Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport that originated in England and is now played worldwide. It involves two teams, each consisting of 11 players, competing to score runs. The game is played on a circular or oval field with a 22-yard-long rectangular pitch at its center. One team bats, attempting to score runs, while the other bowls and fields, aiming to dismiss the batsmen.

A cricket match typically consists of innings in which one team bats and the other bowls. The batting team scores runs by hitting the ball with a bat and running between the wickets or by hitting the ball over the boundary for four or six runs. The bowling team seeks to get the batsmen out in various ways, such as catching the ball after it is hit but before it touches the ground, hitting the wickets with the ball, or having the batsman run out.

Cricket is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of Cricket, which outline the gameplay, equipment, and player conduct. The sport is notably popular in countries such as India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and South Africa, with significant international competitions like the Cricket World Cup and various domestic leagues.