| Cricket is a team sport usually played | | | | Indies. There are also well established |
| between two teams of eleven players | | | | amateur club competitions in countries |
| each. It is a bat-and-ball game played | | | | as diverse as the Netherlands, Kenya, |
| on a roughly elliptical grass field, in | | | | Nepal, and Argentina (see also: |
| the centre of which is a flat strip of | | | | International Cricket Council). |
| ground 20.12 m (22 yards) long, called a | | | | The length of the game — a match can |
| pitch. At each end of the pitch is a set | | | | last six or more hours a day for up to |
| of wooden stumps, called a wicket. A | | | | five days in one form of the game — |
| player from the fielding team (the | | | | the numerous intervals for lunch and tea |
| bowler) propels a hard, fist-sized | | | | and the rich terminology are notable |
| cork-centred leather ball from one | | | | aspects that can often confuse those not |
| wicket towards the other. The ball | | | | familiar with the sport. For its fans, |
| usually bounces once before reaching a | | | | the sport and the intense rivalries |
| player from the opposing team (the | | | | between top cricketing nations provide |
| batsman), who defends the wicket from | | | | passionate entertainment and outstanding |
| the ball with a wooden cricket bat. | | | | sporting achievements. It has even |
| Another batsman (the "non-striker") | | | | occasionally given rise to diplomatic |
| stands in an inactive role near the | | | | outrage, the most notorious being the |
| bowler's wicket. | | | | Basil D'Oliveira affair which led to the |
| Generally, the batsman attempts to | | | | banning of South Africa from sporting |
| strike the ball with the bat and run to | | | | events. Other examples include the |
| the other end of the pitch, exchanging | | | | Bodyline series played between England |
| places with his partner, scoring a run. | | | | and Australia in the early 1930s, or the |
| However, he can attempt to run without | | | | 1981 underarm bowling incident involving |
| hitting the ball, and vice versa. While | | | | Australia and New Zealand. |
| the batting team scores as many runs as | | | | Cricket is a bat and ball sport. The |
| it can, the bowling team returns the | | | | objective of the game is to score more |
| ball to either wicket. If the ball | | | | runs than the opposing team. A match is |
| strikes a wicket with enough force to | | | | divided into innings during which one |
| knock a bail off before the batsman | | | | team bats and one team fields. The word |
| nearer to that wicket has reached | | | | "innings" is both singular and plural in |
| safety, then the batsman is out, or | | | | cricket usage. |
| "dismissed". The batsman can also be out | | | | If the team batting last is dismissed |
| in a number of other ways, such as | | | | while their total score is n runs less |
| failing to stop the bowled ball from | | | | than that of their opponents, they are |
| knocking the bails off, or if a fielder | | | | said to have lost by n runs. If, in a |
| catches the ball before it touches the | | | | two-innings match, one team is dismissed |
| ground. Once the batsmen are not | | | | twice with a combined first- and |
| attempting to score any more runs, the | | | | second-innings score less than their |
| ball is "dead" and is bowled again. | | | | opponents' first-innings score, then the |
| Once out, a batsman is replaced by the | | | | winning team has no requirement to bat |
| next batsman in the team. As there must | | | | again and they are said to have won by |
| always be two batsmen on the field, the | | | | an innings and n runs, where n is the |
| team's innings ends when ten batsmen are | | | | difference in score between the teams. |
| out, and the teams exchange roles. The | | | | If the team batting last is dismissed |
| number of innings, and possible | | | | with the scores exactly equal then the |
| restrictions on the number of balls in | | | | match is a tie; a tie is a rare result, |
| each, depend on the type of game played. | | | | particularly in matches of two innings a |
| At the end of the match—of which there | | | | side. If the team batting last reaches |
| are several definitions—the team that | | | | their target, they are said to have won |
| has scored more runs wins. In | | | | by n wickets, where n is the number of |
| first-class cricket, a draw can result | | | | wickets the opposition still needed to |
| if the team to bat last fails to match | | | | take in order to dismiss them. If the |
| the required total before a time limit | | | | time allotted for the match finishes |
| is reached. This can add interest to | | | | before either side can win, then the |
| one-sided games by giving the team in | | | | game is a draw. |
| the worse position an incentive to play | | | | If the match has only a single innings |
| for a draw. This is distinct from a tie, | | | | per side, then a maximum number of |
| which results if scores are level at the | | | | deliveries for each innings is often |
| completion of both teams' innings. | | | | imposed. In this case the side scoring |
| Cricket has been an established team | | | | more runs wins regardless of the number |
| sport for several centuries. It | | | | of wickets lost, so that a draw cannot |
| originated in its modern form in England | | | | occur. If this kind of match is |
| and is popular mainly in the present and | | | | temporarily interrupted by bad weather, |
| former members of the Commonwealth. In | | | | then a complex mathematical formula |
| some countries in South Asia, including | | | | known as the Duckworth-Lewis method is |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri | | | | often used to recalculate a new target |
| Lanka, cricket is by far the most | | | | score. A one-day match can be declared a |
| popular sport. Cricket is also a major | | | | "No-Result" if fewer than a previously |
| sport in England and Wales, Australia, | | | | agreed number of overs have been bowled |
| New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe and | | | | by either team. This can occur if an |
| the English-speaking countries of the | | | | interruption makes a resumption of play |
| Caribbean, which are collectively known | | | | impossible, for example an extended |
| in cricketing parlance as the West | | | | period of bad weather. |