5 Bizarre Cricket rules you didn't know about 

One of the most loved team sport in the world, Cricket has been a stress buster ever since it's emergence in the middle of the sixteenth century in the south-eastern parts of England. However, it is known that the first set of international matches were played somewhat around the 19th century.

With the expansion of the British empire, the 'gentlemen's game' started spreading it's reach over the globe.

Basically, there are three major formats of cricket, namely - Test matches, ODI (One Day Internationals) and the most exciting of them all, the T-20 format, which has been in practice over the past decade.

Most of us are aware of the basic rules and regulations of the game which makes it much more exciting to watch. However, there are some bizarre laws of cricket you might not know about.

Let's take a look at some of the rules you might have not known earlier:

---

#5 Aerial Obstruction = Dead ball

The emergence of technology has been a pro for the entire world as it allows various ways to develop and produces better results generating lesser expenditure.

In the case of cricket, or any other sport, the bystanders had to be present around the field before the introduction of live TV telecasts. Improvising the technology of live telecasts, came the spider cams and drone cameras which would allow better view of the action taking place in the ground.

However, there's a rule that if the ball strikes the spider cam or any other aerial body, whether it's an obvious strike for a long six or it might fall in the hands of a fielder, regardless of any of the given scenario, the ball will be termed as a dead ball. And the fielding side would have to deliver the ball again.

Such incidents do not take place frequently. However, if it might happen, then sometimes it favours the batting side and sometimes the fielding side.

One such unusual incident happened in a charity game between Australia and World XI when the ball hit the roof of the stadium. Crazy stuff, isn't it?

#4 Mankad-ing

Vinod Mankad was an Indian cricketer who came up with a deceptive technique to dismiss the non striker in a test series against Australia in 1947/48.

As soon as he realised that the non striker was out of his crease he would struck the bails out and the batsman had to leave.

However, it may sound a bit nasty but according to the rules of cricket, the non striking batsman should be inside the crease before the ball has been delivered. If found out of the crease, it's legitimate to struck the bails off and the non striker would be sent off.

#3 Wait, what? Is it true?

Earlier in this article, you've read about what happens if the ball strikes something in the air. Now, what if the ball strikes something that is on the ground? Ever thought about it? No? Okay, let's take a look at another less known rule.

If a shot hits the keeper's helmet, water bottle, or any other fielder's equipment kept on the ground regardless of the velocity of the moving ball, the batting team would be awarded with a bonus of 5 runs.

Let's have a look at one such incident when the ball hits the keeper's helmet kept on the ground:

#2 No dismissal without an appeal

Sounds strange? Right? Well, it is completely true. Even if the ball hits the right place on the pads of the batsman, the umpire would not send him off unless and until an appeal is made from the fielding side.

However, it is highly unlikely that the fielding side won't appeal when the ball hits the pad of the batsman but if it hits the pad straight and they don't make an appeal, the umpire wouldn't send the player off by himself.

It may sound a bit odd, but according to the cricket rules, if the fielding side won't appeal for a situation which could've been a wicket, then they will not receive a decision in their favour.

#1 Don't try to be Guran from Lagaan

Batsmen have to strike the ball in a single attempt.

India is one of the top cricket loving nations in the world. Most of us might remember the Guran character from the national award winning movie, Lagaan.

That batsman in the movie used to pop the ball in the air once and hit it straight for a six while it was coming down.

However, if such thing happens in real life cricket, the batsman would be sent off. Yes, hitting the ball twice is strictly prohibited by the laws of cricket.

However, if the second touch is made for self-defence from any injury, it won't be counted as a breach of the law. Only deliberate second touches of the ball would be considered illegal and the umpires would make the final decision.