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Cricket

For the insect, see Cricket (insect). For other uses, see Cricket (disambiguation).

A Test match between Australia and India in January 2004. The lighter strip is the cricket pitch. The men wearing black trousers on the far right are the umpires.

Cricket Portal
Cricket is a bat and ball sport, played between two teams of eleven players each. A cricket match is played on a grass field (which is usually roughly oval), in the centre of which is a flat strip of ground 22 yards (20.12 m) long, called a pitch. At each end of the pitch is a set of wooden stumps, called a wicket. A player from the fielding team (the bowler) propels a hard, fist-sized cork-centred leather ball from one wicket towards the other. The ball usually bounces once before reaching a player from the opposing team (the batsman), who defends the wicket from the ball with a wooden cricket bat. The batsman, if he or she does not get out, may then run between the wickets, exchanging ends with the other batsman (the "non-striker"), who has been standing in an inactive role near the bowler's wicket, to score runs. The other members of the bowler's team stand in various positions around the field as fielders. The match is won by the team that scores more runs.
Cricket has been an established team sport for hundreds of years. It originated in its modern form in England and is popular mainly in the present and former members of the Commonwealth. In the countries of South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, cricket is the most popular sport. It is also a major sport in places such as England and Wales, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Bermuda, and the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean, which are collectively known in cricketing parlance as the West Indies. There are also well established amateur club competitions in countries as diverse as the Netherlands, Ireland, Kenya, Nepal, and Argentina. (see also: International Cricket Council)
The sport is followed with passion in many different parts of the world. It has even occasionally given rise to diplomatic outrage, the most notorious being the Basil D'Oliveira affair which led to the banning of South Africa from sporting events. Other examples include the Bodyline series played between England and Australia in the early 1930s, an event that almost meant diplomatic ties were severed between the two nations, or the 1981 underarm bowling incident involving Australia and New Zealand.
Contents[hide]
1 Summary
2 Results
3 Laws of cricket
3.1 Players and officials
3.1.1 Players
3.1.2 Umpires
3.1.3 Scorers
3.2 The playing field
3.2.1 The pitch
3.2.2 Parts of the field
3.2.3 Placements of players
3.3 Match structure
3.3.1 The toss
3.3.2 Overs
3.3.3 End of an innings
3.3.4 Playing time
3.4 Batting and scoring runs
3.4.1 Batting
3.4.2 Run scoring
3.4.3 Extras
3.5 Bowling and dismissals
3.5.1 Bowling
3.5.2 Dismissal of a batsman
3.6 Fielding and wicket-keeping
3.7 Other roles
3.7.1 Captain
3.7.2 A runner
3.7.3 Substitutes
4 History
5 Forms of cricket
5.1 Test cricket
5.2 One-day cricket
5.2.1 Twenty20 Cricket
5.3 First-class matches
5.4 Other forms of cricket
6 International structure
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
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[edit] Summary

A cricket ball used in Test matches. The white stitching is known as the seam.As one-day games are often played under floodlights, a white ball is used to aid visibility.

A cricket bat, back and front sides
The aim of the batting team is to score as many runs as possible. A run is scored when both batsmen successfully move to their respective opposite ends of the pitch (wicket). (The batsmen will usually only attempt to score runs after the striker has hit the ball, but this is not necessary). The aim of the bowler's team is to get each batsman out (this is a wicket, or a dismissal). Dismissals are achieved in a variety of ways. The most direct way is for the bowler to bowl the ball in such a way that it evades the batsman's guard and hits the stumps, dislodging the bails. While the batsmen are attempting a run, the fielders may attempt to knock the bails off either set of stumps with the ball before the batsman nearer to that set of stumps has reached the crease with his bat. Other ways for the fielding side to dismiss a batsman include catching a struck ball before it touches the ground. Once the batsmen are not attempting to score any more runs, the ball is "dead" and is bowled again (each attempt at bowling the ball is a ball or a delivery).
Once out, a batsman is replaced by the next batsman in the team's lineup. The innings (singular) of the batting team will end when the tenth batsman is given out, since there always must be two batsmen on the field. When this happens, the team is said to be all out. At the end of an innings, the two teams exchange roles, the fielding team becoming the batting team and vice versa.
The game is divided into overs of six (legal) balls. At the end of an over, the batting and bowling ends will be swapped, and the bowler replaced by another member of the fielding side. The two umpires also change positions at this time, and sometimes the fielding positions are rearranged.
The team that has scored more runs at the end of the completed match wins. Different varieties of the game have different definitions of "completion", for instance there may be restrictions on the number of overs, the number of innings, and the number of balls in each innings. A draw is not an uncommon result, and can occur if the team that is last to bat has not scored enough runs to win, but has not been dismissed before the end of play.

[edit] Results
Main article: The result in cricket
If the team that bats last has all of its batsmen dismissed before it can reach the run total of the opposing team, it is said to have lost by (n) runs (where (n) is the difference between the two run totals). If however, the team that bats last exceeds the opposing team's run total before its batsmen are dismissed, it is said to have won by (n) wickets, where (n) is the difference between the number of wickets conceded and 10.
If, in a two-innings-a-side match, one team's combined first and second innings total fails to reach its opponent's first innings total, there is no need for the opposing team to bat again and it is said to have won by an innings and (n) runs, where (n) is the difference between the two teams' totals.
If all the batsmen of the team batting last are dismissed with the scores exactly equal then the match is a tie; ties are very rare in cricket, particularly in matches of two innings a side. If the time allotted for the match expires before either side can win, then the game is a draw.
If the match has only a single innings per side, then a maximum number of deliveries for each innings is often imposed. In this case the side scoring more runs wins regardless of the number of wickets lost, so that a draw cannot occur. If this kind of match is temporarily interrupted by bad weather, then a complex mathematical formula known as the Duckworth-Lewis method is often used to recalculate a new target score. A one-day match can be declared a No-Result if fewer than a previously agreed number of overs have been bowled by either team, in circumstances that make normal resumption of play impossible - for example, an extended period of bad weather.

[edit] Laws of cricket
For more details on this topic, see Laws of cricket.
The game is played in accordance with 42 laws of cricket, which have been developed by the Marylebone Cricket Club in discussion with the main cricketing nations. Teams may agree to alter some of the rules for particular games. Other rules supplement the main laws and change them to deal with different circumstances. In particular, there are a number of modifications to the playing structure and fielding position rules that apply to one innings games that are restricted to a set number of fair deliveries.

[edit] Players and officials

[edit] Players
For more details on this topic, see Cricketer.
A team consists of eleven players. Depending on his or her primary skills, a player may be classified as a specialist batsman or bowler. A balanced team usually has five or six specialist batsmen and four or five specialist bowlers. Teams nearly always include a specialist wicket-keeper because of the importance of this fielding position.
A player who excels in both batting and bowling is known as an all-rounder. One who excels as a batsman and wicket-keeper is known as a wicket-keeper/batsman, sometimes regarded as a type of all-rounder. True all-rounders are rare and valuable players; most players focus on either their batting or their bowling.

[edit] Umpires
For more details on this topic, see Umpire (cricket).
Two on-field umpires preside over a match. One umpire (the field umpire) will stand behind the wicket at the end from which the ball is bowled, and adjudicate on most decisions. The other (the square leg umpire) will stand near the fielding position called square leg, which offers a side view of the batsman, and assist on decisions for which he or she has a better view. In some professional matches, they may refer a decision to an off-field third umpire, who has the assistance of television replays. In international matches an off-field match referee ensures that play is within the laws of cricket and the spirit of the game.

[edit] Scorers
For more details on this topic, see Scorer.
Two scorers are appointed, and most often one scorer is provided by each team. The laws of cricket specify that the official scorers are to record all runs scored, wickets taken and (where appropriate) overs bowled. They are to acknowledge signals from the umpire, and to check the accuracy of the score regularly both with each other and, at playing intervals, with the umpires. In practice scorers also keep track of other matters, such as bowlers' analyses, the rate at which the teams bowl their overs, and team statistics such as averages and records. In international and national cricket competitions, the media often require notification of records and statistics, so unofficial scorers often keep tally for broadcast commentators and newspaper journalists. The official scorers occasionally make mistakes, but unlike umpires' mistakes these can be corrected after the event.

The MCG Stadium during the '92 Cricket World Cup.

[edit] The playing field
For more details on this topic, see Cricket field.
The cricket field consists of a large circular or oval-shaped grassy ground. There are no fixed dimensions for the field but its diameter usually varies between 450 feet (137 m) to 500 feet (150 m). On most grounds, a rope demarcates the perimeter of the field and is known as the boundary.

[edit] The pitch
For more details on this topic, see Cricket pitch.

