| WATCH T20 WORLD CUP 2010 ON | | | | size and shape. The ground is grassy and is prepared |
| Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport that is first | | | | by groundsmen whose jobs include fertilising, mowing, |
| documented as being played in southern England in the | | | | rolling and levelling the surface. Field diameters of |
| 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, cricket | | | | 140–160 yards (130–150 m) are usual. The |
| had developed to the point where it had become the | | | | perimeter of the field is known as the boundary and |
| national sport of England. The expansion of the British | | | | this is sometimes painted and sometimes marked by a |
| Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by | | | | rope that encircles the outer edge of the field. The |
| the mid-19th century the first international matches | | | | Laws of Cricket do not specify the size or shape of |
| were being held. Today, the game's governing body, | | | | the field[7] but it is often oval – one of cricket's most |
| the International Cricket Council (ICC), has 104 member | | | | famous venues is called The Oval. |
| countries.[1] With its greatest popularity in the Test | | | | The objective of each team is to score more runs |
| playing countries, cricket is widely regarded as the | | | | than the other team and to completely dismiss the |
| world's second most popular sport, after association | | | | other team. In one form of cricket, winning the game is |
| football.[2][3][4] The ICC oversees both men's and | | | | achieved by scoring the most runs, even if the |
| women's cricket. | | | | opposition has not been completely dismissed. In |
| The rules of the game are known as the Laws of | | | | another form, it is necessary to score the most runs |
| Cricket.[5] These are maintained by the ICC and the | | | | and dismiss the opposition in order to win the match, |
| Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which holds the | | | | which would otherwise be drawn. |
| copyright. A cricket match is played on a cricket field | | | | Before play commences, the two team captains toss |
| at the centre of which is a pitch. The match is | | | | a coin to decide which team shall bat or bowl first. The |
| contested between two teams of eleven players | | | | captain who wins the toss makes his decision on the |
| each.[6] One team bats, trying to score as many runs | | | | basis of tactical considerations which may include the |
| as possible without being dismissed ("out") while the | | | | current and expected field and weather conditions. |
| other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the other | | | | The key action takes place in a specially prepared |
| team's batsmen and limit the runs being scored. When | | | | area of the field (generally in the centre) that is called |
| the batting team has used all its available overs or has | | | | the pitch. At either end of the pitch, 22 yards (20 m) |
| no remaining batsmen, the roles become reversed and | | | | apart, are placed the wickets. These serve as a target |
| it is now the fielding team's turn to bat and try to | | | | for the bowling (aka fielding) side and are defended by |
| outscore the opposition. | | | | the batting side which seeks to accumulate runs. A run |
| There are several variations in the length of a game of | | | | is scored when the batsman has run the length of the |
| cricket. In professional cricket this ranges from a limit of | | | | pitch after hitting the ball with his bat, although as |
| 20 overs per side (Twenty20) to a game played over | | | | explained below there are many ways of scoring |
| 5 days (Test cricket). Depending on the form of the | | | | runs.[8] If the batsmen are not attempting to score any |
| match being played, there are different rules that | | | | more runs, the ball is dead and is returned to the |
| govern how a game is won, lost, drawn or tied. | | | | bowler to be bowled again. |
| WATCH T20 WORLD CUP 2010 ON | | | | The bowling side seeks to dismiss the batsmen by |
| Objectives | | | | various means until the batting side is all out, |
| A typical cricket field. | | | | whereupon the side that was bowling takes its turn to |
| A cricket match is played between two teams (or | | | | bat and the side that was batting must take the field. |
| sides) of eleven players each on a field of variable | | | | |