Cricket

Cricket is a gentleman's game.

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between
two teams of 11 players on a field at the
centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long
pitch . Each team takes it in turn to bat ,
attempting to score runs , while the other team
fields . Each turn is known as an innings.
The bowler delivers the ball to the batsman
who attempts to hit the ball with his bat far

enough for him to run to the other end of the

pitch and score a run. Each batsman continues
batting until he is out . The batting team
continues batting until ten batsmen are out, at
which point the teams switch roles and the
fielding team comes in to bat.
In professional cricket the length of a game
ranges from 20 overs of six bowling deliveries
per side to Test cricket played over five days.
The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the
International Cricket Council (ICC) and the
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional
Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches
and One Day Internationals. [1]
Cricket was first played in southern England in
the 16th century. By the end of the 18th
century, it had developed into the national
sport of England. The expansion of the British
Empire led to cricket being played overseas
and by the mid-19th century the first
international matches were being held. The
ICC, the game's governing body, has 10 full
members . [2] The game is most popular in
Australasia , England , the Indian subcontinent,
the West Indies and Southern Africa.