Cricket is a complicated game but can be understood easily if one knows the rules.  Each team consists of 11 people, each with various roles in the game.  The goal of the game is to score the most runs, and the one with the most runs wins the game.  A game can consist of one or two innings, but a game can last three to five days.  A flip of a coin decides which team bats first.  The team playing defense chooses one of their 11 players to be a bowler, and another to be the wicketkeeper.  The wicketkeeper stands behind the wickets so the bowler can try to throw the ball to him so he can knock over the stump.  The other 9 people are variously placed in the field where he will get the ball if it is hit toward him.
    The team that is on offense chooses two batsmen who will hit the ball for the team.  Each batsmen stands in front of the wickets, where he will try to hit the ball before the ball hits the wickets or is given to the wicketkeeper and knocks over one of the stumps.  If the batsmen hits the ball, he can have the choice of running back and forth between the wickets to score runs.  He may only do this if he thinks he will not be put out.  The same batsman stays in the game until he is put out, or when he has successfully completed a predetermined number of overs.  An over is when a bowler throws 6 balls.  When this happens, a second bowler starts to throw the ball to the second batsman.  Since there are two batsmen on the field, the bowler must adjust so the same batsman will hit the ball.  A great batsman may be able to score 100 runs, also known as a century.
    There are many different ways for a batsman to be put out.  One way is for the bowler to knock down a stump behind the batsman.  If he does this, the batsman is considered to be bowled out.  Another way is for a fieldsman to catch the ball in the air after the batsman hits it.  Also, a batsman can be out if a fieldsman attempts to knock down a wicket and the batsman hits the ball with any part on his body to prevent it from hitting a stump.