A wicket consists of three stumps that are hammered into the ground, and topped with two bails.
Most of the action takes place in the centre of this ground, on a rectangular clay strip usually with short grass called the pitch. The pitch measures 10 × 66 feet (3.05 × 20.12 m).
At each end of the pitch three upright wooden stakes, called the stumps, are hammered into the ground. Two wooden crosspieces, known as the bails, sit in grooves atop the stumps, linking each to its neighbour. Each set of three stumps and two bails is collectively known as a wicket. One end of the pitch is designated the batting end where the batsman stands and the other is designated the bowling end where the bowler runs in to bowl. The area of the field on the side of the line joining the wickets where the batsman holds his bat (the right-hand side for a right-handed batsman, the left for a left-hander) is known as the off side, the other as the leg side or on side.
Lines drawn or painted on the pitch are known as creases. Creases are used to adjudicate the dismissals of batsmen and to determine whether a delivery is legal.

A standard cricket ground.

[edit] Parts of the field
For a one-innings match played over a set number of fair deliveries, there are two additional field markings. A painted oval is made by drawing a semicircle of 30 yards (27.4 m) radius from the centre of each wicket with respect to the breadth of the pitch and joining them with lines parallel, 30 yards (27.4 m) to the length of the pitch. This line, commonly known as the circle, divides the field into an infield and outfield. Two circles of radius 15 yards (13.7 m), centred on each wicket and often marked by dots, define the close-infield. The infield, outfield, and the close-infield are used to enforce fielding restrictions.

The standard fielding positions in cricket for a right-handed batsman. The spots are only indicative. Only nine fielders are available in addition to the bowler and wicketkeeper, so there are always many unprotected areas.

[edit] Placements of players
For more details on Fielding positions, see fielding positions in cricket.
The team batting always has two batsmen on the field. One batsman, known as the striker, faces and plays the balls bowled by the bowler. His or her partner stands at the bowling end and is known as the non-striker.
The fielding team has all eleven of its players on the ground, and at any particular time, one of these will be the bowler. The player designated as bowler must change after every over. The wicket-keeper, who generally acts in that role for the whole match, stands or crouches behind the wicket at the batting end. The captain of the fielding team spreads his or her remaining nine players — the fielders — around the ground to cover most of the area. Their placement may vary dramatically depending on strategy. Each position on the field has a unique label.

[edit] Match structure

[edit] The toss
For more details on this topic, see toss (cricket).
The two opposing captains toss a coin before the match, and the captain winning the toss chooses either to bat or bowl first. This decision will be based on whether the team's bowlers are likely to gain immediate advantage from the pitch and weather conditions (these can vary significantly), or whether it is more likely that the pitch will deteriorate and make batting more difficult later in the game.

[edit] Overs
For more details on Overs, see Over (cricket).
Each innings is divided into overs, each consisting of six consecutive legal (see "Extras" for details) deliveries bowled by the same bowler. After completing an over, the bowler must take up a fielding position and let another player take over the bowling.
After every over, the batting and bowling ends are swapped, and the field positions are adjusted. The umpires swap so the umpire at the bowler's end moves to square leg, and the umpire at square leg moves to the new bowler's end.

[edit] End of an innings
For more details on End of an innings, see End of an innings (cricket).
An innings is completed if:
Ten out of eleven batsmen are 'out' (dismissed) — the team are all out.
The team has only one batsman left who can bat (the others being incapacitated either through injury, illness or absence) — again, the team are all out.
The team batting last reaches the score required to win the match.
The predetermined number of overs are bowled (in a one-day match only, usually 50 overs).
A captain declares his team's innings closed (this does not apply to one-day limited over matches).

[edit] Playing time
For more details on Playing time, see Playing time (cricket).
Typically, two innings matches are played over three to five days with at least six hours of cricket being played each day. One innings matches are usually played over one day for six hours or more. There are formal intervals on each day for lunch and tea, and shorter breaks for drinks, where necessary. There is also a short interval between innings.
The game is only played in dry weather. Additionally, as in professional cricket it is common for balls to be bowled at over 90 mph (144 km/h), the game needs to be played in daylight that is good enough for a batsman to be able to see the ball. Play is therefore halted during rain (but not usually drizzle) and when there is bad light. Some one-day games are now played under floodlights, but, apart from a few experimental games in Australia, floodlights are not used in longer games. Professional cricket is usually played outdoors. These requirements mean that in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Zimbabwe the game is usually played in the summer. In the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh games are played in the winter. In these countries the hurricane and monsoon season coincides with their summers.

[edit] Batting and scoring runs
For more details on scoring, see scoring (cricket).

[edit] Batting
Main articles: batsman and batting (cricket)

Ricky Ponting of Australia batting.
Batsmen strike the ball from the batting crease, with the flat surface of a wooden bat. If the batsman hits the ball with his bat, it is called a shot (or stroke). If the ball brushes the side of the bat it is called an edge or snick. Shots are named according to the style of swing and the direction aimed. As part of the team's strategy, he may bat defensively, blocking the ball downwards, or aggressively, hitting the ball hard to empty spaces in order to score runs. There is no requirement to run if the ball is struck.
If the batsman manages to hit the ball over the boundary ropes, he automatically scores runs. A ball that reaches the boundary on the full (without touching the ground) automatically scores six runs. A ball that reaches the boundary after having touched the ground automatically scores four runs.
Batsmen come in to bat in a batting order, decided by the team captain. The first two positions, the "openers", face the most hostile bowling, from fast bowlers at their freshest and with a new ball. After that, the team typically bats in descending order of batting skill, the first five or six batsmen usually being the best in the team. Then follow the all-rounders — bowlers or wicket-keepers who can bat decently — and finally the pure bowlers who rarely score well. This order may be changed at any time during the course of the game.

[edit] Run scoring
For more details on Run, see Run (cricket).

The directions in which a right-handed batsman intends to send the ball when playing various cricketing shots.
To score a run, a striker must hit the ball and run to the opposite end of the pitch, while his non-striking partner runs to his end. To register a run, both runners must touch the ground behind the popping crease with either their bats or their bodies (the batsmen carry their bats as they run). If the striker hits the ball well enough, the batsmen may double back to score two or more runs. This is known as running between wickets. However, no rule requires the batsman to run upon striking the ball. If the batsmen score an odd number of runs, then they will have swapped ends and their roles as striker and non-striker will be reversed for the next ball, unless the most recent ball marks the end of an over.
If a fielder knocks the bails off the stumps with the ball while no batsman is grounded behind the nearest popping crease, the nearest batsman is run out. If the ball goes over the boundary, then four runs are scored, or six if the ball has not bounced.

[edit] Extras
For more details on extras, see Extra (cricket).
Every run scored by the batsmen contributes to the team's total. A team's total also includes a number of runs which are unaccredited to any batsmen. These runs are known as extras, apart from in Australia where they are also called sundries. Extras consist of byes, leg byes, no balls, wides and penalty runs. The former two are runs that can be scored if the batsman misses making contact with bat and ball, and the latter two are types of fouls committed by the bowler. For serious infractions such as tampering with the ball, deliberate time-wasting, and damaging the pitch, the umpires may award penalty extras to the opposition; in each case five runs. Five penalty runs are also awarded if a fielder uses anything other than his body to field the ball, or if the ball hits a protective helmet left on the field by the fielding team. A team need not be batting in order to receive penalty extras.

[edit] Bowling and dismissals

[edit] Bowling

Darren Gough of England bowling.
Main articles: bowler (cricket), bowling (cricket), and bowling strategy (cricket)
A bowler delivers the ball toward the batsmen, using what is known as a bowling action: the elbow may be held at any angle and may bend further, but may not straighten out during the action. If the elbow straightens, it is an illegal throw and the delivery is called a no-ball. Under new cricketing law, after consultation with health experts, the bowler is allowed to straighten his arm 15 degrees or less; if the bowler straightens his arm more than 15 degrees it is called a "no ball".
Usually, the bowler pitches the ball so that it bounces before reaching the batsman. Some part of the bowler's front foot in the delivery stride (that is, the stride when the ball is released) must be behind the popping crease to avoid a no-ball (although the bowler's front foot does not have to be grounded). The ball must also be delivered so it is within the batsman's reach; otherwise it is termed a wide. A wide cannot be called if the batsman hits the ball. A wide or no-ball results in an extra run being added to the batting team's score, and an extra ball being bowled in the over.
The bowler's primary goal is to take wickets; that is, to get a batsman out or dismissed. If a bowler can dismiss the more accomplished batsmen on the opposing team he reduces the opportunity for them to score, as it exposes the less skilful non-specialist batsmen. The bowler's secondary task is to limit the numbers of runs scored per over bowled. This is known as the Economy rate. There are two main kinds of bowlers: pace bowlers, who attempt to bowl the ball too quickly for the batsman to properly react, and spin bowlers who bowl slower deliveries that bounce and curve in unpredictable ways.

