Single (cricket)
Encyclopedia
In the sport
of cricket
, a single is scored when the batsman take one run
, either following a successful shot
(with the run attributed to the on-strike batsman) or when running for a bye
or leg bye
(counted as an extra
).
Unlike when a boundary
is hit (and the run are scored even if the batsmen don't leave their creases
), scoring a single requires the batsmen to physically run between the wicket
s. This introduces the risk of being run out
, so effective communication between the batsmen is vital. If one batsman attempts to run and the other stays put, then a humiliating run out is likely, but quick and well attuned batsmen may be able to run "quick singles" when other batsmen wouldn't. In general, singles are much easier to score when the field
is set further out, but bringing more fielders in makes it easier for the on-strike batsman to hit boundaries.
Singles usually rotate the strike in a partnership
, but because the bowling end changes at the end of an over, singles deliberately only taken at the end of an over are used by quality batsmen to keep the strike when they are batting with the tail-enders, who are unlikely to survive for long against quality bowling and whom an experienced batsman will normally try to protect.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, a single is scored when the batsman take one run
Run (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen constitutes the team's score. A batsman scoring 50 or 100 runs , or any higher multiple of 50 runs, is considered a particular achievement...
, either following a successful shot
Batting (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, batting is the act or skill of hitting the cricket ball with a cricket bat to score runs or prevent the loss of one's wicket. A player who is currently batting is denoted as a batsman, while the act of hitting the ball is called a shot or stroke...
(with the run attributed to the on-strike batsman) or when running for a bye
Bye (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a bye is a run scored by the batting team when the ball has not been hit by the batsman and the ball has not hit the batsman's body.-Scoring byes:...
or leg bye
Leg bye
In the sport of cricket, a leg bye is a run scored by the batting team when the batsman has not hit the ball with his bat, but the ball has hit the batsman's body or protective gear.-Scoring leg byes:...
(counted as an extra
Extra (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an extra is a run scored by a means other than a batsman hitting the ball.Other than runs scored off the bat from a no ball, a batsman is not given credit for extras and the extras are tallied separately on the scorecard and count only towards the team's score...
).
Unlike when a boundary
Boundary (cricket)
Boundary has two distinct meanings in the sport of cricket:# the edge or boundary of the playing field, and# a manner of scoring runs.-Edge of the field:...
is hit (and the run are scored even if the batsmen don't leave their creases
Crease (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, the crease is a certain area demarcated by white lines painted or chalked on the field of play.The term crease also refers to any of the lines themselves, particularly the popping crease. Law 9 of the Laws of Cricket governs the size and position of the crease markings...
), scoring a single requires the batsmen to physically run between the wicket
Wicket
In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
s. This introduces the risk of being run out
Run out
Run out is a method of dismissal in the sport of cricket. It is governed by Law 38 of the Laws of cricket.-The rules:A batsman is out Run out if at any time while the ball is in play no part of his bat or person is grounded behind the popping crease and his wicket is fairly put down by the opposing...
, so effective communication between the batsmen is vital. If one batsman attempts to run and the other stays put, then a humiliating run out is likely, but quick and well attuned batsmen may be able to run "quick singles" when other batsmen wouldn't. In general, singles are much easier to score when the field
Fielding (cricket)
Fielding in the sport of cricket is the action of fielders in collecting the ball after it is struck by the batsman, in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or running the batsman out.Cricket fielding position...
is set further out, but bringing more fielders in makes it easier for the on-strike batsman to hit boundaries.
Singles usually rotate the strike in a partnership
Partnership (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in partnership, although only one is on strike at any time. The partnership between two batsmen will come to an end when one of them is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in...
, but because the bowling end changes at the end of an over, singles deliberately only taken at the end of an over are used by quality batsmen to keep the strike when they are batting with the tail-enders, who are unlikely to survive for long against quality bowling and whom an experienced batsman will normally try to protect.