Cricket’s T20 World Cup uses a fast and furious format which appeals to fans old and new

England defeated Pakistan in the previous T20 World Cup final and are hoping to regain their title. (AFP via Getty Images)

The first cricket World Cup to be hosted on US soil starts June 1 and will be shared with countries in the Caribbean, represented by the two-time champion West Indies.

But fear not, it won’t drag on. This World Cup is the Twenty20 format, the fastest and most action-packed version of cricket.

Unlike test cricket matches, which started out as timeless before being shortened to five days, T20 doesn’t require any breaks for tea or lunch and is completed in just over three hours.

There’s a party atmosphere inside the grounds and players wear colorful kits, unlike the all-white ensembles used for test cricket.

WHEN DID T20 CRICKET START?

T20 was first played at franchise level in England in 2003. That makes it a baby in terms of cricket, which has been played in one form or another for at least 400 years.

Within four years, T20 had its own World Cup and it has spawned far-flung leagues in traditional and new cricket markets. The most lucrative franchise cricket competition by far is the Indian Premier League.

Meanwhile, Major League Cricket, which attracts players from around the world, made its debut in the United States last year and a second season will launch on July 4, four days after the T20 World Cup final.

SPEED AND ENTERTAINMENT

An important factor with the T20 format is that it hurries the game up bringing quick adrenaline fuelled hits of excitement more regularly. The game is also shortened time-wise making it easier to consume for young fans and those new to the sport while also — and this is key — being more suitable for TV programming slots.

While the format leads to high-tempo action on the field, T20 has also sparked an evolution in off-field entertainment in cricket. Cheerleaders dance on podiums, DJs sit behind decks spinning tunes and fancy dress themes are all part of the T20 game for crowds, bringing a colorful new twist for those at the stadiums and viewers at home.

RULES

Cricket’s main rules still apply in T20 games, meaning there might still be a steep learning curve for new fans unfamiliar with such things as the leg before wicket law, or “lbw” for short — when a batter is called out for using his protective leg pads to stop a delivery from hitting the stumps.

And unlike Test Match cricket there are no draws. In T20, even if the teams get exactly the same number of runs — 150 runs is an average score and more than 200 is a good score — then there is a “Super Over” to decide the game. That means each team faces one over of six balls to smash as many runs as it can and whoever wins that tie-breaker wins the game.

THE FINER DETAILS

Like test and one-day international cricket, it’s a game played between two teams of 11. Each team gets to bat for 20 overs (a series of six deliveries from the same bowler) which translates to 120 deliveries, excluding extras, per innings. Hence the name Twenty20.

Bowlers run to the crease and use a rotating arm action to bowl the white leather ball and try to knock the bails off three 28-inch stumps from the opposite end of the 22-yard wicket. Batters try to protect the stumps while scoring runs as quickly as possible by hitting the ball over or between fielders.

And so, at least in the T20 format, they regularly hit the ball out of the ground.

PAST WINNERS

Unlike the traditional Cricket World Cup, which was first contested in 1975, and has been dominated by six-time champions Australia, success in the global T20 tournament has been more evenly shared.

Only West Indies (2), representing the Caribbean nations, and England (2) have won it more than once. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia have one T20 title each.

THE STARS

Virat Kohli, India: A feisty and formidable batter who has set records in the Indian Premier League and over a long career with the national team. There’s an array of high-profile stars in the India squad but none has a bigger following than the 35-year-old former captain.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan: The 25-year-old leg-spinner has been the top-ranked T20 bowler in international cricket and is still very much in the Top 10. He’s a star in the IPL and for the Afghan national team.

Jofra Archer, England: If he’s fit, he’s super fast. The Barbados-born paceman hasn’t played a lot of cricket in the last few years because of injury but has been rushed back into the squad for the defending champions because of his intimidating bowling and experience in Caribbean conditions.

Mitchell Marsh, Australia: A big, burley “allrounder” — meaning he bats and bowls — Marsh can get an innings away to a blazing start and also bowl with pace. He has been recovering from a hamstring problem which curtailed his IPL season and isn’t likely to bowl at the start of the World Cup but will play as captain regardless. He was the player of the final when Australia clinched its first T20 world title in 2021.