[edit] Dismissal of a batsman
For more details on Dismissal, see Dismissal (cricket).
There are ten ways in which a batsman may be dismissed. Once a batsman is dismissed, he leaves the field to be replaced by another batsman. When the tenth batsmen are out the remaining not-out batsman has run out of partners, at which point the side is "all out", and the innings is over.
Many modes of dismissal require the wicket to be "put down". The wicket is put down if a bail is dislodged from the top of the stumps; or if a stump is struck out of the ground either by the ball, or by a fielder using his hand which is holding the ball. Of the following ten modes of dismissal, the first six are common, while the last four are technicalities which rarely occur. Briefly, the ten modes are:
Caught — When a fielder catches the ball before the ball bounces and after the batsman has struck it with the bat or it has come into contact with the batsman's glove while it is in contact with the bat handle. The bowler and catcher are both credited with the dismissal. (Law 32)
Bowled — When a delivered ball hits the stumps at the batsman's end, and dislodges one or both of the bails. This happens regardless of whether the batsman has edged the ball onto the stumps or not. The bowler is credited with the dismissal. (Law 30)
Leg before wicket (lbw) — When a delivered ball misses the bat and strikes the batsman's leg, pad or body, and the umpire judges that the ball would otherwise have struck the stumps. The laws of cricket stipulate certain exceptions. For instance, a delivery pitching outside the line of leg stump should not result in an lbw dismissal, while a delivery hitting the batsman outside the line of the off stump should result in an lbw dismissal only if the batsman makes no attempt to play the ball with the bat. The bowler is credited with the dismissal.
Run out — When a fielder, bowler or wicket-keeper removes one or both of the bails with the ball by hitting the stumps whilst a batsman is still running between the two ends. The ball can either hit the stumps directly or the fielder's hand with the ball inside it can be used to dislodge the bails. Such a dismissal is not officially credited to any player, although the identities of the fielder or fielders involved is often noted in brackets on the scorecard.
Stumped — When the batsman leaves his crease in playing a delivery, voluntarily or involuntarily, but the ball goes to the wicket-keeper who uses it to remove one or both of the bails through hitting the bail(s) or the wicket before the batsman has remade his ground. The bowler and wicket-keeper are both credited. This generally requires the keeper to be standing within arm's length of the wicket, which is done mainly to spin bowling. (Law 39)
Hit wicket — When the batsman accidentally knocks the stumps with either the body or the bat, causing one or both of the bails to be dislodged, either in playing a shot or in taking off for the first run. The bowler is credited with the dismissal. (Law 35)
Handled the ball — When the batsman deliberately handles the ball without the permission of the fielding team. No player is credited with the dismissal. (Law 33)
Hit the ball twice — When the batsman deliberately strikes the ball a second time, except for the sole purpose of guarding his wicket. No player is credited with the dismissal. (Law 34)
Obstructing the field — When a batsman deliberately hinders a fielder from attempting to field the ball. No player is credited with the dismissal. (Law 37)
Timed out — When a new batsman takes more than three minutes to take his position in the field to replace a dismissed batsman (If the delay is protracted, the umpires may cause the match to be forfeited). This rule prevents the batting team using time limits of the game to unfair advantage. No player is credited with the dismissal. (Law 31)
Additionally, a batsman may leave the field without being dismissed. For instance, if he is injured or taken ill, this is known as retired hurt or retired ill. The batsman is not out; he may return to bat later in the same innings if sufficiently recovered. Also, an unimpaired batsman may retire, in which case he is treated as being dismissed retired out; no player is credited with the dismissal.
Batsmen cannot be out bowled, caught, leg before wicket, stumped, or hit wicket off a no ball. They cannot be out bowled, caught, leg before wicket, or hit the ball twice off a wide.
Some of these modes of dismissal can occur without the bowler bowling a delivery. The batsman who is not on strike may be run out by the bowler if he leaves his crease before the bowler bowls, and a batsman can be out obstructing the field or retired out at any time. Timed out is, by its nature, a dismissal without a delivery. With all other modes of dismissal, only one batsman can be dismissed per ball bowled.

[edit] Fielding and wicket-keeping

A pair of wicket-keeping gloves.
Main articles: Fielder and Fielding strategy (cricket)
Fielders assist the bowlers in preventing runs, either by taking catches to dismiss a batsman, or by intercepting the ball and returning it to the pitch. The wicket-keeper is the only fielder permitted to wear gloves. A fielder may stop the ball with any part of their body.
For more details on this topic, see Wicket-keeper.
The wicket-keeper is a specialist fielder who stands behind the batsman's wicket throughout the game. His primary job is to gather deliveries that the batsman fails to hit, to prevent them running into the outfield, which would enable batsmen to score byes. To this end, he wears special gloves (he is the only fielder allowed to do so) and pads to cover his lower legs. Due to his position directly behind the striker, the wicket-keeper has a good chance of getting a batsman out caught off a fine edge from the bat; thicker edges are typically handled by the "slips" fieldsmen. The wicket-keeper is also the only person who can get a batsman out stumped.

[edit] Other roles

[edit] Captain
For more details on this topic, see Role of a cricket captain.
The captain's acumen in deciding the strategy is sometimes crucial to the team's success. The captain makes a number of important decisions, including setting fielding positions, alternating the bowlers and taking the toss. Before the start of play, the captains of the opposing teams will meet and toss a coin; the winner of the toss makes the decision as to which team will bat first. This decision, made in consideration of pitch conditions, the weather, and the relative bowling and batting abilities of the two sides, can have an enormous impact on the course of play. During play, the captain decides when change the bowler and who to replace him with, depending on the situation. The captain is also responsible for the team's fielding positions, and in One-day Internationals the captain also decides when to make use of Powerplay 2 and 3.

[edit] A runner
For more details on Runner, see runner (cricket).
In the event of a batsman being fit to bat but too injured to run, the umpires and the fielding captain may allow another member of the batting side to be a runner. If possible, the runner must already have batted. The runner's only task is to run between the wickets instead of the injured batsman. The runner is required to wear and carry exactly the same equipment as the incapacitated batsman.

[edit] Substitutes
For more details on Substitute, see Substitute (cricket).
In all forms of cricket, if a player gets injured or becomes ill during a match, a substitute is allowed to field instead of him; though he cannot bowl, bat, or act as a captain or wicket-keeper. Here the substitute is a temporary role and leaves the field once the injured player is fit to return.
For 9 months from July 2005, the ICC trialled the concept of a Super Sub in One-day International (ODI) cricket and some other limited overs competitions. A single full substitution was allowed, with the replaced player not allowed to return to the game. It was discontinued from March 2006.

[edit] History

Sir Donald Bradman is by common consent the greatest batsman in the history of cricket.
Main article: History of cricket
A basic form of cricket can be traced back to the 13th century, but it may have existed even earlier than that. The game seems to have originated among children of the farming and metalworking communities in the Weald between Kent and Sussex. Written evidence exists of a game known as creag being played by Prince Edward, the son of Edward I (Longshanks), at Newenden, Kent in 1300.
In 1598, a court case referred to a sport called kreckett being played at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford around 1550. The Oxford English Dictionary gives this as the first recorded instance of cricket in the English language.
A number of words are thought to be possible sources for the term cricket. The name may derive from a term for the cricket bat: old French criquet (meaning a kind of club) or Flemish krick(e) (meaning a stick) or in Old English crycc (meaning a crutch or staff). (The latter is problematic, since Old English 'cc' was palatal in pronunciation in the south and the west midlands, roughly ch, which is how crycc leads to crych and thence crutch; the 'k' sound would be possible in the north, however.) Alternatively, the French criquet apparently derives from the Flemish word krickstoel, which is a long low stool on which one kneels in church and which resembles the long low wicket with two stumps used in early cricket.
During the 17th century, numerous references indicate the growth of cricket in the south-east of England. By the end of the century, it had become an organised activity being played for high stakes and it is likely that the first professionals appeared in that period. We know that a great cricket match with eleven players a side was played for high stakes in Sussex in 1697 and this is the earliest reference we have to cricket in terms of such importance.
See also: History of cricket to 1696 and History of cricket 1697 - 1725
The game underwent major development in the 18th Century and had become the national sport of England by the end of the century. Betting played a major part in that development and rich patrons began forming their own "select XIs". Cricket was prominent in London as early as 1707 and large crowds flocked to matches on the Artillery Ground in Finsbury. The Hambledon Club was founded in the 1760s but its team was already playing first-class matches in 1756. For the next 20 years until the formation of MCC and the opening of Lord's in 1787, Hambledon was the game's greatest club and its focal point. MCC quickly became the sport's premier club and the custodian of the Laws of Cricket.
See also: History of cricket 1726 - 1815
The 19th Century saw underarm replaced by first roundarm and then overarm bowling. Both developments were accompanied by major controversy. The concept of a "champion county" arose in the 1820s and then, starting with Sussex CCC in 1839, county clubs were founded and these ultimately formed a County Championship.
In 1859, a team of England players went on the first overseas tour (to North America) and 18 years later another England team took part in the first-ever Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Australia.
The legendary W G Grace started his long career in 1864. It can fairly be said that he revolutionised the sport and did much to ensure its massive popularity.
The last two decades before the First World War have been called the "Golden Age of Cricket". It is almost certainly a nostalgic idea based on the sense of loss brought about by the war, but even so the period did produce some great players and memorable matches, especially as organised competition at county and Test level developed.
The inter-war years were dominated by one player: Don Bradman, statistically the greatest batsman of all time. It was the determination of the England team to overcome his incredible skill that brought about the infamous Bodyline series in 1932/33.
Cricket entered an epochal era in 1963, when English counties modified the rules to provide a variant match form that produced a certain result: games with a restricted number of overs per side. This gained widespread popularity and resulted in the birth of One-day International (ODI) matches in 1971. The governing International Cricket Council quickly adopted the new form and held the first ODI Cricket World Cup in 1975. Since then, ODI matches have gained mass spectatorship, at the expense of the longer form of the game and to the consternation of fans who prefer the longer form of the game.
As of the early 2000s, however, the longer form of cricket is experiencing a growing resurgence in popularity but a new limited overs phenomenon, Twenty20, has made an immediate impact.
See also: Stoolball

