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Sky Sports Cricket

Every England home Cricket Test, ODI and T20, exclusively live. Plus The Hundred, T20 Blast, County Championship and every ICC tournament.

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How it works
Click the icon to learn the basics of Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, each consisting of eleven players. The game can take various formats, the most common being Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) cricket. Here’s a brief overview of how cricket works: ### Basic Rules and Structure

1. **Objective**: The main goal is to score more runs than the opposing team. Runs are scored by hitting the ball and running between the wickets or by hitting the ball to the boundary.

2. **The Pitch and Field**: - The game is played on a circular or oval field with a 22-yard-long pitch at the center. - At each end of the pitch are wickets, consisting of three stumps topped by two bails.

3. **Teams and Roles**: - Each team has batsmen, bowlers, and fielders. - One team bats to score runs, while the other bowls and fields to restrict runs and dismiss the batsmen.

4. **Gameplay**: - **Innings**: The game is divided into innings where one team bats and the other fields. The number of innings varies by format (two innings per team in Test cricket and one inning per team in ODIs and T20s). -

**Bowling**: The fielding team’s bowlers deliver the ball overarm to the batsmen. Each bowler bowls six-ball units called overs. -

**Batting**: The batting team aims to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets or hitting the ball to the boundary (four runs if the ball touches the ground, six runs if it doesn’t). -

**Dismissals**: Batsmen can be dismissed in various ways, including being bowled, caught, run out, or leg before wicket (LBW).

5. **Scoring Runs**: - Runs are scored by the batsmen running between the wickets after hitting the ball or by hitting the ball to the boundary.

6. **Winning the Game**: - The team with the most runs at the end of the match wins. In Test cricket, matches can end in a draw if all innings are not completed in the allotted time.

Formats of Cricket

1. **Test Cricket**: Played over five days, with each team having two innings. It is the longest format, emphasizing endurance and strategy.

2. **One Day Internationals (ODIs)**: Each team bats for a maximum of 50 overs. It combines skill and strategy with a faster pace than Test cricket.

3. **Twenty20 (T20) Cricket**: Each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs. It is the shortest and most explosive format, designed to provide entertainment with quick scoring. Cricket requires a blend of individual skill and team strategy, with different roles and formats adding to the game's complexity and excitement.

Who to know

Top Male Cricket Players

Babar Azam (Pakistan) - Known for his exceptional batting skills, Azam continues to be a top performer in all formats of the game.

Virat Kohli (India) - With his consistent run-scoring ability and match-winning performances, Kohli remains one of the best batsmen in the world.

Joe Root (England) - Root's resilience and big-scoring innings keep him among the elite batsmen, especially in Test cricket.

Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - His elegant stroke play and tactical acumen make Williamson a standout player.

Steve Smith (Australia) - Smith's technically sound batting has him consistently ranked among the top batsmen globally.

Pat Cummins (Australia) - As a premier fast bowler and capable lower-order batsman, Cummins is a key player for Australia.

Jasprit Bumrah (India) - Renowned for his deadly yorkers and pace, Bumrah is a top-ranked bowler in all formats.

Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - Ashwin's spin bowling and all-round capabilities keep him at the top in Test rankings.

Ben Stokes (England) - His all-round performances and leadership have been crucial for England's successes.

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan) - Known for his pace and swing, Afridi is one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket.

Top female Cricket Players

Alyssa Healy (Australia) - Known for her explosive batting and excellent wicketkeeping skills, Healy continues to be a dominant force in women's cricket.

Meg Lanning (Australia) - As the captain of the Australian team, Lanning's consistent performance and leadership have been crucial to Australia's success.

Natalie Sciver (England) - An all-rounder with remarkable batting and bowling abilities, Sciver is one of the most versatile players in the game.

Smriti Mandhana (India) - Mandhana's elegant left-handed batting style has made her one of the top batters in women's cricket.

Ellyse Perry (Australia) - A renowned all-rounder, Perry excels in both batting and bowling, making her a key player for Australia.

Beth Mooney (Australia) - Known for her aggressive batting, Mooney has been a standout performer in T20 cricket.

Sophie Ecclestone (England) - As one of the leading spinners in women's cricket, Ecclestone has been instrumental in England's bowling attack.

Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) - A promising all-rounder, Kerr is known for her leg-spin bowling and solid batting performances.

Shafali Verma (India) - A young prodigy, Verma is known for her fearless batting at the top of the order.

Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) - An outstanding all-rounder, Kapp's contributions with both bat and ball are invaluable to her team.

Tournaments​​

World Test Championship​

T20 World Cup

Reigning Champions India will defend their trophy in their home nation in 2026​

ODI World Cup

The next ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia in October 2027​


ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024:

Scheduled from October 3 to October 27, 2024, in Bangladesh. This tournament will see the world's top women's T20 teams compete for the championship.

Women's Ashes Series:

This multi-format series between Australia and England will include ODIs, T20Is, and a historic day-night Test at the MCG from January 30 to February 2, 2025

Men’s ODI and T20I Series:

Australia will play Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20Is starting from November 4, 2024, with matches scheduled across various Australian cities

Men's Test Series:

India will play a day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide from December 6-10, 2024

Cricket on Sky Sports January 2025

Betway SA20 series

10/01/25

Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder


Durban's Super Giants vs Pretoria Capitals

11/01/25

Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers

Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat

Paarl Royals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Joburg Super Kings vs MI Cape Town

12/01/25

Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars

Pretoria Capitals vs Durban's Super Giants

13/01/25

Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers

MI Cape Town vs Paarl Royals

14/01/25

Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades

Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Durban's Super Giants vs Joburg Super Kings

15/01/25

Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers

Paarl Royals vs MI Cape Town

16/01/25

Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes

Joburg Super Kings vs Pretoria Capitals

17/01/25

Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder

Durban's Super Giants vs Eastern Cape

Value and conversation

Sky Sports

For £22 extra a month, get access to all 9 dedicated Sky Sports channels for more sport than ever before​​And with Sky Sports+ at no extra cost, there’s never been a better time to upgrade

Cricket