An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment in a game of baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In many other sports, the length of the game is dictated by a clock and teams swap offensive and defensive roles dynamically by taking possession of a ball or similar item. In baseball (and cricket), however, one team, said to be "batting", attempts to score "runs"—see run—while the other team, said to be "fielding", attempts to prevent the scoring of runs and get members of the batting team out. The teams switch places after the fielding team has succeeded in getting three players out, making a clock unnecessary.