[edit] Forms of cricket
There are many different types and grades of cricket; those played professionally at an international level are Test cricket, one-day cricket and Twenty20.

[edit] Test cricket
Main article: Test cricket
Test cricket is a form of international cricket started in 1877 during the 1876/77 English cricket team's tour of Australia. The first Test match began on 15 March 1877 and had a timeless format with four balls per over. It ended on 19 March 1877 with Australia winning by 45 runs.
The Test cricket series between England and Australia is called The Ashes. The series is named after a satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times in 1882 following the match at The Oval, in which Australia beat England in England for the first time. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The English media dubbed the next English tour, to Australia (1882-83) as the quest to regain The Ashes.
A tiny fragile urn was presented to the English Cricket Captain, Ivo Bligh by a group of Melbourne women during the England Cricket Team's Tour of Australia in 1882/83. Although this is popularly considered to be the trophy for winning an Ashes Test, it is not - the urn was presented to the MCC by Ivo Bligh's widow as a memento and remains private property. The actual trophy is a much larger cut glass replica, although a exact-size copy of the urn is also presented. The original urn is considered priceless and remains in England, except for special occasions when it may travel on display for promotional purposes, as is the case with the 2006 Ashes Series where it toured Australia's capital city museums.
Other trophies contested in Test Cricket are the Basil D'Oliveira trophy (for a series between England and South Africa played in South Africa), the Wisden trophy (England - West Indies), The Frank Worrell trophy (Australia - West Indies), the Trans-Tasman trophy (Australia - New Zealand), the Border-Gavaskar trophy (Australia - India) and the Sir Vivian Richards trophy (South Africa - West Indies).
Since then, over 1,800 Test matches have been played and the number of Test playing nations has increased to ten with Bangladesh, the most recent nation elevated to Test status, making its debut in 2000. Test matches are two innings per side, usually played over five consecutive days. Tests that are not finished within the allotted time are drawn.

[edit] One-day cricket
Main articles: Limited overs cricket and One-day International
Limited overs matches, also known as one day cricket or instant cricket, were introduced in the English domestic season of 1963 due to the growing demands for a shorter and more dramatic form of cricket to stem the decline in attendances. One-day, single-innings, matches often took place before this, but the innovation was the limiting of each side's innings to an agreed number of overs (nowadays usually 50). The idea was taken up in the international arena in 1971, during England's tour of Australia, when a match was played on the scheduled fifth day of the rained-off third Test. The one-day game has since become a crowd-pleaser and TV-audience-generator across the globe, hastened in part by the success of the inaugural World Cup in 1975. The abbreviations ODI (One-day International) or sometimes LOI (Limited Overs International) are used for international matches of this type. Important one-day matches, international and domestic, often have two days set aside, the second day being a "reserve" day to allow more chance of the game being completed if a result is not possible on the first day (for instance if play is prevented or interrupted by rain). Innovations have included the introduction of coloured clothing, distinct tournaments, and "day-night" matches (where play extends into the night under floodlights); together with frequent nail-biting finishes and the impossibility of either side opting to play for a draw, these have seen ODI cricket gain many supporters.

[edit] Twenty20 Cricket
Main article: Twenty20
Twenty20 Cricket was first played in English domestic cricket in 2003 to popularise first-class cricket and attract more spectators to the game. Now it has spread to many other countries. A "Twenty20 Game" consists 20 overs per each side, a free-hit after a no-ball is bowled, short boundaries, batting-friendly pitches, and other rules designed to attract crowds that would not usually wish to sit through the slower paced one day games or test matches. The first men's Twenty20 international was between Australia and New Zealand in 2005, the first women's Twenty20 international having been between England and New Zealand in 2004.The ICC announced after its Executive Board meeting in March this year that beginning from 2007 to 2015, the Twenty20 World Championship would be held on an biannual basis and the first ever Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa in probably May-June[citation needed].

[edit] First-class matches
Main article: First-class cricket
A first-class match is generally defined as a high-level international or domestic match that takes place over at least three days on natural (as opposed to artificial) turf. First-class games are two innings per side. Like Test matches, if the game is not completed over the allotted time then it is drawn. Games where the teams have only one innings each are not first-class (including one-day internationals).
A two-innings match of at least three days duration is granted first-class status only if both teams have first-class status. For example, Test matches, other games between two Test nations, games between two domestic teams deemed first-class in countries holding full membership of the ICC, and games between a Test nation's national side (or a team drawn from a national touring squad) and a first-class domestic team from a Test nation, are usually deemed to be first class. Matches between Kenya, one of the leading associate members of the ICC, and another team adjudged first-class are usually granted first-class status, but domestic matches in Kenya are not.
Among cricket statisticians, first class cricket is variously deemed to have started in 1660, 1772, 1801, 1815 or 1864. This ongoing controversy is described in the main article. The limited overs equivalent of first-class status is list A status.

[edit] Other forms of cricket
Main article: Forms of cricket

Children playing cricket on a makeshift pitch in a park. It is common in many countries for people to play cricket on such pitches and makeshift grounds.
At all levels, the rules of cricket are often modified. At international or first-class levels this is usually in order to make the game more commercially attractive. More or less formal domestic club cricket matches are usually played over one to two days, either two innings per side or one innings per side with limited overs. At lower levels the rules are often changed simply to make the game playable with limited resources, or to render it more convenient and enjoyable for the participants. Variants of the sport are played in areas as diverse as sandy beaches and ice floes. Families and teenagers play backyard cricket in suburban yards or driveways, and the teeming cities of India and Pakistan play host to countless games of 'Gully Cricket' or 'Tapeball' on their streets. Tennis balls and homemade bats are often used, and a variety of objects may serve as wickets. Sometimes the rules are also improvised: for instance it is sometimes agreed that fielders can catch the ball with one hand after one bounce and claim a wicket, or if only a few people are available then everyone may field while the players take it in turns to bat and bowl.
In Kwik cricket, the bowler does not have to wait for the batsman to be ready before a delivery, leading to a faster, more exhausting game designed to appeal to children, which is often used in English schools' PE lessons. Another modification to increase the pace of the game is the "Tipsy Run" rule, in which the batter must run when the ball touches the bat, even if it the contact is unintentional or minor. This rule, seen only in impromptu games, speeds the match up by disabling the batsman's ability to block the ball. Indoor cricket is played in a netted, indoor arena.
In Samoa a form of cricket called Krikiti is played in which there are hockey shaped bats used.

[edit] International structure
Main article: International structure of cricket

ICC member nations. Orange are the (highest level) Test playing nations; green are the associate member nations; and purple are the affiliate member nations.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the international governing body for cricket. It is headquartered in Dubai and includes representatives of each of the ten Test-playing nations, as well as an elected panel representing non-Test-playing nations.
Each nation has a national cricket board which regulates cricket matches played in their country. The cricket board also selects the national squad and organises home and away tours for the national team.
Nations playing cricket are separated into three tiers depending on the level of cricket infrastructure in that country. At the highest level are the Test-playing nations. They qualify automatically for the quadrennial World Cup matches. A rung lower are the Associate Member nations. The lowermost rung consists of the Affiliate Member nations.
See also: Non-Test teams to have played ODI matches.

