Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport played between two teams, typically consisting of eleven players each. It is played on a circular or oval-shaped field, with a 22-yard-long rectangular pitch at its center. The primary objective of the game is for one team to score runs by hitting the ball bowled by the opposing team’s bowler and then running between the wickets, while the other team fields and attempts to prevent runs and dismiss the batters.

The game is divided into innings, during which one team bats and the other bowls and fields. Runs are scored when batters successfully run to the opposite end of the pitch after hitting the ball. Matches can last a few hours to several days, depending on the format, which includes variations such as Twenty20, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Test matches. Each format has its own rules and style of play.

Cricket originated in England and is played professionally in many countries, with a strong following in countries like India, Australia, Pakistan, and England. The sport is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which oversees international competitions and the rules of the game.