Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, typically consisting of eleven players each. The game is played on a circular or oval-shaped field, with a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch at its center. Each team takes turns to bat, attempting to score runs by hitting the ball bowled by the opposing team’s bowler and running between two sets of wooden posts known as wickets. The batting team aims to accumulate as many runs as possible, while the bowling and fielding team strives to limit runs and dismiss batters by hitting the wickets with the ball or catching the ball after it has been hit but before it touches the ground. Matches can take various formats, including Test cricket, which lasts up to five days, One Day Internationals (ODIs), which consist of 50 overs per side, and Twenty20 (T20) matches, featuring 20 overs per side. Cricket is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and is especially popular in countries like India, Australia, England, and Pakistan. It is known for its rich history, complex rules, and cultural significance in many nations.