[edit] See also
Cricket World Cup
Twenty20 World Championship
International Cricket Council
Comparison between cricket and baseball
Cricket statistics
List of cricket topics
List of cricket terms
Kilikiti

[edit] References
Sir Don Bradman (1990). The Art of cricket. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 1-875892-54-0.
The official laws of cricket. published by the MCC. Retrieved on 14 August 2005.
England and Wales Cricket Board. published by the ECB. Retrieved on 14 August 2005.

[edit] External links
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The Music Legend AR Rahman

2006-12-28T21:08:00.000-08:00

A. R. Rahman

Background information
Birth name
A. S. Dileep Kumar

Also known as
Allah Rakha Rahman
Born
January 6, 1966
Origin
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Genre(s)
Film scoreSoundtrackTheatreWorld Music
Occupation(s)
Film composerVocalistKeyboardist
Instrument(s)
Keyboards, vocals, Other
Years active
1991 – present
Website
Official Website
Official Website
Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான்); born on January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a composer, best known for composing film scores and soundtracks.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early years
2 Awards and nominations
3 Partial discography
3.1 Films
4 Non-film
5 Personal life
6 Trivia
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Early years
Rahman is the only son of R. K. Sekhar, who was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam films. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family used to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet, something they found very difficult. During those hard times, a Sufi (Muslim) saint cured Rahman's sister of an unexplainable illness. This led Dileep to convert to Islam, changing his name to Allah Rakha Rahman.
At the age of 11, Rahman joined the troupe of Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja as a keyboardist. He later played on the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, and accompanied Zakir Hussain and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on world tours. The experience allowed him to obtain a scholarship to Trinity College at Oxford University, where he received a degree in Western classical music.
In 1991, Rahman began his own studio (attached to his house), called the Panchathan Record Inn. He initially composed music for use in advertisements, the title music of Indian Television channels and music in documentaries, among other projects. Rahman was, at first, hesitant about composing music for the Indian film industry primarily because most film makers at the time used songs as "fillers" - a means by which the audience was given a break from the movie's plot. In 1991 he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam, who offered Rahman the job as composer for his upcoming Tamil language film Roja, at a price of Rs. 25,000. Rahman accepted, and the movie's superhit debut made him a household name in Tamil Nadu virtually overnight and led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the Indian National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutant. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award 3 more times (for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002 and Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003), the most ever by any composer.
When Rahman arrived on the Indian muzic scene with his first film Roja, he brought about a transformation of film music. Roja was a massive hit, and Rahman followed it up with a number of other extremely popular films, including Bombay, Rangeela, Dil Se and Taal. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut in Hindi films. The huge sales of these albums prompted movie producers to take film music more seriously.

Lord Lloyd-Webber with A. R. Rahman
Rahman's work is also unique in the fact that his collaborations with a few film directors have always resulted in hugely successful albums. In particular, he has worked with Mani Ratnam on eight movies (until 2004) (see list of movies by Mani Ratnam featuring A R Rahman), all of which have been musical superhits. Also notable is his collaboration with the director S. Shankar (Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji).
He made an album Vande Mataram (1996) on India's national song, singing the title song on the album. He followed it up with an album called Jana gana mana, a huge conglomeration of performances by all the leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, a well known composer of musicals, was impressed with Rahman's unique style and therefore hired him to compose his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002). This play was well received in England and opened him up to new vistas in Hollywood. Furthermore, Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production, which opened in Toronto on March 23, 2006.
The following article was written in TIME magazine about Rahman's achievements. His first movie album Roja was listed in TIME magazine's "Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time".[1]
In addition to influencing western audiences, Rahman also impressed eastern audiences with his music so much that he was tapped by Chinese director He Ping to compose the score and soundtrack for the Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003.[2] The music of this film was very much appreciated in Asia and in India.
On May 23rd 2006, a two-disc album soundtrack, titled Introducing A.R. Rahman, was released by Times Square Records, featuring 25 songs he composed from Tamil film soundtracks spanning 1993-2001. The compillation soundtrack was well received. In addition to this, Rahman performed at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre in July of 2006, with Indian singers Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, as well as American performing groups Raagapella and Global Rhythms, to a sell out crowd.
His latest work includes Bose - The Forgotten Hero, Swades, Mangal Pandey - The Rising, Rang De Basanti, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal and Guru. He is currently working on Shankar's next venture Sivaji: The Boss, and on one of Shyam Benegal's next ventures, Chamki Chameli, which is set for release in 2007. Recent news is that three of his compositions, two from Rang De Basanti and one from 'Water made into the list of oscar entries for best composition in which there are totally 56 compositions.
Rahman is a recipient of the Padma Shri and is known around the world as the "Mozart from Madras".[3]
Awards and nominations

For a full list of awards and nominations, see List of A. R. Rahman awards and accolades.
Partial discography
Films
YEAR
Tamil
Telugu
Hindi
Malayalam
Marathi
English
1992
Roja
Roja
Roja (1994)
Roja
Roja

1992
Ashokan (1993)
Yoddha (1995)
Dharam Yodha (1993)
Yodha

1993
Uzhavan

1993
Thiruda Thiruda
Donga Donga
Chor Chor (1996)

1993
Pudhiya Mugam
Padmavyuham
Vishwa Vidhatha (1997)

1993
Gentleman
Gentleman
The Gentleman

1994
Vandicholai Chinnaraasu
Bobili Paparayudu

1994
Super Police
Super Police
Khel Khiladi Ka (1996)

1994
Pudhiya Mannargal

1994
Pavithra

1994
May Madham
Hridayaanjali (1999)

1994
Kizhakku Cheemayile
Palnati Pourusham

1994
Karuththamma
Vanitha/Osey Krishnamma

1994
Kadhalan
Premikudu (1995)
Humse Hai Muqabla

1994
Duet
Duet
Tu Hi Mera Dil

1995
Indira
Indira
Priyanka

1995
Bombay
Bombay (1995)
Bombay (1995)

1994
Manitha Manitha
Gang Master

1995
Rangeela
Rangeli
Rangeela

1995
Muthu
Muthu (1995)
Muthu Maharaja (2001)

1996
Love Birds
Love Birds (1997)
Love Birds (1997)

1996
Indian
Bharateeyudu
Hindustani

1996
Kadhal Desam
Prema Desam
Duniya Dilwalon Kiii

1996

Fire

Fire
1996
Mr Romeo
Mr Romeo
Mr Romeo (1997)

1996
Anthimantharai

1997
Minsara Kanavu
Merupu Kalalu
Sapnay

1997
Iruvar
Iddaru

1997
Ottam
50-50
Daud: Fun On The Run

1997
Ratchagan
Rakshakudu

1997
Mona Lisa

Kabhi Na Kabhi

1997

Vishwa Vidhaata

1998
Jeans
Jeans
Jeans

1998
Uyire
Prematho..
Dil Se..

1998

1947/Earth

1998

Doli Saja Ke Rakhna

1999
En Swasa Kaatre
Premante Pranamistha

1999
Jodi
Jodi

1999
Padayappa
Narasimha

1999
Taalam

Taal

1999

Thakshak

1999
Kadhalar Dhinam
Premikula Roju
Dil Hi Dil Mein

1999

Pukar

1999
Sangamam

1999
Taj Mahal

1999
Mudhalvan
Oke Okkadu
Nayak (2001)

2000
Alai Payuthey
Sakhi
Saathiya (2002)

2000

Fiza (1 out of 8 tracks)

2000
Kandukondain Kandukondain
Priyuralu Pilichindi

2000
Rhythm
Jeevithamma Chirunavva

2000
Thenali
Tenali

2000

Zubeidaa

2001

One 2 Ka 4

2001

Love You Hamesha

2001
Star

2001

Lagaan

2001
Parthale Paravasam
Paravasam

2001
Alli Arjuna

2002
Kannathil Muthamittal
Amrutha

2002

The Legend of Bhagat Singh

2002
Baba
Baba

2002
Kadhal Virus

2003
Udhaya

2003
Parasuram
Police Kartavyam

2003
Boys
Boys

2003

2003
Enakku 20 Unakku 18
Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu

2003
Kangalal Kaidhu Sei

2003

Tehzeeb

2004

Lakeer

2004

Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities

2004
Aayitha Ezhuthu
Yuva
Yuva

2004
New
Naani

2004

Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (3 out of 8 Tracks)

2004

Swades

2004

Kisna - The Warrior Poet (6 out of 16 tracks)

