Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. The game is played on a circular or oval field, with a 22-yard long rectangular pitch at the center. A rectangular set of wooden stumps, known as wickets, is positioned at each end of the pitch. One team bats, attempting to score runs by hitting a ball bowled by the opposing team’s bowler and running between the wickets, while the other team fields and tries to dismiss the batsmen by various means, such as catching the ball after it is hit or hitting the wickets with the ball.

Cricket has several formats, including Test matches (the longest format, lasting up to five days), One Day Internationals (limited to 50 overs per side), and Twenty20 matches (20 overs per side, representing a shorter, faster-paced version of the game). The sport originated in England and is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It has a significant following in countries such as India, Australia, Pakistan, England, and the West Indies, and it is known for its rich history, traditions, and competitiveness.