Cricket
Five-day Tests, 50-over World Cups, and 20-over blockbusters watched by 2.5 billion fans. The history, the formats, the tournaments, and the tools — all in one place.
Where did cricket come from?
Cricket was being played in south-east England — most likely in Kent and Sussex — by the mid-1500s. The earliest definite reference is from 1598, when a court case in Guildford records children playing cricket on a plot of common land. By the early 1600s, men were playing it too, and gambling on the result.
The game spread from village greens to the aristocracy by the early 1700s. Large wagers were placed on matches between counties — the same gambling culture that would eventually fund the formation of clubs. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787 and quickly became the custodian of the Laws of Cricket — a role it still holds today.
International cricket began in 1877 — not, as many assume, in England. The first ever Test match was played in Melbourne. Australia won by 45 runs. The following year a satirical newspaper announced that English cricket had died — the ashes of the game would be taken to Australia. The Ashes was born.
The first World Cup was held in England in 1975. India won their first in 1983 under Kapil Dev, beating a West Indies side widely considered unbeatable at Lord's. That win is credited with transforming cricket's popularity in India into the commercial phenomenon it is today.
Women's cricket has its own, older World Cup story: the very first Cricket World Cup, men's or women's, was the women's edition in England in 1973 — two years before the men's tournament even began. The Women's Premier League launched in 2023, using the same city-franchise, player-auction model that built the IPL, and gave the world's best women cricketers a major-money domestic stage of their own.
The IPL launched in 2008 and changed everything. Franchise cricket, city-based teams, international stars alongside domestic players. Eighteen seasons later, the IPL is the second most valuable sports league in the world by average team value.
Test cricket's longest-running argument — who's actually the best Test side in the world — now has an answer every two years. Track the standings on the World Test Championship points table to see who's leading the current cycle.
Key milestones
Cricket was being played in south-east England — most likely in Kent and Sussex — by the mid-1500s. The earliest definite reference is from 1598, when a court case in Guildford records children playing cricket on a plot of common land. By the early 1600s, men were playing it too, and gambling on the result.
The game spread from village greens to the aristocracy by the early 1700s. Large wagers were placed on matches between counties — the same gambling culture that would eventually fund the formation of clubs. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787 and quickly became the custodian of the Laws of Cricket — a role it still holds today.
International cricket began in 1877 — not, as many assume, in England. The first ever Test match was played in Melbourne. Australia won by 45 runs. The following year a satirical newspaper announced that English cricket had died — the ashes of the game would be taken to Australia. The Ashes was born.
The first World Cup was held in England in 1975. India won their first in 1983 under Kapil Dev, beating a West Indies side widely considered unbeatable at Lord's. That win is credited with transforming cricket's popularity in India into the commercial phenomenon it is today.
Women's cricket has its own, older World Cup story: the very first Cricket World Cup, men's or women's, was the women's edition in England in 1973 — two years before the men's tournament even began. The Women's Premier League launched in 2023, using the same city-franchise, player-auction model that built the IPL, and gave the world's best women cricketers a major-money domestic stage of their own.
The IPL launched in 2008 and changed everything. Franchise cricket, city-based teams, international stars alongside domestic players. Eighteen seasons later, the IPL is the second most valuable sports league in the world by average team value.
Test cricket's longest-running argument — who's actually the best Test side in the world — now has an answer every two years. Track the standings on the World Test Championship points table to see who's leading the current cycle.
How cricket actually works
The basic idea
Two teams, eleven players each. One team bats, the other fields and bowls. The batting side tries to score as many runs as possible. When ten batters are dismissed, the innings ends and sides swap. The team with more runs across their innings wins.
Formats and overs
In Test cricket, each side bats twice with no over limit — matches last up to five days. In ODIs, each side gets 50 overs in one innings. In T20s, 20 overs each. The shorter the format, the higher the risk — batters attack earlier, bowlers need to be more aggressive.
Scoring runs
Runs are scored by hitting the ball and running between wickets, or by hitting boundaries. A ball reaching the rope along the ground scores 4. A ball clearing the rope without bouncing scores 6. Each run scored counts toward the team total.
Getting dismissed
Bowled (ball hits the stumps), caught (fielder catches before it bounces), LBW (ball would have hit stumps, blocked by the leg), run out (fielder breaks stumps while batter is out of ground), stumped (wicketkeeper breaks stumps while batter is out of crease), or hit wicket. Ten dismissals end an innings.
The pitch and ground
The pitch is 22 yards long — the strip in the centre of the ground where bowlers bowl and batters bat. The condition of the pitch matters enormously in Test cricket: it deteriorates over five days, making batting harder as the match progresses. Spin bowlers become more dangerous on worn pitches.
DLS and rain
When rain interrupts a limited-overs match, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method calculates a revised target based on overs remaining and wickets lost. It's designed to be fair — a team can win or lose a match on DLS in exactly the same way as a full match.
Test, ODI, T20 — what's the difference?
The tournaments that define careers
ODI World Cup
Men's · Since 1975 · Every 4 years
The oldest and biggest prize in international cricket. 50 overs per side. Australia have won six — no other nation has won more than twice.
Women's ODI World Cup
Since 1973 · Every 4 years
The very first Cricket World Cup, men's or women's — held in England in 1973, two years before the men's edition began. Australia have dominated it, with seven titles.
T20 World Cup
Men's · Since 2007 · Every 2 years
Launched in 2007, the same year the T20 format exploded globally. India have won three editions — 2007, 2024 and 2026. The shortest format consistently delivers the most dramatic final-over finishes.
Women's T20 World Cup
Since 2009 · Every 2 years
Launched in 2009, women's cricket's answer to the shortest format. Australia have been the standout side, winning the majority of editions played so far.
Champions Trophy
Since 1998 · Every 4 years
Eight teams, no dead rubbers, every match counts. Often called the mini World Cup. The tournament delivers outstanding, highly intense elite cricket.
The oldest and biggest prize in international cricket. 50 overs per side. Australia have won six — no other nation has won more than twice.
Historic Test rivalries
The Ashes
Australia vs England · Since 1882
Australia vs England. The oldest Test rivalry in cricket — named after a satirical obituary published in 1882. Five Tests, home and away, alternating every two years. Nothing in Test cricket carries more history.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
India vs Australia · Since 1996
India vs Australia. The most competitive Test series of the modern era. Australia won back the trophy in the 2024–25 series after India had held it for almost a decade.
Australia vs England. The oldest Test rivalry in cricket — named after a satirical obituary published in 1882. Five Tests, home and away, alternating every two years. Nothing in Test cricket carries more history.
Popular T20 leagues around the world
IPL
Men's · India · Since 2008 · Annual
The richest domestic cricket competition in the world. Ten city franchises, an annual player auction, international stars alongside Indian domestic talent. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have five titles each.
MI & 
CSK (5 each)WPL
Women's · India · Since 2023 · Annual
The Women's Premier League launched in 2023, using the same city-franchise, player-auction model that built the IPL — and gave the world's best women cricketers a major-money domestic stage for the first time.
Mumbai Indians (2 titles)Big Bash League
Australia · Since 2011 · Annual
Australia's T20 franchise league, built around eight city teams and a family-friendly summer schedule. Perth Scorchers have been its most successful side by some distance.
The richest domestic cricket competition in the world. Ten city franchises, an annual player auction, international stars alongside Indian domestic talent. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have five titles each.
MI & CSK (5 each)