2005

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero

2005

The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey

2005
Anbe Aaruyire

2005

Water

2006

Rang De Basanti

2006
Sillunu Oru Kaadhal
Nuvvu Nenu Prema

2006
Varalaru - The Story of the Godfather

2007
Guru
Gurukanth
Guru

2007

Akbar-Jodha

2006

Provoked
2007
Sivaji: The Boss
Sivaji: The Boss

2007

London Dreams

2007
Sakkarakatti

2007

Lajjo

2007

Exclusion

2007
Azhagiya Tamil Magan

2008

Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Note: "Year" indicates the year the earliest version of any multi-language movie was released. Movies with the year next to the title dictates that the film was either dubbed or released later than the original version of the movie.
The films Nayak: The Real Hero (2001, Hindi) and Saathiya (2002, Hindi) were remakes of the films Mudhalvan (1999, Tamil) and Alai Payuthey (2000, Tamil), respectively. The soundtracks were reused with changes and additional songs.
A. R. Rahman has also composed the score for the film Warriors of Heaven and Earth/Tian di ying xiong (2003, Mandarin)
He has contributed one song to Fiza (1999, Hindi).
The soundtracks of the films Roja (1992) and Gentleman (1993), were also released as instrumental versions.
The following films had soundtracks reused from previous albums:
Vishwa Vidhaata (1997, Hindi) from Pudhiya Mugam (1993, Tamil)
Love You Hamesha (2001, Hindi) from May Madham (1994, Tamil)
Lakeer (2004, Hindi) from Rhythm (2000, Tamil - 3 songs), with 3 new songs added
Jodi (1999, Tamil) from Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1999, Hindi), with 3 new songs added
Star (2001, Tamil) from Thakshak (1999, Hindi - 3 songs) and 1947/Earth (1998, Hindi - 1 song), with 1 new song added
Thakshak (1999, Hindi) from En Swaasa Kaatre (1999, Tamil) 1 song (Jumbalaka), with changes in vocals and instrumentation
Pukar (1999, Hindi) from En Swaasa Kaatre (1999, Tamil) 1 song ('Kay Sera Sera' from 'Nayagara'), with changes in vocals and instrumentation
Song "Dekho Na" from movie Swades (2004, Hindi) reused from the song "Baba Kichchu Tha" from movie Baba (2002, Tamil) with different vocals and instrumentation
The soundtrack of Nicolas Cage's Lord Of War (2005), features the instrumental piece "Bombay Theme" from the Tamil film Bombay, directed by Mani Ratnam.
The soundtrack of Spike Lee's Inside Man (2006), features the song Chaiyya Chaiyya from the Hindi film Dil Se, directed by Mani Ratnam.
Non-film
Return of the Thief of Baghdad (Yet to be released) (2003)
Deen Isai Maalai (1989) as AS Dilip Kumar
Andhi Maalai (1990}
Set Me Free (1991)
Vande Mataram (1997)
Jana Gana Mana (2000)
Bombay Dreams (2002) (Musical)
Ignited Minds (2003) (Unreleased but performed in live concert)
Raga's Dance (2004) (for Vanessa Mae's album called Choreography)
Pray for me, Brother (2005) (UN Theme song for poverty alleviation mission) (Unreleased but performed in live concerts)
Banyan Theme (2006) (Theme song for stage musical Netru, Indru, Naalai in aid of The Banyan, unreleased)
The Lord of the Rings theatre production (2006) (Stage Production)
Jana Gana Mana (2006) [1]
WorldSpace Signature Tune (2006) [2]
Airtel Tune (2006)

Personal life
Rahman (born Dileep Kumar) is the second among four children of R.K. Shekhar and Kareema Begum (Kasthuri). He has three sisters, Rehana (Kanchana), Talat (Bala) and Israth. He has three children - Khatija, Rahima and Roomi.

Trivia
He is thought to have sold 100 million records world-wide,[4] and sold over 200 million cassettes.[5]
Rights for his album Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) are reported to have been sold for a sum of Rs.22 million.[6]
Referred to in the Daily Telegraph as the "Asian Mozart".

See also
Best selling music artists — World's top-selling music artists chart.
Music by A. R. Rahman

References
1. ^ Time.com. Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time. Retrieved on 26 October 2006.
2. ^ Imdb.com. Warriors of Heaven and Earth. Retrieved on 26 October 2006.
3. ^ Time.com. Retrieved on 5 December 2006.
4. ^ BBC. Top Selling artists. Retrieved on 26 October 2006.
5. ^ Rediff. Top Selling artists. Retrieved on 26 October 2006.
6. ^ Rediff. Top Selling artists. Retrieved on 26 October 2006.

External links
Official site
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman at the Internet Movie Database
arr4music : future offerings of A.R.Rahman
Time article on A R Rahman
A.R. Rahman: A Complete Biography
A.R. Rahman: A Complete Discography
The Official A.R. Rahman Fans Group
Comprehensive Photo Album
Rahman Times : An One Stop website for ARR Fans
Rahmania — A Fan Station
SL2UK: A.R. Rahman
Nilacharal: A.R. Rahman Profile
MSN Entertainment: A.R. Rahman Artist Information
The Legend, The Music by Raaja
A. R. Rahman latest news
A. R. Rahman profile
Watch A.R.Rahman Concerts-VIDEO

Categories: 1966 births 20th century classical composers 21st century classical composers Converts to Islam South Asian Muslims Indian film score composers Living people Padma Shri recipients Tamil people People from Chennai Indian film singers Indian male singers Indian Muslims Kollywood playback singers Bollywood playbacksingers

Orkut

2006-12-21T00:25:00.000-08:00

Orkut is an Internet social network service run by Google and named after its creator, Google employee Orkut Büyükkökten. It claims to be designed to help users meet new friends and maintain existing relationships. Similar to Friendster and MySpace, Orkut goes a step further by permitting the creation of easy-to-setup simple forums (called "communities") of users. Until recently, Orkut was invitation only, but it now permits users to create accounts without an invitation.
Contents[hide]
1 History
2 Features
3 Controversy
3.1 Popularity in Brazil
3.2 Flooders and fake profiles
3.3 Hate groups
3.4 Alleged al-Qaeda Supporters
3.5 Copyright disclaimer
3.6 State Censorship
3.7 Speed and Reliability
3.8 Security and safety
3.9 "Jail"
4 Legal Issues
4.1 Brazil
4.2 India
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History
Orkut was quietly launched on January 22, 2004 by the search company Google. Orkut Büyükkökten, a Turkish software engineer, developed Orkut as an independent project while working at Google (required by its policy). Some discomfort with this exists among users and potential users of Orkut, especially since Google's other noteworthy product of 2004, the Web-based email client Gmail, had servers scan emails for keywords in order to deliver advertisements targeted at them, which sparked an idea that Google was "reading your e-mail".
While previously working for Affinity Engines, he had developed a similar system, InCircle, intended for use by university alumni groups. In late June 2004, Affinity Engines filed suit against Google, claiming that Büyükkökten and Google based Orkut on inCircle code. The allegation is based on the presence of 9 identical bugs in Orkut that also exist in InCircle.
Originally, the Orkut community was felt to be elite, because its membership was by invitation only. At the end of July 2004 Orkut surpassed the 1,000,000 member mark, and at the end of September it surpassed the 2,000,000 mark. As of December 6, 2006, the number of members was over 35.2 million.
Orkut's use as a social tool is complex, because various people frequently try to add strangers to their own pool of friends, often just to increase the number indicating their number of friends next to their name in their profile. Many "add-me" communities exist, solely for this purpose. A large number of bogus, cloned, fake, invisible and "orphaned" profiles also exist. [citation needed]

[edit] Features
Users have options to rate their friends in the order of "Best Friends","Good Friends","Friends","Acquaintances" and "Haven't met". Further, each member can become fans of any of the friends in his/her list and can also evaluate whether his/her friend is "Trustworthy", "Cool", "Sexy" on a scale of 1 to 3 (marked by icons) and is aggregated in terms of a percentage. Unlike Facebook where a member can view profile details of people only on his/her network, Orkut allows anyone to visit anyone's profile, unless a potential visitor is on your "Ignore List". Importantly, each member can also customize his/her profile preferences and can restrict information that appear on their profile from their friends and/or others (not on the friends list). The highlight feature is where any member can add any other member on Orkut to his/her "Crush List" and both of them will be initimated about it only when both parties have added each other to their "Crush List".

[edit] Controversy

This article appears to contradict itself. Please see the discussion on the talk page.

