1. CRICKET – A BAT & BALL GAME . Overview: Cricket is a team sport that is played outdoors. Cricket originated in England and
gradually became popular across the globe. This sport requires complete
physical fitness and athleticism to play. The sport is played between two teams of 11 player each. objective: Cricket is played outdoors on a ground. The objective of the game is that a team
should score more runs than the opponent team. It is all about attempting to
score more runs, while restricting the score and dismissing the batsmen of the
opponent team. Further in the document, one can closely understand the game,
its popular terms and rules. Team size: In cricket, each playing side has 11 players and one of them is appointed as
captain. Apart from these 11 players, there are a few more players on each side
who can only field as substitute for an injured team member. The fielding team
should have 11 players and the opposition can send only two batsmen on the
ground at the time of play. A 15-member squad is a must for all international tournaments conducted by the
cricket’s governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC). 2. CRICKET – PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES . Cricket as a sport began in England. The evidences available lead us to believe in
south-east England in the beginning of 1900s. During those days, Australia,
South Africa, and West Indies were the other countries where the sport was
played. Gradually, the sport picked up popularity in the Asian continent as well.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh also started playing the sport. Asian Countries Participating in Cricket.In late 1900s, Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have made a
mark in world cricket with each winning World Cup once. It led to the founding
of Asian Cricket Conference in 1983 that took charge of developing the sport in
rest of Asia. By 21st century, Bangladesh had become a new force in Asian
cricket. Nepal, Malaysia, and Afghanistan also play competitive cricket now.
Amongst these three nations, Afghanistan made headlines by qualifying for the
World Cup in 2014.
The Asian Cricket Conference was renamed as Asian Cricket Council in 2003,
headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. The council is subordinate to ICC and has an
association of 25 countries. Non-Asian Countries Participating in Cricket. England, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa started playing cricket from early 20th century. It was the brain of Abe Bailey, the then President of South Africa Cricket Association, to form an international council. Imperial Cricket Conference was formed in 1906 that was later renamed as International Cricket Council. Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada, Scotland, and UAE have all been part of international tournaments over two decades. United States also adopted the game since last few years. Currently, there are more than 100 countries playing this sport and associated with ICC. International cricket is played in three formats. A five-day match called Test match; same day match comprising 50-over a side called One-day International; and 20-over a side called T-20 International are the three formats. T-20 is the latest and the most popular format over last five years. 3. CRICKET – PLAYING ENVIRONMENT Cricket is a team sport and is played on a big ground. The pitch in the center
and ground is prepared for any format of the match. Later, stumps are rooted
along the breadth of the pitch and players are called on to the ground to start
the play. The team fielding will have 11 players guarding the boundary and two
batsmen from opposition will come to bat. There will be two umpires on the field
to monitor the match proceedings. Cricket is a team sport and is played on a big ground. The pitch in the center
and ground is prepared for any format of the match. Later, stumps are rooted
along the breadth of the pitch and players are called on to the ground to start
the play. The team fielding will have 11 players guarding the boundary and two
batsmen from opposition will come to bat. There will be two umpires on the field
to monitor the match proceedings. Cricket Field Dimensions : The sport is played on presumably a circular leveled ground with pitch as the
center. The pitch is 24-yards in length and 4-yards in breadth. A rope is placed
around the ground at a distance of 80 yards from the pitch. This rope is
observed as boundary. The stumps are rooted at both ends with distance of 22-
yards between them. Two carved small pieces of wood are placed on stumps,
called bails. White parallel lines are drawn on both ends of stumps, called
batting/bowling crease. It is 1.2 meters from stumps. Another set of parallel
lines are drawn perpendicular to batting crease, called return crease. This is at
a distance of half-meter from the length of pitch.
Team size: In cricket, each playing side has 11 players and one of them is appointed as
captain. Apart from these 11 players, there are a few more players on each side
who can only field as substitute for an injured team member. The fielding team
should have 11 players and the opposition can send only two batsmen on the
ground at the time of play. A 15-member squad is a must for all international tournaments conducted by the
cricket’s governing body, International Cricket Council (ICC). 2. CRICKET – PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES . Cricket as a sport began in England. The evidences available lead us to believe in
south-east England in the beginning of 1900s. During those days, Australia,
South Africa, and West Indies were the other countries where the sport was
played. Gradually, the sport picked up popularity in the Asian continent as well.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh also started playing the sport. Asian Countries Participating in Cricket. In late 1900s, Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan have made a
mark in world cricket with each winning World Cup once. It led to the founding
of Asian Cricket Conference in 1983 that took charge of developing the sport in
rest of Asia. By 21st century, Bangladesh had become a new force in Asian
cricket. Nepal, Malaysia, and Afghanistan also play competitive cricket now.
Amongst these three nations, Afghanistan made headlines by qualifying for the
World Cup in 2014.
The Asian Cricket Conference was renamed as Asian Cricket Council in 2003,
headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. The council is subordinate to ICC and has an
association of 25 countries. Non-Asian Countries Participating in Cricket. England, Australia, West Indies, and South Africa started playing cricket from early 20th century. It was the brain of Abe Bailey, the then President of South Africa Cricket Association, to form an international council. Imperial Cricket Conference was formed in 1906 that was later renamed as International Cricket Council. Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada, Scotland, and UAE have all been part of international tournaments over two decades. United States also adopted the game since last few years. Currently, there are more than 100 countries playing this sport and associated with ICC. International cricket is played in three formats. A five-day match called Test match; same day match comprising 50-over a side called One-day International; and 20-over a side called T-20 International are the three formats. T-20 is the latest and the most popular format over last five years. 3. CRICKET – PLAYING ENVIRONMENT Cricket is a team sport and is played on a big ground. The pitch in the center
and ground is prepared for any format of the match. Later, stumps are rooted
along the breadth of the pitch and players are called on to the ground to start
the play. The team fielding will have 11 players guarding the boundary and two
batsmen from opposition will come to bat. There will be two umpires on the field
to monitor the match proceedings. Cricket is a team sport and is played on a big ground. The pitch in the center
and ground is prepared for any format of the match. Later, stumps are rooted
along the breadth of the pitch and players are called on to the ground to start
the play. The team fielding will have 11 players guarding the boundary and two
batsmen from opposition will come to bat. There will be two umpires on the field
to monitor the match proceedings. Cricket Field Dimensions : The sport is played on presumably a circular leveled ground with pitch as the
center. The pitch is 24-yards in length and 4-yards in breadth. A rope is placed
around the ground at a distance of 80 yards from the pitch. This rope is
observed as boundary. The stumps are rooted at both ends with distance of 22-
yards between them. Two carved small pieces of wood are placed on stumps,
called bails. White parallel lines are drawn on both ends of stumps, called
batting/bowling crease. It is 1.2 meters from stumps. Another set of parallel
lines are drawn perpendicular to batting crease, called return crease. This is at
a distance of half-meter from the length of pitch. 
