Which Countries Play Cricket?

You probably have heard about cricket in past years. If you reside in a country where the sport is played often, it is likely you have engaged in some cricket matches yourself. Cricket enthusiasts thoroughly enjoy playing the game, and spectators have a blast watching the game being played. Few people actually know the facts about cricket. The game of cricket has a long history, and it has evolved many times before it has become what it is today.

A Brief History on Cricket

There is debate about who actually invented cricket. Some say that Prince Edward, who was the son of Edward I, played a variation of cricket called creag at Newenden, Kent in 1301. However, there is no real evidence that creed and cricket are the same. As a matter of fact, little was recorded about that particular creed account. Definite evidence of cricket can be traced back to a write-up that makes reference to the game being played in 1598.

Over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, cricket went through a number of developments. At first, the game was played like hockey and sticks were used. As cricket evolved, it was played similarly to bowling, as players pitched the balls to the batting men. Later on in the eighteenth century, the hockey stick was replaced by a sort of club. Now, the game is played almost like baseball in that actual straight bats are used, and the game is played in innings. Some elements of bowling still remain, as the ones who pitch the balls are still called bowlers.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is quite simple. In order for a team to win, that team must get more runs than the other team. The opposition has to be dismissed as well. When these criteria have been met, the team is a winner.

The number of innings played varies on the match at hand. Two umpires regulate the game, and the scorers keep score by watching for hand signals given by the umpires. Examples of signals to watch for are that the umpires will raise a forefinger if a batter has been dismissed and put both arms above his head if the batter has hit a ball for six runs. The laws of cricket dictate that the scorers must keep record of all runs in the game.

Where is cricket played?

Cricket is not actually an Olympic sport, though; it is played between nations where the game is popular. The first international cricket match was played between Canada and the United States; however, neither nation was ever considered a test playing nation. The first actual test matches took place between Australia and England. Nations that were later included were India, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,, South Africa and Bangladesh. South Africa ended up being banned from 1970 to 1992 due to enacting an apartheid policy. Cricket is not quite as popular in most other countries, though; groups of people may opt to play the sport for fun.

Cricket can also be played online. For those sports enthusiasts who would prefer to stay at home in comfortable chair I suggest to try to play some online cricket match on cricketgames247.com. We got some popular titles like Smashtastic cricket, Hit and run, World Cup 2011, and more, or check out best rated games directly.

Source: http://toddsblogs.com/recreationandsports/2012/08/23/which-countries-play-cricket/

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