[edit] Popularity in Brazil
The Orkut community has been watching a large surge of Brazilian users registering on its service, despite the overall percentage of Brazilian users decreasing. This is the highest percentage of any single country's population using the service. According to the New York Times it's pronounced "or-KOO-chee"[1]. The number of Brazilian Orkut users is just under 60% of the total users, followed by The United States and India, with about 15.9% and 12%[2] respectively (As of December 12th, 2006). However these statistics do not reflect the demographics by country in a reliable way as members are free to submit any nationality (or country of residence) they wish and many indeed do so. Due to the number of Brazilian users and communities in the Portuguese language, users from other parts of the world became upset with the service, when it established Portuguese as the first "alternate default language," (as English was the primary default language) prompting many community owners to enforce an English-only posting policy. Some went as far as to start online communities and discussion groups dedicated to complain about this phenomenon. Hoaxes have also been spread, with the intention of tricking Brazilian users to change their nationality in Orkut[citation needed].
In a recent interview to a Brazilian news site, the creator of Orkut said he doesn't understand the phenomenon and complains about the fact that North-American press and users are ignoring the service and using similar services like Friendster, Myspace, and Facebook. He also noted that Brazil is actually the main focus of Orkut. [citation needed]

[edit] Flooders and fake profiles
As the number of Orkut users increased, there was a rise in the number of fake and clone profiles, something that can be achieved just in a matter of a few minutes. Due to the large number of users and the deactivation of the jail system, the profiles were often left unremoved or, when removed, recreated easily. These profiles are normally created to troll, to spam, to flood or just for fun. It isn't hard to find users owning more than one profile, with some stating they own hundreds.
Later, the clones started to flood communities and scrapbooks by submitting topics or scraps hundreds or thousands of times manually. Shortly thereafter, by simply examining the source code of the page, they found it was possible to create Javascript codes to automatically flood the site. Soon (given that Orkut is a complex social network), flooding wars started to occur frequently between some antagonistic groups. Another new phenomenon is Scrapbook wars, when a group of users are engaged to zero or increase the scrapbook counter of someone.
In 2005 invisible profiles, communities and topics started to appear in Orkut. This could be achieved by using HTML escaping codes and 1x1 pixel photos to fool the engine behind the site.
In the August of 2005 a freeware program made in Delphi called Floodtudo ("tudo" in Portuguese means "everything" - this was developed by a Brazilian) was created specifically for flooding Orkut. It quickly spread through the users and was easily downloadable (the most common Floodtudo versions were 1.2, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.2). As this program was massively used by thousands of spammers, a big spam wave struck Orkut in September and October of 2005. However, changes implemented by the developers in November made this program non-functional.
As the flooding of Orkut was getting out of control, the developers implemented some features in order to stop this, such as not allowing two or more verbatim topics or scrapbook entries to be submitted, forcing the user to wait before posting another topic or scrapbook entry, and the usage of captchas. They gave more rights to community moderators as well, so that they can just ban users instead of relying on the developers to remove them, and now community moderators are able to mass-delete posts too.
Other ways of profile and community attacks still exist, like testimonial flooding attacks on scrapbook and member counters, multi-profile floods and social engineering.

[edit] Hate groups
There has recently been controversy revolving around the use of Orkut by various hate groups. Virulent racists allegedly have a solid following there. Because of the invitation-only structure, closed groups of like-minded people were, and with the invitation free structure are able to thrive. Several hate communities focused on racism, Nazism, and white supremacy have been deleted due to guideline violation. However the number of these communities and profiles has not stopped growing because they can be very easily created and it is hard for Orkut to check them.
In 2005, various cases of racism were denounced to police and reported in the Brazilian media. [3] [4] In 2006, a judicial measure was opened by the Brazil federal justice denouncing a 20-year-old student accused of racism against blacks and spreading defamatory content on Orkut. [5]. Brazilian Federal Justice subpoenaed Google [6] on March 2006 to explain the crimes that had occurred in Orkut.
Anti-religion, anti-national, and anti-ethnic hate groups have also been spotted. Recently an Indian court has issued notices to Google on some of the groups. Groups denigrating various political leaders and celebrities have also emerged.

[edit] Alleged al-Qaeda Supporters
In 2006, Orkut came under fire for supposedly allowing recruitment of sympathizers of the terrorist group al-Qaeda and jihadists on its message boards. A community on the site claimed, "The world needs more Osamas." [7]

[edit] Copyright disclaimer
Orkut's terms of service state:
By submitting, posting or displaying any Materials on or through the orkut.com service, you automatically grant to us a worldwide, non-exclusive, sublicenseable, transferable, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right to copy, distribute, create derivative works of, publicly perform and display such Materials.
This does not mean that any contribution to the Orkut community (be it forum posts or photos) becomes the property of the site owner; while it means that Orkut can use any submitted information for any purpose, the original submitter doesn't lose any rights to his materials.
Although other popular social network services such as Friendster and MySpace contain similar statements, this policy offended many dedicated Orkut users, some of whom deleted their accounts as a protest.

[edit] State Censorship
Orkut was very popular in Iran, but the website is now blocked by the government. As they say, this is due to national security issues, as Orkut users have the ability to spread messages rapidly, but the government says it's due to Islamic ethical issues about dating and match making. To get around this block, sites such as orkutproxy.com (now defunct) were made for Iranian users. Other websites such as Yahoo! Groups and Google Groups have communities dedicated to receiving updates on the newest location of Iran's Orkut proxy. Though it was once possible to bypass governmental blockage of Orkut, the site has closed its HTTPS pages on all anonymous proxies. Now it is almost impossible for ordinary users to visit this site inside Iran.
In August 2006, United Arab Emirates followed the footsteps of Iran in blocking the site. This block was subsequently removed in October 2006
Saudi Arabia is another country that has blocked access to Orkut.

[edit] Speed and Reliability

The "Bad, bad server" screen, one of the commonly known sights on Orkut.
As of September 2006, Orkut often is unavailable, producing a "Bad, bad server. No donut for you." error message — behavior consistent with that of an underpowered server under heavy load. The outages tend to occur during the day hours in the Americas, home of more than 75% of Orkut users.

The "orkut is under construction" screen.
Orkut sometimes displays an "under construction" screen while the server is under maintenance. These occurrences last from a few minutes to a few hours.

[edit] Security and safety
On June 19, 2006 FaceTime Security Labs' security researchers Christopher Boyd and Wayne Porter discovered a worm, dubbed MW.Orc.
The worm steals users' banking details, usernames and passwords by propagating through Orkut. The attack was triggered as users launched an executable file disguised as a JPEG file. The initial executable file that causes the infection installs two additional files on the user's computer. These files then e-mail banking details and passwords to the worm's anonymous creator when infected users click on the "My Computer" icon.
The infection spreads automatically by posting a URL in another user's Orkut Scrapbook, a guestbook where visitors can leave comments visible on the user's page. This link lures visitors with a message in Portuguese, falsely claiming to offer additional photos. The message text that carries an infection link can vary from case to case.
In addition to stealing personal information, the malware can also enable a remote user to control the PC and make it part of a botnet, a network of infected PCs controlled by a hacker. The botnet in this case uses an infected PC's bandwidth to distribute large, pirated movie files, potentially slowing down an end-user's connection speed.
The initial executable file (Minhasfotos.exe) creates two additional files when activated, winlogon_.jpg and wzip32.exe (located in the System32 Folder). When the user clicks the "My Computer" icon, a mail is sent containing their personal data. In addition, they may be added to an XDCC Botnet (used for file sharing), and the infection link may be sent to other users that they know in the Orkut network. The infection can be spread manually, but also has the ability to send "back dated" infection links to people in the "friends list" of the infected user.
According to statements made by Google, as noted in Facetime's Greynets Blog the company had implemented a temporary fix for the dangerous worm.
On January 1, 2005 a Brazilian hacker called Vinícius K-Max attacked Orkut, stealing community ownership rights, using a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability. Eventually, various phishing sites were developed with the intent of stealing other people's accounts and communities.
On November 8th 2006 Rajesh Sethumadhavan discovered an XSS type 2 vulnerability which would make it possible for Orkut members to inject HTML and JavaScript into their profile [8]. Rodrigo Lacerda used this vulnerability to create a cookie stealing script known as the Orkut Cookie Exploit which was injected into the Orkut profiles of the attacking member(s). By merely viewing these profiles unsuspecting targets had the communities they owned transferred to a fake account of the attacker. On December 12th Orkut had fixed the vulnerability.

