Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players
each on a field at the center of which is a rectangular
22-yard long pitch. The
game is played by 120 million players in many countries, making it the world's
second most popular sport. Each team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, while the other team fields. Each
turn is known as an innings.
The bowler delivers the ball to the batsman who attempts to hit the ball
with his bat away from the fielders so he can run to the
other end of the pitch and score a run. Each batsman continues batting until he
is out. The
batting team continues batting until ten batsmen are out, or a specified number
of over of six balls have been bowled, at which
point the teams switch roles and the fielding team comes in to bat.
In professional cricket the
length of a game ranges from 20 overs per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing
Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals.
Cricket was first played in
southern England in or before the 16th century. By the end
of the 18th century, it had developed to be the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by
the mid-19th century the first international match was held. ICC, the game's
governing body, has 10 full members. The
game is most popular in Australasia,
England, the Indian
subcontinent, the West Indies and Southern
Africa.
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