Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game 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. One team bats, attempting to score runs by hitting a ball bowled by the opposing team’s bowler, while the other team fields, aiming to restrict runs and dismiss the batters.

A cricket match consists of innings, during which one team bats while the other bowls and fields. The primary objective for the batting team is to score as many runs as possible before losing all their wickets (the number of outs a team can have). The bowling team’s goal is to dismiss batters and limit the runs scored. Once the batting team’s innings concludes, the teams switch roles.

Cricket matches can vary in format, including Test matches, which last up to five days, One Day Internationals (ODIs), which are limited to 50 overs per side, and Twenty20 (T20) matches, which consist of 20 overs per side. The game is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Cricket is particularly popular in countries like India, Australia, England, and Pakistan, and it is known for its rich history and numerous traditions.