krikett

Krikett, or cricket, is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of eleven on an oval field with a central 22-yard pitch. The objective is to score more runs than the opponent. A run is scored when batsmen run between the wickets or when the ball reaches the boundary for four or six. An innings ends after ten batsmen are dismissed or after a set number of overs, depending on format.

Formats include Test cricket (unlimited overs, usually up to five days), One-Day Internationals (50 overs per side), and Twenty20 (20 overs per side). International matches are organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and feature both full members and associates in tournaments such as the Cricket World Cup and the T20 World Cup.

Equipment and field: Players wear protective gear and use a wooden bat and a hard leather ball. The field features three stumps and two bails at each end, forming the wickets. The pitch length is 22 yards.

Rules and dismissals: Batsmen can be dismissed in several ways, including bowled, caught, leg before wicket (LBW), run out, or stumped. Bowlers aim to restrict runs while taking wickets. Umpires enforce the Laws of Cricket.

Governing bodies and major leagues: The ICC oversees international cricket, with national boards managing domestic cricket. Major leagues include the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL).

History and distribution: Cricket originated in England during the 16th to 17th centuries and spread throughout the British Empire. Today it has a broad following in South Asia, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, and parts of Africa.