Cricket
Cricket is a popular sport that is played and enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It involves two teams of eleven players each, who take turns to bat and bowl on a rectangular pitch in the middle of an oval field. The batting team aims to score as many runs as possible, while the bowling team tries to dismiss the batsmen and restrict their scoring. Cricket has a long and rich history, dating back to the 16th century in England.
The popularity of cricket in India
Cricket is the most popular sport in India and has a large fan following. Television and media coverage have also contributed to its popularity. One hundred and fifty years ago, the Parsis, who were the first Indian cricketers, had to struggle to find an open space to play a cricket match. Now, the global market is supporting cricket players. Currently, the Indian players are the best paid and are supported with all facilities, so they can play the game at their best. Children from small villages and towns can easily watch cricket matches on television, and they imitate their heroes. This has also increased the youth’s love and passion for cricket. That’s why we can see that on every street, children play cricket matches on Sundays.
History of Cricket
Cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world after football. The history of cricket began in the late 16th century. Cricket originated in southeast England and became popular in the country in the 18th century. The sport gained global recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries. International cricket matches started in the 19th century. The International Cricket Council (ICC) governs the sport of cricket.
Formats of Cricket
There are three forms of cricket, including Test matches, one-day internationals (ODI’s), and T20 internationals.
Test Match Format
Test Match is probably the original form of the game, having been played since 1877. It is played over five days and has two innings. Each team gets a chance to bat and ball twice. A test match brings out the real talents of a team and its cricketers as it is played over longer periods; it tests their endurance, resilience, patience, and sportsmanship.
One-Day Format
The one-day format of cricket is a one-inning match, with each team getting a single chance to bat and ball. One single inning lasts for 50 overs, with each over having six balls. The first One Day International (ODI) match was played on January 5, 1971, between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The most popular cricketing event, the ICC (International Cricket Council) World Cup, is conducted every four years in a day format.
Twenty20 Format
A cricket match in the Twenty20 format is played for 20 overs for each team. A match in the Twenty20 format usually takes three hours to conclude. The first cricket match in the Twenty20 format was played on August 5, 2004, between the women’s teams of England and New Zealand. The first men’s international Twenty20 match was played on February 17, 2005, between Australia and New Zealand. An ICC World Cup Twenty20 is held every four years.
Cricket: A Globally Popular Sport
Cricket is by far the second-most popular sport in the world after football. The 2.5 billion fans of cricket living in 180 countries keep the passion kicking. The ICC Cricket World Cup is the most popular cricketing event. Several private business houses also give a day’s leave to their employees to enjoy the finals of the World Cup.
Cricket: A Rich Sport
As big as the popularity of cricket is, so is the money involved. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the governing body that conducts international matches such as the Cricket World Cup.
ICC generates billions of dollars in revenue through sponsorship and television rights. Star TV’s broadcasting rights for the ICC World Cup in 2019 generated revenue of $143 million. The ICC paid $10 million to the winning England team.
The Indian Premier League (IPL), which is conducted in Twenty20 format by the BCCI (Board of Control of Cricket in India), has a brand valuation of US $5.3 billion. The broadcasting rights of the IPL for the years 2018 to 2022 were sold to Star India for US $2.55 billion.
Conclusion
Cricket is by far the second most popular sport after football, with a global presence. It is a multibillion-dollar sports industry with a main source of revenue through broadcasting rights and endorsements