How well do you know cricket?
Cricket is followed by billions, especially in South Asia, Australia, England and the Caribbean. Six questions, from easy to hard.
Did you know?
- The longest Test match on record, between England and South Africa in 1939, lasted ten playing days and was still a draw. It had to end because the English team needed to catch their ship home.
- Sachin Tendulkar of India became the first player to score 100 international centuries across Tests and one-day internationals. He retired in 2013 after a career of 24 years.
- The International Cricket Council, cricket's governing body, has more than 100 member countries, including nations as varied as Nepal, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and the United States.
A game of patience and power
Cricket developed in England centuries ago and spread with the British Empire. Today its heartland is South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have enormous fan bases, and matches between India and Pakistan are among the most watched sporting events in the world. The game combines tactics, patience and bursts of explosive skill.
Three formats
Cricket is played in three main international formats: Test matches over five days, One Day Internationals of 50 overs a side, and T20 matches of 20 overs. Each suits a different style of play. Tests reward patience and technique, while T20 favours aggressive batting and creative bowling.
The IPL revolution
The Indian Premier League, launched in 2008, transformed cricket's economy. Its franchise teams attract top players from around the world, and broadcast rights are worth billions of dollars. Similar leagues now exist in many countries, giving players more opportunities and fans more matches to follow.
Bowling skills
Bowlers use different techniques to trouble batters. Fast bowlers rely on speed and movement off the pitch, while spin bowlers make the ball turn sharply after it bounces. The condition of the pitch, the weather and the age of the ball all affect how much the ball moves.
The spirit of cricket
Cricket has a strong tradition of sportsmanship, often called the 'spirit of cricket'. Players are expected to respect umpires and opponents, and some batters walk off without waiting for the umpire when they know they are out. These traditions are part of the game's official laws.
How a batter gets out
There are several ways for a batter to be dismissed. The most common are being bowled, caught, or leg before wicket (LBW), when the ball would have hit the stumps but strikes the batter's leg first. Batters can also be run out, stumped by the wicketkeeper, or out for hitting their own wicket. Understanding these rules is key to following a match.