Cricket Enthusiast is a European T20 cricket site covering match previews, team and tournament insights.
Cricket Enthusiast
🔔 Sign UpCricket Enthusiast delivers European cricket news, ET20 scores, team previews, and tournament insights from across the continent. We also offer free‑to‑play predictor games and compare betting odds to keep fans engaged. Our platform provides live scores and fixtures for cricket followers throughout Europe, giving you comprehensive coverage of European cricket competitions and major international tournaments.
Last updated: January 2026
Last updated: January 2026
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Cricket Enthusiast: Glossary for Beginners
Cricket Enthusiast: Team Previews & Player Analysis
Team previews, squad updates, and player analysis across European cricket, covering ICC member nations, emerging leagues, and major tournaments.
Cricket Enthusiast: Latest European Cricket News and ETPL Updates
Latest news and updates from European cricket, including developments across domestic leagues, international fixtures, and the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). View the ETPL guide
The History of Cricket
Cricket has a rich history. It dates back over 500 years. In fact, the sport evolved from local English village games. Today, it is globally loved. Notably, India and Pakistan lead in cricket viewership. However, European cricket has grown steadily. This is particularly true in Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. For instance, these countries have nurtured local talent. Furthermore, they promote international participation.
Viewership Insights
- After Football a.k.a Soccer, Cricket is the second most-watched sport worldwide with 2.5 billion fans.
- Asia dominates viewership. India and Pakistan lead globally.
- UK and Australia remain strong cricket markets. They show high per-capita engagement.
- South Africa anchors African viewership. However, it is smaller compared to Asia.
Cricket Governance and the ICC
Global role of ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body. It oversees international tournaments. These include the Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup. Additionally, it sets rules. Moreover, it promotes the sport worldwide.
ICC in Europe
In Europe, the ICC supports national boards. These include Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Specifically, the ICC funds development programs. Furthermore, it sanctions tournaments. As a result, European cricket integrates into the global calendar. Similarly, the ICC is comparable to FIFA in football. Likewise, it resembles FIBA in basketball. All are global governing bodies. Therefore, they regulate rules. They organize world championships. Additionally, they promote sports internationally while supporting regional federations.
Example Governing Bodies
| Body | Sport | Role |
|---|---|---|
| ICC |
 Cricket
|
Global governance, rules, tournaments, development programs (esp. Europe). |
| FIFA |
 Football
|
Global governance, World Cup, regulations, continental federations. |
| FIBA |
 Basketball
|
Global governance, Basketball World Cup, rules, continental federations. |
How to Play Cricket
Highlighted terms link to glossary above.
Basic Rules and Scoring
Cricket is played between two teams. Each team has eleven players. One team bats. The other bowls and fields. The goal is to score more runs than the opponent. Matches are divided into innings. Batters score runs by hitting the ball. They run between the wickets. Alternatively, they strike boundaries. Boundaries earn four or six runs. This depends on how the ball reaches the rope.
Match Structure and Powerplays
At the start of the match, a toss decides which team bats or bowls first. In limited-overs formats like T20, each innings has a fixed number of overs. Each over consists of six deliveries. The same player bowls all six. The early overs include a powerplay. This is a period with fielding restrictions. As a result, it often leads to faster scoring.
Dismissals and Bowling Techniques
Batters can be dismissed in several ways. These include being bowled, caught, or run out. A batter dismissed without scoring is said to have made a duck. Bowlers use a variety of deliveries. For example, a yorker is aimed at the batter’s feet. Additionally, a googly is a deceptive leg-spin ball. It turns unexpectedly.
League Standings and Net Run Rate
In league and tournament formats, standings are often decided using Net Run Rate (NRR). This calculation compares how quickly teams score runs. It also considers how quickly they concede them. European T20 competitions emphasize fast-paced play. They feature aggressive batting. Moreover, they use tactical powerplays. Consequently, they are ideal for modern fans and bettors alike.
Major Cricket Events in Europe
European cricket features a growing calendar. Specifically, it includes domestic, regional, and international tournaments. Key events include national T20 leagues. Furthermore, there are ICC pathway competitions. Additionally, major global tournaments are hosted or followed closely across Europe.
- ICC Men’s T20 World Cup & ODI World Cup – globally followed, with strong European fan interest
- ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers & Europe Regionals – pathway events for associate nations
- European Cricket Championship (ECC) – multi-nation T10 tournament across Europe
- National T20 Leagues – including competitions in Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Germany
- Franchise T20 Leagues worldwide – IPL, BBL, PSL, ILT20, and others widely followed by European audiences
A new addition to the European calendar is the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), launching in August 2026.
Betting on Cricket
Betting on cricket is popular across Europe. This happens when major tournaments begin. Odds can shift quickly before matches start. They are influenced by team news, conditions, and market movement. Understanding how odds move helps fans make smarter betting decisions. For more details, visit the Cricket Betting Odds Hub.