Facts about cricket

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world and enjoys a growing fanbase globally. There are many facts about cricket that would probably surprise you and could well transform your understanding and enjoyment of the game. Whether you’re playing or watching cricket, and no matter the format you are experiencing, this is a game that offers so much. So, let’s take a look at some of the key facts about the game of cricket.

Fun Cricket Facts and Trivia

There are so many examples of amazing cricket facts and trivia that many people are unaware of. There are plenty of strange cricket facts that you probably never even considered and that simply adds to the appeal and popularity of this great sport. So, these are some of the most interesting facts about cricket:

• One of the most interesting facts about cricket balls is that the first-ever cricket ball was actually made of wool. Imagine batting against a ball of yarn! 
• The longest cricket match ever was a whopping 12 days long, between England and South Africa, with 1,981 runs scored!
• Cricket bats are made from white willow, and wooden wickets are also made from the same material.
• How’s this for amazing cricket facts? – England’s youngest ever Test cricketer was just 18 years of age!
• Talk about weird cricket facts – A Six that was hit once travelled 556 after the ball landed on a train! There were no extra scored runs for that, though!
• One of the most fun facts about cricket is that the first recorded cricket game was played in 1646, and people who missed church to play were later fined!

Cricket Statistics UK

Cricket statistics show that it is one of the most popular sports in the UK, and these are some of the key stats that illustrate this:

• With a combined total of around 20% of UK residents watching or participating in cricket. 
• In fact, one of the key domestic cricket stats is that the ECB (England Cricket Board) made a turnover of £207 million in 2021 alone. 
• Cricket statistics in the UK suggest there are around 7,000 cricket clubs across the UK, but this number is dwindling as many face financial difficulties.
• Interestingly, cricket participation worldwide is very high, and Statista and the Data Channel list cricket as the second most popular sport globally, with close to 2 billion followers worldwide. This is buoyed by seminal events like The Ashes, with 340 Ashes Test series played to date.

Cricket Industry

The cricket industry is one of the biggest and most popular sporting markets in the world, and these are some of the best statistics about the industry that you need to keep in mind:

• It is believed that cricket market revenue will reach $328 million by 2025, with an estimated CAGR of 3.55% between 2020-2025. 
• Coming up with a number for cricket revenue worldwide is tough, due to the different formats of the game. But, it’s estimated that the IPL (Indian Premier League) is valued at $6.3 billion. There are plenty of figures and facts about cricket that show how much the game has evolved over time and the growth in popularity that has accompanied this. 
• T20 Men’s World Cup in 2019 saw record viewership, with 2.55 billion minutes consumed and engagement at 618 million across social media platforms. 
• The 2019 Cricket World Cup was the most-watched cricket event ever, with a cumulative global audience of 1.6 billion.

Cricket World Cup Statistics

The Cricket World Cup is one of the best and most popular events in the sporting calendar – here are some statistics you need to know about this tournament:

• The Cricket World Cup is a 4-yearly tournament involving ten teams competing in a round-robin style format before entering a semi-final. 
• Cricket World Cup statistics suggest it is planned that for the 2027 and 2031 World Cups there will be 14 teams. 
• Australia is the most successful Cricket World Cup winner, with five titles.
• Legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is the highest run-scorer in World Cup history with 2,278.
• Australian spin bowler Shane Warne holds the Cricket World Cup record for the most wickets. 
• The holders and most recent hosts are England, who won their first ever World Cup trophy in 2019 in dramatic style via a Super Over. 

Women’s Cricket Statistics

Women’s cricket has seen steady growth over the past decade, and these are some of the key statistics you need to know about women’s cricket: 

• Female participation in cricket in the UK at over 10 million 14 to 40 year olds, either asking part or looking to take part. 
• Currently, Australia is ranked as the best women’s cricket team internationally, with South Africa 2nd, and England coming in 3rd. 
• Late Englishwoman Jan Brittin has the record for the most runs in women’s Test cricket.
• India’s Mithali Raj has the most runs in women’s ODI cricket.
• New Zealand’s Suzie Bates has the most runs in women’s T20 cricket. 

Indian Premier League (IPL) Statistics

The Indian Premier League is one of the biggest sporting leagues in the world, and these are some of the key statistics you need to know about the IPL:

• The IPL is the leading cricket league in the world, as well as the most popular and lucrative cricket format in the world. Since its inception in 2008, the brand value of the IPL sits at $6.3 billion (as of 2019). 
• It has set records for cricket Indian television statistics 31.57 million average impressions for the 2020 season.  
• Of all the IPL stats and IPL records, it is interesting to note that only five teams have won the league since it began. 
• There are many Indian cricket team players’ statistics and records that have been set in the IPL, such as Indian batsman Virat Kohli holding the record for the most runs 
• Retired Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga holds the record for the most wickets taken. 

Conclusion

It is clear from these facts about cricket that it’s one of the leading sports in the world, with a fanatical following, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. Cricket is a game that continues to grow in stature, and the appeal of Test, T20 and ODI cricket means a diverse fanbase globally.