Ground Rules Five reasons to have a new appreciation for the sport of cricket

That's Catchy

Fielders in cricket need the reflexes of NHL goalie Henrik Lundqvist to catch shots, whether they are launched from far out or at point-blank range, sometimes with only a split-second to react depending on how far away they are from the batsman playing the shot. Unlike Lundqvist, they don't get to wear a glove to stop the ball. Cricket's Ground Rules: That's Catchy

Coming Full Oval

Because the cricket field is shaped like an oval, fans are always close to the fielders who ride the boundary edge. However, most of the action on a cricket field takes place in the middle infield, where NASCAR pit crews would be stationed. Cricket's Ground Rules: Full Oval

Points Of Return

Rather than run around a diamond to score runs, cricket batsmen run back and forth between two stations located at opposite ends of the pitch to build up their team's total. It's like "running bases," except the fielder tries to peg the stumps with the ball before the runners reach their safe ground across the crease line for each completed run. Cricket's Ground Rules: Points of Return

The Way The Ball Bounces

While cricket batsmen are often compared to baseball hitters, a cricketer's shot selection is actually more similar to a tennis player. Cricketers have to strike the ball off the bounce, use nimble footwork to play off the front and back foot and judge the trajectory and deviation of the delivery based on the speed and texture of the pitch surface -- similar to a hard, clay or grass court. Cricket's Ground Rules: The Way The Ball Bounces

A Head Start