Cricket

History

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that originated in south-east England during the late 16th century. It became the national sport of England by the end of the 18th century and has since gained global popularity, particularly in the Commonwealth countries. The sport is governed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has over 100 members, twelve of which are full members participating in Test matches.

A cricket match in progress on a green field with players in white uniforms.

Gameplay

Cricket is played between two teams of eleven players each on a cricket field, at the center of which is a rectangular pitch. The objective of the game is to score more runs than the opposing team. A player known as the bowler delivers the ball from one end of the pitch towards the wicket at the other end, which is guarded by a batsman from the opposing team. The batsman must prevent the ball from hitting the wicket by striking it with his bat and running to the other end of the pitch to score runs.

Equipment

The primary equipment used in cricket are the bat, ball, and wickets. The cricket bat, typically made of willow wood, is flat on the striking side and has a ridge on the back. The cricket ball, made of cork and leather, is hard and weighs between 155.9 and 163 grams. The wickets consist of three wooden stumps that are hammered into the ground, and two wooden bails that rest on top of the stumps.

Formats

Cricket is played in several formats, but the most popular are Test cricket, One Day International (ODI) cricket, and Twenty20 (T20) cricket. Test cricket is the longest format of the game, lasting up to five days, while ODI and T20 cricket are limited-overs formats that are completed in a single day.

Governing Body

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body for cricket. It organizes major international tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup, and maintains the Laws of Cricket which serve as the rules of the game.

Popularity

Cricket is immensely popular in countries like India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies. The sport is also gaining popularity in other parts of the world, thanks to the efforts of the ICC.