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