Bowling:
In cricket, each team gets 50 "overs" to "bowl". An over consists of 6 attempts at launching the ball to the batter(batsman). Bowling is the action of throwing the ball at the batsman. It's very complex and takes some getting used to. There are different styles of bowling that are unique to each player. Some bowlers have their own tricks and that makes them valuable. The two main styles of bowling are fast and spin. Unlike baseball, in bowling you can either launch the ball directly at the batsman or let it bounce once before it reaches the batsman.
Spin bowling involves making the ball spin in the air before it hits the ground, causing it to deviate from its line before reaching the batsman. Kinda like a curveball, but not quite since in baseball the ball curves in the air, while in spin bowling it deviates (depending on the direction the ball is spinning) once it hits the ground.
Fast bowling, basically involves a long run up (so that the bowler gains speed) before he launches the ball much much faster than a spinner does at the batsman.
Batting:
There are always 2 batsmen on the field, and they stand at opposite ends of a pitch, which is a rectangular section of the field located right at the center of the circular field, that is rough and where all the action takes place. The batsmen wear full protective gear and padding, coz being hit by a cricket ball will easily break your bones and send you to your deathbed if hit on the head.
When batting, you see a bowler launching a ball at you, your aim is to hit it. Once hit, the ball usually travels very fast and can travel on the field or in the air. you score a run, which is when the batsmen run in the opposite direction along the pitch. Each run is counted at one run (mentioning this coz of basketball where each basket is a 2). You can score more runs if you hit the ball so that it crosses the boundary of the field. You score 4 runs if the ball lands on the ground and then reaches the boundary edge before a fielder can get to it. Unlike baseball, the fielders have no mitts and have to catch it with their bare hands, which takes some getting used to, since there is a style to it. You can get 6 runs, if you hit it so that it travels in the air and crosses the boundary (similar to hitting it into the crowd in baseball).
A batsman guards his stumps(there are 2 on each side of the pitch that the batsmen run to) which are 3 sticks in the ground that he stands in front of. If when attempting to bat, instead he misses and the ball hits the 3 sticks, he is out. He can also get out if he is run out, i.e after hitting the ball, and attempts to run with the other batsman, he doesnt make it in time to reach the other end and a fielder hits his stumps. He can also get out if he is caught out, if the ball travels directly after hitting his bat to a fielder before it hits the ground.
The above rules seem complex, but then I though American football was complex, but its seems easy now. Once you watch a game with someone to explain it to you, you'll realize how cool it is.
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