Cricketing

Cricketing refers to the sport of cricket and the activities, people, and institutions involved in its practice and governance. Originating in 16th-century England, cricket spread through the British Empire and evolved into a globally played sport with professional leagues, national teams, and a wide following.

The sport is governed internationally by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which oversees global rankings and world events. Each country typically has a governing body (such as the England and Wales Cricket Board or Board of Control for Cricket in India) that runs domestic competitions and supports national teams. The ICC recognises three main formats: Test cricket, played over up to five days; One Day Internationals (ODIs) with 50 overs per side; and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) with 20 overs per side.

In play, two teams of 11 compete. In Tests, teams alternate innings; in ODIs and T20Is, limited overs determine the outcome. A run is scored by batsmen running between creases or by hitting the ball to the boundary (four runs for boundary, six for over the boundary). The fielding side tries to dismiss batsmen by various means, and the team with more runs wins (or the team that is not all out). Matches are officiated by umpires, with scorers and sometimes technology such as ball-tracking, edge detection, and decision reviews.

Cricket has a global professional landscape featuring leagues such as the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League, and The Hundred, alongside traditional domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy and County Championship. The sport also has a significant women's game, with its own international calendar and professional leagues. Cricketing activity supports youth development, coaching, and sports media industries.