioning of the validity and utility of conventional baseball statistics has led to the creation of the field of sabermetrics, which assesses alternatives to conventional statistics. Baseball statistics are also considered by many to descend frequently into triviality. Furthermore, conclusions are often drawn from inadequate samples – for example, the frequent assertions that a batter has done poorly against a specific pitcher when they have only faced each other a handful of times.

Culture

Children playing cricket on a makeshift pitch in a park. It is common in many countries for people to play cricket on such pitches and makeshift grounds.

Both sports play an important part in the culture of the societies in which they are popular. Baseball is deeply ingrained in the American psyche, and is known in the United States as "the national pastime". It is the sport most readily identified with the United States, by Americans and non-Americans alike. Baseball references abound in American English, and the sport is well represented in the quintessentially American art form of cinema in numerous baseball movies. Baseball also plays important cultural roles in Canada and in many parts of Latin America, (more specifically Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela), as well as in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Cricket is an equally strong influence on the culture of many nations, especially Commonwealth nations, including India, Pakistan, England and Wales, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe and the English-speaking Caribbean. It is regarded by many people as the most English of sports . It unifies many of the religions and cultures of the Commonwealth, encouraging friendly relations between sometime hostile nations. It has also penetrated the language, providing many Commonwealth English expressions.

Cricket has long been established on the international stage, especially among the colonies and former colonies of the United Kingdom and is followed by more people. The ten Test-playing nations regularly participate in tours of other nations to play usually both a Test and One-day International series. Twenty20 is becoming more popular in international competition. The amateur game has also been spread further afield by expatriates from the Test-playing nations. Many of these minor cricketing nations (including the USA and Canada and other nations, such as the Netherlands, which do not have a British heritage) compete to qualify for the Cricket World Cup. The very first international cricket match was played between the USA and Canada.[3] [4] Baseball in a similar way has also been spread around the world, most notably in Central America, and east Asia (in Canada it developed as a traditional sport). Though baseball has not yet made its mark in professional international competition, its popularity is slowly growing around the world, especially with the emergence of competitions like the World Baseball Classic.

The nature of the top elite level in both sports differs markedly. Nearly all cricket revenue comes from international matches, and domestic leagues serve largely as a development ground for international players. By contrast nearly all baseball revenue comes from domestic leagues, most notably in the US and Japan, with international competition very much an afterthought.

Cricket's international programme gives weaker cricketing nations the chance to play against the best in the world, and the players have the chance to become national heroes. On the other hand, the dominance of national teams also means that a great many talented Cricketers in nations such as Australia and India will never receive recognition or prestige unless they make it into the national team.

Standards of sportsmanship differ. In cricket, the standard of sportsmanship has historically been considered so high that the phrase 'it's just not cricket' was coined in the 19th Century to describe unfair or underhanded behavior in any walk of life. In the last few decades though, cricket has become increasingly fast paced and competitive, increasing the use of appealing and sledging, although players are still expected to abide by the umpires' rulings without argument, and for the most part they do. Even in the modern game fielders are known to signal to the umpire that a boundary was hit, despite what could have been a spectacular save (though this may well be that they will be found out by the TV umpire anyway). In addition to this, some cricket batsmen have been known to "walk" when they think they are out even if the umpire does not declare them out. This is considered a very high level of sportsmanship, as a batsman can easily take advantage of incorrect umpiring decisions.

In baseball, a player correcting an umpire's call, to his own team's detriment is unheard of, at least at the professional level. Individual responsibility and vigilance are part of the game's tradition. It is the umpire's responsibility to make the right call, and matters of judgment are final. Similarly, when a runner misses a base or leaves too early on a caught fly ball, the umpire keeps silent, as it is the fielder's responsibility to know where the runners are and to make an appeal. When a fielder pretends not to know where the ball is (the "hidden ball trick"), the umpire keeps silent, as it is the runner's responsibility to know where the ball is. Sportsmanship in baseball is at times more concerned than cricket with showing respect for one's opponents; for example, stealing bases when one's team has a big lead, or otherwise "showing up" the other team such as taking "too long" to run out a "home run trot", are considered gross breaches of sportsmanship.

