| Cricket is a team sport similar to American field | | | | The traditional cricket ball is red or white and nine |
| hockey, highly competitive and, perhaps unfairly, | | | | inches around. A proper cricket ball starts with a core |
| known as a game of the rich and privileged. Cricket | | | | of wrapped twine and finished in leather wrapped |
| has a history of many centuries in British and Irish | | | | around the twine to form the approved surface. |
| cultures. The game as played today originated in | | | | The game is played on a roughly oval-shaped grass |
| England, and is wildly popular in England as well as | | | | playing field, with a strip of dirt down the center, |
| other countries influenced by British culture in the | | | | called the pitch. At each end of the pitch are the |
| British efforts of colonization in the 18th and 19th | | | | “goalposts” consisting of three |
| centuries. Cricket equipment is highly specialized and | | | | “stumps”, which are vertical posts each |
| exact in specifications. | | | | supporting two “bails”, collectively known |
| Cricket is the hands-down most popular sport in India, | | | | as the wicket. Wickets are made of wood. |
| Pakistan and Bangladesh. It's also very big in the | | | | Behind each pair of wickets is a “sight |
| down-under countries like Australia and New Zealand. | | | | screen”, aligned in parallel to the width of the |
| South Africa and the Caribbean countries also enjoy | | | | pitch. |
| huge followings of Cricket fans. | | | | Spiked shoes are another piece of cricket equipment |
| The game requires specialized Cricket equipment, and | | | | [ you'll need. As in soccer and field hockey, these |
| for the Cricket enthusiast, is notably difficult to track | | | | special shoes are necessary for good traction on the |
| down if you don't live in a country that follows | | | | field. |
| Cricket like Americans follow football. | | | | You'll also need player's clothing, including jumpers, |
| The first cricket equipment bore little resemblance to | | | | sweaters or wool pullovers as weather dictates. |
| what's used today. The original bats looked much like | | | | Protective pads, including leg, thigh, arm, chest, |
| a modern hockey stick. Folklore maintains the first | | | | abdominal and elbow guards are essential to avoid |
| paddle style evolved out of a shepherd's crook. | | | | injuries and bone breaks. Cricket is not a sissy sport! |
| Today's cricket bat is made of willow wood sealed | | | | To complete your cricket equipment, you'll need |
| with linseed oil. According to the 42 laws of cricket, | | | | cricket gloves. For a batsman, there are specially |
| the bat cannot exceed 38 inches in length and a little | | | | designed thickly-padded gloves. For the |
| more than four inches wide, consisting of a handle | | | | wicket-keeper, you'll need the huge mitten-like gloves |
| and paddle. The handle is padded and taped in a | | | | with webbed fingers, much like a baseball glove. |
| manner similar to a tennis racket. The similarity ends | | | | Last but not least, get yourself a sun hat to protect |
| there, with the cricket bat being much more | | | | your vision. |
| substantial than a tennis racket. | | | | |