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Level 3 – Intermediate
Cricket – a national pastime
Modern cricket is a team sport which originated in England in the Middle Ages and which spread to countries in the British Empire. The first recorded cricket match was played in southern England in 1646 but the modern game dates back to the 16th century when the first rules were drawn up. Today it is played in many parts of the world including England, Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the West Indies.
The game is played between two competing teams of eleven players on each side. Traditionally, players wear white shirts and trousers. They play on a large grassy field called a cricket pitch. In the centre of the pitch is a length of grass called the ‘wicket’. At each end of the wicket, which is 22 yards long, are placed three sticks, called ‘stumps’. One team bats first and the other bowls to them. There are two batsmen on the pitch at the same time and they each defend the wicket. The aim of the game is to make more ‘runs’ than the opposing team. The bowler throws the ball. He must knock down the stumps in order to eliminate a batsman. The batsman defends the stumps and must hit the ball as hard and as far as possible. To score, he must run to the opposing stumps.
Many foreigners find the game boring and very difficult to follow. This is because the rules are complicated but also because matches seem to last for ever with very little action. A local game will usually last a full day and in many parts of Britain it is a social event with families spending all day at the match.
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C2 Mastery
