Top 10 facts for moderate cricket blagging:

1: There are 2 teams. Each with 11 players. The teams both bat and field. At anyone time there will be the whole of one team (who are bowling and fielding on the pitch) and 2 of the other (who are batting - therefore holding cricket bats).
2: They play on a pitch, and the middle is called the crease. Traditionally creases were frowned upon in cricket attire - they used to wear white, this has now changed significantly and the cricketers are now much scruffier.
3: The men in funny hats and jackets are called the umpires. There are 2 of them. Dickie Bird is probably the most famous (although he has now retired).
4: At the beginning of the match - a coin is tossed by one of the umpires and one of the captain calls heads or tails - to decide who goes into bat first. This is obviously very scientific.
5: There are many different types of matches - resulting in different lengths of a game. The World Cup is a one day tournament - so 50 overs for each side. FYI - Tests are 5 days in length (the Ashes is a test series).
6: The idea of the game is to bowl out the opposing side for as small amount of runs as possible. Runs are scored by the batsman running between the wickets. Yes, it really is that simple.
7: I inconspiculously introduced the word 'wicket'. The wickets are at either end of the crease and a batsman tried to protect his wicket. Batsmen can be out for a number of reasons - don't worry will list in different blog - I know you must be intrigued.
8: The wicket is made up of 3 stumps (like sticks in the ground) and 2 bails (that balance at the top of the stumps and look like sausages).
9: Earlier I mentioned the word 'over' - an over consists of 6 balls that the bowler bowls at the batsman. The cricket ball is red and it hurts if it hits you on the head.
10: Every over is bowled from one end or the other - this evolves after each over. Bowlers are not allowed to bowl consecutive overs.