Twenty20 - The Rules - History
History of Twenty 20 Cricket
Although it was first mooted in 1998 and again in 2001 it wasn't until 2003 that the English and Welsh Cricket board (ECB) introduced Twenty20 cricket, the game involves two teams who each have a single innings batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Although it was the ending of the Benson & Hedges Cup in 2002 that forced the authorities hand, they had also realised for sometime that they needed to appeal to a younger generation with sponsorship and crowds falling through the floor drastic action was needed.
From the outset the game was designed to have mass appeal it had to be fast, exciting and to be of short duration there is no doubt that Twenty20 cricket ticks all these boxes.
With each innings lasting around 75 minutes it immediately comes into a timespan that fits in with most popular sports and also appeals to TV. It should be noted that Twenty20 Cricket is intended to run alongside Test and County Cricket and not replace it.
The game has since gone global and India beat Pakistan in the first World Twenty20 competition and since then the Indian Premier League (IPL) has become the biggest in the World.
Twenty20 Rules
Format
Similar to limited overs cricket in that two teams are involved each has a single innings each batting for a maximum of 20 overs. The other major difference the teams now sit in on a bench and don't retire to the dressing room.
General rules
The normal Laws of cricket apply to Twenty20, with these exceptions:
* Each bowler may bowl a maximum of only one-fifth of the total overs per innings (generally four, for a full, uninterrupted game). i.e., 4 in the 20 overs
* Should a bowler deliver a no ball by overstepping the popping crease, it costs 1 run and his next delivery is designated a "free-hit", from which the batsman can only be dismissed through a run out, as is the case for the original "no ball". (Strictly speaking, the very rare methods of dismissal from a "no ball" – for hitting the ball twice, obstructing the field or handling the ball – also apply to the "free-hit" delivery.)
* Umpires may award five-run penalty runs at their discretion if they believe either team is wasting time.
* The following fielding restrictions apply:
o No more than five fielders can be on the leg side at any time.
o During the first six overs, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle.
o After the first six overs, a maximum of five fielders can be outside the fielding circle.
* If the fielding team doesn't start to bowl their 20th over within 75 minutes, the batting side is credited an extra six runs for every whole over bowled after the 75 minute mark; the umpire may add more time to this if they believe the batting team is wasting time.
Tie deciders
If the match ends with the scores tied and there must be a winner, the tie is broken with a one over per side "Eliminator" or "Super Over":
* Each team nominates three batsmen and one bowler to play a one-over per side "mini-match", referred to as a "One1".
In turn, each side bats one over bowled by the one nominated opposition bowler, with their innings over if they lose two wickets before the over is completed. The side with the higher score from their over wins:
* If the teams finish tied on runs scored in that one over, the side with the higher number of sixes in its full innings and in the one-over eliminator will be declared the winner. If the teams are still tied, the one with the higher number of fours in both innings will win.
* Tied Twenty20 matches were previously decided by a "Bowl-out".
