Innings
An innings in cricket is a play through which one team has the right to strike at all times. In cricket this term is both singular and plural (one innings, two innings, ...). A game consists of one or two innings per team.
Only the batting team can score points during the innings run . It is closed at the latest when 10 of the 11 batsmen ( batsmen ) of this team are eliminated. Each of the usually eleven players has to beat for his team. However, the captain does not have to commit to a batting order , which in many cases is de facto known beforehand. Before the game is by coin toss (Toss) drawn, must decide which master with which team may bat first or needs.
1-innings and 2-innings games
Mainly in first-class cricket and thus also in test cricket (5-day international matches), a game consists of two innings per team, the scores of which are added together. The length of each innings is not prescribed, but the total playing time is generally limited. In these games the batting order of both innings can also differ.
In one-day cricket, on the other hand, each team only has one innings available; this is also limited by a predetermined number of overs (1 over = 6 throws), often 40 or 50 overs per innings. Due to the over-limitation of the innings, there is no time limit in this form of play.
Declaration
Declaration means that the captain of the batting team waives the continuation of the innings of his team for tactical reasons. In doing so, he renounces the possibility of further runs (points) in this innings for his team.
This measure, which at first glance appears to be harmful to his team, only takes place for the reason that all ten opposing batsmen can be thrown out of the game in their innings in the remaining playing time.
Because in the last (second or fourth) innings of the game, the winning condition for the batting team is to outbid the other team's number of points that the field team in the task, precisely this by "throwing out of the game" of all opposing batsmen in time prevent. In the case of games that are limited in time, for example in first-class cricket , it can happen that none of the teams reaches their goal in the given time. The game ends as a draw (draw) . This is in contrast to a tie , which would require equal points with a simultaneous conclusion (mostly all out ) of the innings.
The captain of the batting team in one of the earlier innings can therefore get into the situation, when the playing time is already relatively far advanced, of having to assess whether the run advantage that has been played out up to that point is already large enough for the other team to do so in the The remaining playing time can no longer catch up, but that on the other hand there is enough time left to be able to throw ten batsmen out of the game.
The declaration as a tactical measure of the batting team in one-day cricket, since there is no playing time limit, does not make sense and is usually prohibited there.
Forfeiture
A forfeiture is ultimately only the extreme case of a declaration , since the batting team completely renounces this before the start of the inning.
Sometimes, and this also applies to declarations , the captains jointly agree to forego an innings each time if so much playing time has been lost due to bad weather that a definitive result can no longer be expected. As in leagues for a draw (Draw) generally less points are awarded as much for a real draw (tie), many captains run the increased risk of defeat.
Follow-on
The term follow-on , which is also used as a verb in English (to follow-on) , describes the fact that the team batting second in a 2-innings game must also complete their second immediately after their first innings.
The team to be the first batting can force a follow-on if it has created a certain lead after the first innings of both teams. This depends on the number of game days.
Minimum advantage for follow-on option
- 200 runs in games of 5 or more days
- 150 runs in 3 and 4 day games
- 100 runs in 2-day games
- 75 runs in 1-day games
If a game starts late, usually due to rain, the remaining game days from the actual start of the game are decisive. Completely lost game days after the start of the game have no influence.
Tactical Considerations for Follow-On
It is at the captain's discretion whether to insist on the application of the follow-on. In order not to get into the often difficult situation of having to think about a declaration (see above), the follow-on is usually enforced.
The main reasons against a follow-on are firstly the fact that it can be very stressful, especially for the bowlers, to play in the field for two innings in a row, and secondly that the pitch often becomes more difficult for the batsmen towards the end of the game will play.
History of the follow-on
The use of the follow-on was first mentioned in 1787. From 1835 it was part of the official rules, which stated that a follow-on had to be applied from 100 runs behind. The number was reduced to 80 for multi-day games and 60 in one-day games in 1854 and expanded to 120 runs for multi-day games in 1894. At the end of the 19th century, Australia established different rules, and from 1900 follow-on was only optional. From 1914, the rule was introduced that if the first day of a game is canceled, this is not counted towards the days used to calculate the run difference. The 200-run limit has been in effect for five-day games since 1962.
Victories for teams that had to follow-on
While not impossible, victories are very rare for teams that had to follow-on. In first-class cricket , these games are often given legendary status.
In a 1922 championship game between Warwickshire and Hampshire at Edgbaston, Birmingham, Hampshire scored a ridiculous 15 runs in its first innings, down from Warwickshire's 223. This is the seventh lowest score in a completed first class innings. Hampshire had to go into the follow-on and hit a staggering 521 runs in the second innings, only to bow out Warwickshire for 158 and win with a comfortable 155 runs. Fifteen runs is the lowest run count in a completed first-class innings to date for a team that has won the game.
Botham's Test - Headingley (Leeds), 1981
In the 1981 season, the English star all-rounder Ian Botham started with a poor performance as captain in the 6-match Ashes series against Australia. After a loss and a draw in the first two games, he was replaced as captain by Mike Brearley, but remained in the team. The Australians were considered the second best team in the world behind the team from West India (Caribbean) and had three of the best bowlers ever with Dennis Lillee , Terry Alderman and Geoff Lawson.
The third game of the Ashes series in Headingley (Leeds) started very badly for England. With just 174 runs after Australia scored 401 in their innings, England had to make the follow-on. Ian Botham was the only bright spot in the English team with 50 runs and 6 wickets in the two innings. In the second innings of England Botham came in when the score was 105 for 5 wickets, shortly afterwards Geoff Boycott and the English wicket keeper Bob Taylor were eliminated. With 135 for 7, still 92 runs behind Australia, the defeat seemed sealed.
At the time, the Ladbrokes betting company offered the now famous 500-1 odds against England and two of the Australian players, wicket keepers Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee, bet small sums on England for fun. What would be a scandal these days was just a funny anecdote back then. When the English bowler Graham Dilley came on the field as the ninth batsman, Botham is said to have said, "Right then, let's have a bit of fun ..." (So, let's have a little more fun). Not without the support of the rest of the batsmen, Botham then achieved astonishing, and for the spectators entertaining, 149 not out, which gave England a small lead of 129 runs. Australia still looked like the sure winner. The next day, however, an unleashed Bob Willis achieved 8 wicket for only 43 runs, and Australia, which had only lost 1 wicket in 56 runs, went all out with 111.
This was only the second of three cases in test cricket to date (2010) in which a team still won after having to go into the follow-on. In all three cases, Australia was the loser in the end (twice against England and once against India).
See also
Inning in baseball
Remarks
- ↑ The term game section (Engl. Session ) is the interval between two breaks and has nothing to do with the logical organization of the game in innings.
- ↑ David Liverman: Rare follow-on law applied in Lord's Test ( English ) Cricinfo. May 21, 2001. Retrieved September 9, 2016.