Le cricket est un sport collectif de balle et de batte opposant deux équipes composées normalement de onze joueurs chacune. Il se joue généralement sur un terrain de forme ovale, en herbe, au centre duquel se trouve une zone d'une vingtaine de mètres de longueur, à chaque extrémité de laquelle on trouve une structure de bois, le guichet. Une rencontre est divisée en plusieurs manches. Au cours de chacune d'entre elles, l'une des équipes essaye de marquer des points (courses), et possède simultanément deux batteurs sur le terrain, chacun devant l'un des guichets. Un point est notamment marqué à chaque échange de position de ces deux joueurs lorsque la balle est en jeu. Leurs onze adversaires sont également présents sur l'aire de jeu. La balle est lancée par l'un de ceux-ci en direction du guichet d'un des deux batteurs. L'objectif de la seconde équipe est d'empêcher la première de marquer, principalement en éliminant les batteurs adverses, par exemple en détruisant le guichet avec la balle sur le lancer.
Plus de cent pays sont affiliés à l'International Cricket Council, qui organise notamment la Coupe du monde de cricket. De par son histoire, c'est dans les nations de l'ancien Empire britannique que le cricket est le plus populaire.

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Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on a roughly circular field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. Each team takes it in turn to bat, in which they attempt to accumulate as many runs as possible, while the other team fields, attempting to prevent the batting team scoring runs. Teams may bat once or twice each depending upon the format of the game. Each turn is known as an innings. The game progresses as one member of the fielding team known as the bowler delivers the ball to the batsman down the length of the pitch. The batsman then attempts to strike the ball with his bat in order so that the ball either reaches the boundary or enables him to run to the other end of the pitch and thus accumulate runs. The batsman may continue batting until he is dismissed. Once ten batsmen from the batting side have been dismissed, the team is said to be all out and the two teams change roles.

In professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 20 overs of six bowling deliveries per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals.

Cricket was first played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had developed into the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international matches were being held. The ICC, the game's governing body, has 10 full members. The game is most popular in Australasia, England, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies and Southern Africa.