The United States is sport-crazed. Although football, baseball, basketball, and hockey dominate the pro-sports scene, there recently has been a spike in the interest for other sports. After the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, many people gained interest in Major League Soccer-our domestic professional soccer league. Interest in international professional soccer has surged as well, causing NBC to air British soccer matches from their Premier League on US broadcasting. Surges of popularity for less well-known sports have become more frequent in recent years with increased viewership and interest in tennis, badminton, Formula 1, and rugby. However, there still remains one major sport that has failed to catch on in the United States: cricket!

Cricket originated in the UK in around 1500 and has since spread to countries where British rule exists or existed previously. It is a bat and ball game which focuses on striking a pitched ball as far away as possible in order to score runs. It combines skill with strategy and athleticism. The rules and motions of the game are actually relatively simple, making it easy for young people to learn quickly. If you are interested in looking at the rules more closely, I recommend visiting the website of professional cricket’s governing body: http://www.icc-cricket.com/about/91/rules-and-regulations/overview

Cricket is the second most-viewed sport in the entire world, only behind soccer. Its fans are mostly located in the oriental subcontinent where huge populations of people exist in concentrated areas. Cricket is viewed annually by more than 1.5 billion people-far more than any of the popular sports in America. The game is very approachable, which contributes to its popularity. Cricket can be played easily in any open area with relatively little equipment or preparation. The game’s versatility contributes to its popularity amongst younger generations. For those who may be uninitiated with athletics or competition, cricket offers friendly and easy entertainment and exercise.

So if you’re looking for something to do on a lazy weekend or simply are interested in watching one of the most popular sports in the world, I would recommend you look towards the amazing sport of cricket!