Words and concepts in common

Analogous concepts and similar terms

	Cricket	Baseball
each team's batting turn	an innings (either singular or plural)	a half-inning or side; innings is a plural term
player who delivers the ball to start play	a bowler, who bowls	a pitcher, who pitches
player who strikes at the ball	batsman	batter (The word batsman is often used, however, in the phrase "hit batsman.")
distance between above two players	22 yards (66 feet) or 20.1 metres (approx 58 ft or 17.7 m) between bowler and batsman at delivery)	60 feet, 6 inches or 18.4 m (approx 52 ft or 15.8 m between pitcher and batter at delivery)
fielder behind the player batting	wicket-keeper	catcher
batting order	flexible	predetermined
player's batting turn	(batting) innings	plate appearance, at-bat, ups
hitting the ball	shot or stroke	hit
carrying bat after striking	batsman carries bat while running and uses it as an extension of his body	batter drops bat after hitting and while running
edge of the field	boundary (or boundary rope)	fence
scoring over the boundary or fence	six runs (six) if on the full; four runs (four) otherwise	home run if on the fly (and fair) - one, two, three, or four runs depending on the number of batters on base; automatic double if on the bounce from fair territory - batter and any runners on base may advance only two bases; thus, only two runs maximum may score
Hits inside the field result in...	zero to four runs (or more in unusual circumstances such as misfields or lost balls)	runners advancing, with possibility of a runner reaching home for a run.
hitting the ball in a specific area	placement (somewhat common)	place hitting (less common)
hitting the ball high into the air, liable to being caught	skyer (or skier), spooning it up	fly ball, pop fly, popup, "skying it"
catching the ball in flight	catch	fly out or catch (see in flight)
dismissal types	run out, caught, bowled, leg before wicket, stumped, hit wicket, handled the ball, hit the ball twice, obstructing the field, timed out (the last four are very rare)	tag out, fly out, force out, strike out, interference (similar to obstructing the field in cricket, but more common)
dismissal procedure	appeal to an umpire – an out cannot be given without an appeal from the fielding side, unless the batsman leaves the field on his own (Law 27).	automatic – most outs are called immediately by umpires; some potential outs require an appeal play to be called.
curving deliveries	leg breaks and off breaks curve after bouncing; if before bouncing, the away swing or outdipper curves away from batter, the in swing or indipper curves toward batter	breaking balls curve in the air; the curveball/slider/cut fastball away from the pitching-hand side, the rare screwball toward pitching-hand side
a delivery not in a good hitting zone	wide	ball
fielding miscue	misfield	error
central/inner playing arena	wicket, pitch or strip	diamond or infield
sides of the field	Assuming a right-handed batsman, the "Off side" is the side to his right, while the side to his left is called the "Leg side" (as that is the side closest to the batsman's legs) or sometimes the "On side". Reverse for a left-handed batsman.	"Left field" is always to the batter's left and "right field" is always to the batter's right (when facing the pitcher), regardless of the side of the plate he hits from. The term "opposite field" in baseball is equivalent to "off side", as it is the side of the baseball field in front of the batter as he faces the pitcher.
substitution	injured players can be replaced for fielding and running, not bowling or batting (Law 2)	players can be replaced in lineup for any reason; once removed they cannot return (except in certain youth leagues such as Little League, some recreational leagues and exhibition games, and in special cases called designated hitter and "courtesy runner" for a pitcher (the latter is not allowed in the major leagues); baseball substitution rule was originally also only in case of injury; unlike cricket, the replacement could also bat
delivery toward the head	"beamer" or sometimes "beamball" - umpire may warn or eject the bowler	"beanball" - umpire may warn or eject the pitcher

Words used in both sports, possibly with different meanings

Term	Cricket	Baseball
a ball	any legal delivery by the bowler	a legal delivery not entering the strike zone nor swung at by the batter. If a batter receives four balls during one plate appearance, he is awarded a base on balls.
drive	powerful shot hit with the face of the bat	powerful hit, usually hit into the outfield
infield	the area of the field less than 30 yards from the pitch (basically oval in shape)	the area of the field inside and immediately near the "diamond"; the "diamond" is the area inside the baselines, which are straight lines either drawn between bases (home plate to first - third to home plate) or imaginary (first to second and second to third); the "diamond" is thus a square 90 feet on a side but is called such because of how it appears as seen from home plate.
inning(s)	an innings is a period of batting, it can refer to that of a whole team, or an individual player	an inning is when each team has gotten three outs
lineup	the "batting lineup" means the players who are regarded as strong batsmen. a "strong batting lineup" might mean 7 or 8 recognised batsmen.	the players playing in a given game
out	a batsman is "out" when he is dismissed via a number of different ways. "outs" is never used.	batters can be "out"; when there are three "outs" the inning is over; the term "retired" is also used.
outfield	the area of the field more than 30 yards from the pitch	the fair-territory area outside the diamond
pinch hitter	batsman promoted up the batting order to score runs quickly in a one-day game (deliberately borrowed from the baseball term)	substitute for another batter
pitch	the playing arena the area on the pitch in which the bowler intends to bounce the ball	the act of throwing the ball toward the batter
run	unit of scoring, achieved by the batsmen changing ends in one movement	unit of scoring, achieved by batter visiting all four bases in succession, in up to three movements
single	stroke which scores one run	hit which allows the batter to advance to first base. It can score one run or more if runners are on base.
walk	to leave the field when dismissed without waiting for the umpire's decision	slang for a base on balls: to advance to first base after receiving four balls

References

• Sundaram, Venkat (2003). Cricket Coaching Handbook. Sun Protecs Private Limited. ISBN 81-88746-00-2.