Sport for Dummies: Guide to Test cricket – Part 2: fielding positions, umpires, unusual rules and more
So you made it through part one? Bravo. You now know why Test cricket is a game of the mind as much as the body – a five-day war of attrition wrapped in leather, willow, and white.
But we’re not done yet. The real beauty of Test cricket lies in the layers we’re yet to uncover: quirky fielding positions, the umpires, unusual rules, and some enigmatic traditions.
Let’s dive into what makes this format so brilliant and yet surreal, courtesy of Sports News Blitz cricket writer Ishita Trivedi.
The fielding labyrinth
Whereas football has defenders, midfielders, and strikers, cricket has – amongst others – third man, gully, silly point, and deep backward square leg.
It all sounds a bit … silly, right?
And, no, they’re not fabricated. Those are actual positions.
The fielding team can place players anywhere on the field, with some restrictions.
This allows for creative, chess-like set-ups depending on the bowler, batter, and match situation.
For example, a silly point is a brave soul standing just feet away from the batter, ready to catch edges that pop up from a defensive stroke.
Elsewhere, a leg slip is like a regular slip fielder (positioned for catches off the edge) but stationed behind the batter on the leg side.
Each of these positions serves a tactical purpose, forming a web around the batter to exploit mistakes and pressure them psychologically.
Shine bright like a cricket ball
If you have ever watched a cricketer rub the ball furiously on their pants with uncompromising force, you’ve witnessed one of the game’s most sacred rituals.
After all, in Test cricket, the ball’s condition is everything.
Bowlers (and their teammates) like to keep one side of the ball shiny and let the other get scuffed up.
This practice helps bowlers generate swing by creating an asymmetric contrast between the smooth and rough sides of the ball.
If done right, the resulting ball will curve like a banana or veer like a paper plane caught in wind.
However, there are strict regulations governing how the ball may be handled.
Players now use sweat – rather than saliva, which was officially banned during the COVID-19 pandemic – to maintain one side of the ball’s shine.
Applying any foreign substance, such as sandpaper, resin, or even sugary saliva, is considered ball tampering and is a serious offense under the laws of the game.
Violations can result in penalties ranging from runs awarded to the opposing team, suspension of the player involved, or even long-term bans in severe cases.
The integrity of the ball is closely monitored by umpires to ensure fair play throughout the match.
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The art of declaring
Ever heard of a team voluntarily ending its own innings?
That’s called a declaration, and it happens when the batting team feels there are enough runs on the board and wants to leave enough time to bowl the opposition out.
Declaring an innings closed is a calculated gamble because doing it too early might mean losing the match, while doing it too late might mean a draw.
It’s a bit like Doctor Strange risking the Sanctum Sanctorum before the battle with Dormammu even begins.
The umpire’s performative theatre
Umpires are more than referees – they’re stoic performers with a flair for the dramatic.
A raised finger? It means you’re out. Arms spread wide? That signals a wide ball. A crooked arm pointed sideways? That’s a no-ball.
Test matches also allow the use of a Decision Review System (DRS).
Each team gets a limited number of reviews to challenge the umpire’s call using technology such as ball-tracking and ultra-edge.
Lose a review and you’re stuck with the umpire’s verdict, but keep one and you’re already one step ahead of your opponents.
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The draw dilemma and moral victories
After 450 overs, can there still be no result?
That’s right, a draw is most definitely still on the cards, but not all draws are equal in Test cricket.
Sometimes, surviving a full day without losing wickets is seen as a triumph; other times, a hard-fought draw feels like a win.
Ultimately, this is a sport where grit is as celebrated as glory.
Why it’s all worth it
Test cricket is less a game and more a test of character.
It’s long, slow, and, yes, sometimes rain ruins the fun.
Yet, when the pieces fall into place with dramatic collapses, a hat-trick, or a last-hour battle between bat and ball, it’s pure magic.
So the next time someone asks how a game can last five days and still matter, just smile and say: “It’s called Test cricket. And it’s the greatest slow burn you’ll ever watch.”
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