Cricket
New to the game? Here's a friendly, beginner's overview of how cricket works, before you come down and watch or play.
Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 11 players. It is one of the world's most popular sports, with over a billion fans globally — particularly in South Asia, the Caribbean, Australia, England, and increasingly across Europe.
The game is played on a circular or oval grass field. At the centre is a rectangular 22-yard pitch with a wicket — three stumps and two bails — at each end.
One team bats, attempting to score runs, while the other bowls and fields, attempting to dismiss the batters. Teams alternate between batting and fielding. The team with the most runs at the end wins.
A batter scores runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, or by hitting the ball to or over the boundary.
Test cricket — the longest format, played over up to 5 days
One Day Internationals (ODIs) — 50 overs per side, completed in one day
T20 cricket — 20 overs per side, the shortest and most explosive format
Recreational/club cricket — various formats adapted for local leagues
Cricket has been growing steadily in our region, drawing on a diverse and welcoming community. Viking Cricket Club participates in regional league cricket and helps organise national leagues, representative teams and development programmes for players of all backgrounds.
Membership 2026/27
Whether you last held a bat at school or you're chasing a premier league debut, there's a Viking side for you. Trials, taster sessions and social cricket run all year round.
Membership starts from $300 per year — see the full options on the Membership page.