[edit] "Jail"
In the first year of Orkut users who misbehaved or were reported to misbehave could be "jailed". Their account was suspended, their site access was reasonably limited, and their profile picture was temporarily replaced with a silhouette of a man behind prison bars. Although this served a useful purpose, the way users were selected to be jailed caused heated discussions and complaints among Orkut users: every user's profile has a "Report as Bogus" button, which, if pressed, automatically flagged the user to be jailed. Conceivably, this meant that anyone could be jailed at any time by pressing a single button.
Another way to be jailed was to have a bot-like behaviour. To safeguard against bots and similar kinds of software automations, users who added friends or joined communities in a very quick or repetitive manner were automatically put in jail. However, this also often happened to new users trying to add all their friends at once.
Users who were jailed were not informed of the reason, nor were they notified that they had been jailed. Jailing usually did not last long (up to 24 hours in most cases), but was often disturbing to users, as there is no direct contact to the Orkut team (their contact form only answers with template emails), and jailing limits one's options to waiting or posting in a designated forum. Ironically, site users once reported that Orkut Büyükkökten, the creator of the site himself, was jailed. [citation needed] The jail system is currently deactivated due to its inefficiency. Now when someone clicks on the "Report as Bogus" button, he is directed to a complaint form entitled "flag for review", where he is able to provide further details about the abuse he is reporting.

[edit] Legal Issues

[edit] Brazil
On August 22nd 2006, Brazilian Federal Judge José Marcos Lunardelli ordered Google to release Orkut user’s information by September 28th. The judge ordered Google to pay $23,000 per day in fines until the information is turned over to the Brazilian government. The information the government is requesting would be used to identify individuals that are spreading child pornography and hate speech, according to the Brazilian government. As of September 27th 2006 Google has stated that they will not release the information and will instead file a brief explaining why they refuse to comply.

[edit] India
On October 10th, 2006, the Bombay High Court's Aurangabad bench served a notice on Google for 'allowing a hate campaign against India'. This referred to a community on Orkut expressing Pakistani nationalism called 'We Hate India', which initially carried a picture of an Indian flag being burnt and some anti-India content. The community currently has 116 members.
The High Court order was issued in response to a public-interest petition filed by an Aurangabad advocate. Google has six weeks to respond. Even before the petition was filed, many Orkut users had noticed this community and were mailing or otherwise messaging their contacts on Orkut to report the community as bogus to Google, which might result in its removal. The community continues to exist and has spawned several 'We hate those who hate India' communities.
On November 23, Bombay High Court asked the state government to file its reply in connection with a petition demanding a ban on social networking site, Orkut, for hosting an anti-Shivaji Web community.'File reply on plea for ban on Orkut: HC'
The community had been blocked by the Pune police after a few violent incidents were reported in the city when its existence came to light two weeks ago. Though the community is currently inaccessible, the petitioner Subodh Balsaraf, a Thane resident has demanded that Orkut, which has captured the fancy of many Indians, be banned.

[edit] See also
List of Google services and tools
List of social networking websites
Social network
Business network
Social software

[edit] References
Meneses, J. (2004). The Orkut.com case: a reflection on the exploration of new ways to online sociability in the tradition of the study of virtual communities
Butalia, S. (2004). ‘The potential for marketers to exploit the emerging trend of online social networking groups’
Hempell, A. (2004). Orkut at eleven weeks: An exploration of a new online social network community
Dwoskin, E. (2006). Google won't hand data to Brazil judge

[edit] External links
Orkut - official website
Google revives discredited Microsoft privacy policy for Friendster clone - Article at The Register
Estadao Racist cases involving Orkut and Brazilian justice (in Portuguese)

Categories: Cleanup from November 2006 All pages needing cleanup Articles with unsourced statements Self-contradictory articles Community websites Online social networking Virtual communities Communications in Brazil Google services

Norton Anti-Virus

2006-12-18T20:33:00.000-08:00

Norton AntiVirus
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Norton AntiVirus
Norton Antivirus
Norton AntiVirus Screenshots
Developer: Symantec Corporation
Latest release: 2007, 10.1 (Corporate Edition) / as of 2006
OS: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Use: Antivirus
License: Proprietary
Website: Symantec.com

Norton AntiVirus (NAV) is a product of Symantec Corporation and is one of the most widely used antivirus programs. Norton AntiVirus is sold as a standalone product and is also included as part of Norton SystemWorks. In addition, there is also a standalone Corporate Edition version, which is aimed to a centrally managed corporate environment. It is called Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition, and has different features not present in the traditional retail version of the software. Norton detects a total of 72,955 viruses as of November 13, 2006.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
* 2 Virus definitions
* 3 Competition
* 4 Product activation
* 5 Criticisms
o 5.1 Customer Service
o 5.2 FBI/CIA cooperation
o 5.3 Response to viruses
o 5.4 Uninstallation
o 5.5 Impact on computer performance
* 6 External links
o 6.1 Reviews
o 6.2 Other links

History
Please help improve this article by expanding this section.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. Please remove this message once the section has been expanded.

Since its release in 1990, over 100 million people around the world have used it. Early versions of Norton AntiVirus were integrated and took much from Central Point Anti-Virus (CPAV), which was acquired by Symantec in 1994. CPAV was also integrated into the Microsoft Anti-Virus utility.

Virus definitions

Symantec's LiveUpdate provides virus definition updates, which enable Norton AntiVirus to compete with other Antivirus software. In order to receive updates, a valid subscription is required; an initial subscription good for one year (or 90 days for OEM copies) is included with the purchase. When a user's subscription expires, the user can still receive program updates (patches) for free but will not be able to download virus definitions updates without renewing his or her subscription or purchasing a new version of the Symantec product with a year of subscription included.

The Corporate Edition has a client/server strategy to update virus definitions. Each of the workstations will not have LiveUpdate installed, but will be linked to a central Server. The Server will be the one that will actually update itself with LiveUpdate, and distribute such updates to the client/managed workstations. This is to reduce redundant updates over the organizational network (such as 100 PC's updating the same definitions).

Competition

Norton AntiVirus also attempts to remove spyware and adware, both of which are forms of malware that are not computer viruses. It competed in this capacity with the freeware Spybot - Search & Destroy (among others), although the company seems to have expressed an interest in leaving the anti-spyware/adware market.

In 2006, Symantec announced the following:

"There is no product from the Symantec or Norton line that competes with Spybot [ - Search and Destroy]."[1]

Product activation

Beginning with Norton AntiVirus 2004, Norton AntiVirus includes an anti-copying feature called "Product Activation," which is similar to the activation process in Windows XP and Office XP. The activation process for Norton AntiVirus 2004, 2005, and 2006 can be accomplished through two methods: over the Internet or by phone. The latter, however, leaves the process vulnerable to cracking - key generator programs (which product activation was designed to defeat) simply generate a bogus 'activation code' of the type given to licensed users over the phone.

Criticisms

Customer Service

Retail customers experience slow and indifferent service on bugs, such as the one that returns to certain users' a specific error message that their valid subscriptions have expired, and refuses to allow daily updates via "Intelligent Updater." Sl Though the bug was reported in 2004 it was not corrected for the 2005 version, and continues unpatched in 2006.

FBI/CIA cooperation

Norton AntiVirus was criticized in the past because of Symantec's policy that allows spy software (keyloggers/backdoors) of US secret services, such as the FBI (Magic Lantern) and the CIA (Oasis), to bypass Norton's malware detection [2] .

Response to viruses

According to an article by the Washington Post, Norton Antivirus has one of the worst average response times for providing virus definition updates based on the worst virus outbreaks of 2005, lagging behind every major competitor, including Kaspersky, F-Secure, Sophos, Avira, Trend Micro, F-Prot, Panda, AVG, Avast, ClamWin, and McAfee.

For everyday viruses, according to an article by Eweek titled Why Is Symantec So Slow with Updates?, Symantec is the only vendor that provides virus definition updates on a weekly basis, as opposed to competitors such as McAfee that provides them on a daily basis or Sophos, Kaspersky or Panda that provide them several times a day.

However, Symantec does provide frequent beta and "Intelligent Updater" definitions in the form of manually downloadable 8-10 MB packages (although impractical for daily use for even highly technical users) as well as daily updates for LiveUpdate Platinum customers such as large corporations and businesses.

For 2006 release customers, daily LiveUpdate definitions are apparently available.

Uninstallation

Norton AntiVirus has been criticized for refusing to uninstall cleanly.

Impact on computer performance

This software is typically regarded as making considerable demands on resources, sometimes causing issues on lower specification machines.[citation needed]

External links

Reviews

* ZDNet's review of Norton AntiVirus 2005
* review of the 2004 edition PC Plus review
* CNet.com Review by CNET.com
* Reviewbase Reviews of the 2006 version
* PC World Review by PCWorld

Other links

* Symantec's page on Norton Antivirus 2006
* eXcessive Software Provides an application (Norton Rapid Updater 1.0) to download Rapid Updates -- Virus definitions that are considered "beta" by Symantec