By popular demand, here is an uneducated American take on this event, starting with the tournament itself, which features a shortened form of Cricket that is intended to have a broader appeal than the original version. The game has evolved over the years and has various formats, ranging from T-10(Ten-10) played in around 90 minutes to Test matches which can last up to five days!

My only personal exposure to Cricket was many, many years ago when I was riding my bike around the Main Line and came upon a match being played at Haverford College. I stopped and watched for maybe 45 minutes and was NEVER able to figure out what those men dressed all in white were doing. But here’s a history of Cricket (with many thanks to Wikipedia). Some things that jumped out at me:

• The first reference to cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611, when two men in Sussex were prosecuted for playing cricket on Sunday instead of going to church.
• The Laws of Cricket were codified for the first time in 1744 and then amended in 1774.
• These laws stated that “the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes.”
• Cricket started off as one of the more popular sports in America, especially when it was adapted to allow for higher-scoring matches that could be completed in an afternoon, rather than over the course of a few days.
• However, baseball overtook cricket’s popularity in the United States during the Civil War. Soldiers who had played baseball during the war went back to their homes across the country and took the game with them. Some factors in favor of baseball’s rise were that it had a much shorter playing duration and that it could be played on any patch of land (rather than requiring special preparations such as the cricket pitch). 

Aiming to grow the game, the ICC expanded its development program, hoping to produce more national teams capable of competing in various formats. Development efforts are focused on African and Asian nations, and on the United States. In 2004, the ICC Intercontinental Cup brought first-class cricket to 12 nations, mostly for the first time. Cricket’s newest innovation is Twenty20, essentially an evening entertainment. It has so far enjoyed enormous popularity and has attracted large attendances at matches as well as good TV audience ratings. The inaugural ICC Twenty20 World Cup tournament was held in 2007.

• The tournament is held every 2 years, and England is the reigning champ.
• This year it’s being hosted by the US and the West Indies. Matches are being played at venues in Dallas, Bridgetown, Providence, New York, Lauderhill, North Sound, Gros Islet, Kingstown and Tarouba.
• India and Sri Lanka will co-host the 2026 edition, Australia and New Zealand will co-host the 2028 edition, and the United Kingdom and Ireland will co-host the 2030 edition.
• Here’s more info about the tournament and its history.

Now, as for what actually happens during a cricket match, I suggest that you simply watch the tournament on TV, figure it out, and then let me know in a comment here. Streaming options appear to be pretty limited, but you can also drive to Providence and catch a live match! (Oops, sorry, that’s Providence Stadium in Guyana, not Rhode Island!)