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This is a game for two teams of eleven people, played mostly outdoors
and in the summer, using a wooden bat and a fairly small hard ball on a
large pitch.
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A reduced version of the game is played in some indoor centres.
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The rules of
cricket are quite complex and most games last at least a half day.
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Competitions are an
important part of the sport, as well as friendly matches. The
fixture list is a key aspect of team life.
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England & Wales Cricket Board www.ecb.co.uk/
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Extra Cover
The Cricketer International
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Find a local cricket group
or club (see organisations above).
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See if there are
introductory sessions at your local club or sports
centre.
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Consult books or magazines
on the basics of cricket.
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Check in your local library/paper
or sports centre for more information.
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Skills and people
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You can practice some cricketing skills on your own, but serious
practice really requires other people, and 22 of them are needed for a
proper game.
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Cricket teams are usually single sex, but both sexes do play. Skill is
as important as physical ability and teams often comprise a wide range of
age groups, especially at the local level.
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Most people belong to some form of local group or club,
and the social aspect of cricket life is important to many of them.
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It is
less essential than in many other sports that the people you play with
should be of
the same standard as yourself, but the two teams overall need to be
reasonably matched.
Equipment or clothing
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A bat and ball, plus various forms of protective clothing, are
essential equipment; some or all of them may be provided by the
group or club with whom you play.
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Traditionally white clothing and
special cricket boots were the normal wear, but some local teams are more
flexible about this.
A place or facilities
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Played outdoor, cricket requires a substantial area, usually of grass,
with a marked central strip and "wickets".
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There are facilities in many schools,
parks and villages, as well as attached to some sports centres.
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Many
local clubs use these facilities, but some have their own grounds.
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