The answer is in fact cricket, a sport which is currently in the limelight due to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which is being hosted by the defending champion, Australia. In simplified terms, cricket is played on an oval field with a rectangular area in the middle called the pitch and involves two teams consisting of eleven people each. Two sets of three stumps topped by two bails balanced on each are known as wickets and are placed at either end of the pitch. The teams take turns to bat, bowl and field. The side which is batting scores ‘runs’ by hitting the ball and then running between the wickets, while the side which is bowling and fielding will try and ‘out’ the batspeople. They can do this in a variety of ways - for example, if a fielder catches the ball without it hitting the ground, then the batsperson will be ‘out’. To win, one side has to have achieved more ‘runs’ than the other. 

The exact origins of the sport are unknown, though it is generally thought to date back to the 16th century, when it was a game played by schoolboys in Guildford. By 1611 it was being played by adults, gaining popularity with both the working class and the aristocracy. The rules of the game were finalised in 1797 by the famous Marylebone Cricket Club. During the 18th century, the bat also underwent changes, with the curved, hockey style stick being replaced by a straighter design which is recognised today. The sport spread worldwide due to British imperialism, with colonists introducing it to local people. Today, cricket is beloved in several of these countries, such as India, Pakistan and the West Indies. Some of the world’s most famous cricket grounds are in the UK, such as Lords and Old Trafford. Several international tournaments take place each year, often involving England or English players, like the Ashes. 

The country has its hopes up for the ongoing World Cup, having already won against Afghanistan and New Zealand, though fans were disappointed by a loss to Ireland. Research shows that cricket is the second most popular sport in England, generating an average of 505,000 searches a month, second only to football. According to an Active Sport England 2020-2021 survey, an estimated 181,000 people in the country play cricket at least twice a month. More should be done to promote the game, so that it can live up to its status as the national sport.