Finding Out About Cricket

Cricket is one of the world's fastest growing sports and yet remains a mystery to many. If you want to find out more about the sport then read on.
The sport of cricket was originally exported from its home country of England. The Lord's cricket ground in London is still known as the "home of cricket".
As cricket became more popular at home, so the British started to bring the sport to other countries that were then part of the British Empire. A glance at the list of the top international cricket playing countries reveals how the sport first spread in this way.
International cricket is still dominated by the likes of Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
In recent years attempts have been made to broaden the appeal of the game. These have ranged from encouraging an organised version of the sport in less traditional cricketing nations (such as the Netherlands and Denmark) to creating more accessible versions of the sport.
International matches have also been played in more varied locations, from the Middle East to North America, in an attempt to attract more spectators.
If you're interested in finding out more about cricket, then your access to the sport will vary depending on where you live.
For those of you living in the traditional cricket playing countries, you'll be lucky enough to be able to head to a sports ground and watch cricket live.
Many of us aren't quite so fortunate and need to rely on the television, radio and internet for our first introductions to the game.
Each of these media can provide a great introduction to the game. Viewing a real match on television is obviously a fine way to start getting into the game, while cricket is surprisingly well suited to radio coverage.
When it comes to the internet, the popular CricInfo website contains a plethora of information on all aspects of cricket, from the rules to detailed statistical analysis.
It's also possible to find cricket clips on YouTube. Again, these can provide a good introduction to the sport.
If you are interested in finding out more about the game then take your time to investigate. Don't worry if it all seems complicated at first - you'll soon grow to love this most traditional of sports.