On the surface cricket and baseball seem very similar. The basic rules involve players hitting a ball with a bat while the opposing team attempts to prevent them from scoring points. However, the two sports are also very different in numerous ways.
Bowling
In cricket, the bowler tries to hit a wicket. These are three wooden sticks. Meanwhile, baseball bowlers attempt to throw the ball into a strike zone. The distances between the bowler (the pitcher) and the batter are almost precisely the same for each sport.
Game Forms
There are three primary forms of cricket. Test matches take place over five days. There are also One Day Internationals and Twenty Twenty matches which last for 20 overs (one over equals six balls). In baseball, a game is divided into innings. A hybrid of the two has recently been invented. This relatively new sport called stoolball originated in the United Kingdom.
Pitches
A cricket pitch has an oval shape, whereas baseball grounds are diamond-shaped. The aim of both sports is to score runs around the pitch. When a batter hits the ball in cricket, they can run to the opposite end, switching sides with a secondary batter. In baseball, opposing players attempt to move around the field across different bases.
Betting
There is a prosperous gambling industry for both sports. However, people will be more likely to find a bookie who takes baseball wagers in America. Conversely, Britain focuses more on cricket betting. Luckily, there are numerous online sites which offer bets for both.
Equipment
The balls used in cricket and baseball look the same, but the former has harder and heavier ones. Baseball fielders wear very distinctive looking gloves designed to catch balls. Cricket fielders do not use any gloves. However, wicket keepers do. Finally, cricket bats have a broader and flatter appearance. Baseball ones are rounder and narrower.