Cricket

Cricket is a bat and ball team game. A game is contested between two teams of eleven players each. Before play commences, the two team captains toss a coin to decide which team shall bat or bowl first. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsman and thus limit the runs scored by the batting team. A run is scored by the striking batsman hitting the ball with his bat, running to the opposite end of the pitch and touching the crease there without being dismissed. Many variations exist, with it's most popular form played on an oval shaped outdoor area known as a cricket field. At the Center of which is a rectangular 22 yard(20.12m) long pitch that is the focus of the game.

There are also variations in the length of a game of cricket. In professional cricket this ranges from a limit of 20 overs of six bowling deliveries per side. Depending on the form of the match being played, there are different rules that govern how a game is won, lost, drawn or tied. The rules of two- innings games are known as the Laws of Cricket and maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Cricket was first documented as being played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had developed to the point where it had become the national sport of England. In professional matches, there are 15 people on the field while a match is in play. Two of these are the umpires who regulate all on field activity. two are batsmen, one of whom is the striker as he is facing the bowling; the other is called non striker. The fielding side has all 11 players on the field together. One of them is the bowler, another is the wicketkeeper and the others nine are called fielder. A player who excels in both batting and bowling is known as an all-rounder.