What though accounts for its popularity (especially since many find it to be an over-long sport full of unintelligable terms)? Having 800 million plus playing it on the Indian sub-continent helps. Also, being able to beat so frequently the country that invented the game must lend some satisfaction to those who play it outside of the British Isles. Let us look at some of the elements to the sport.
Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players on a grassy field, in the center of which are two wickets - the equivalent of baseball's 'bases'. When a team is 'in', the other team attempts to get each of them 'out'. Then the team that was 'in' is 'all out', and takes its place in the 'out field'. The team that was in the out field in turn goes 'in' until they too are 'all out'. This process (an innings) may be repeated once more (a match can last one day or take as many as five).
The team with the highest number of 'runs' (points scored primarily by running between wickets after hitting the ball) wins the match, after which the players and spectators recover from the confusion over a beer in the pavilion, cricket's equivalent of golf's nineteenth hole.
Cricket afficionados will tell you that one subtle difference between their
sport and baseball is that the ball can bounce before the batsman hits it.
This bouncing is called a 'pitch', but the player bouncing it is not called
a 'pitcher' like his baseball equivalent. He is the 'bowler', and must keep
his arm straight when releasing the ball, which he aims at the batsman's wicket
(or base). The wicket consists of three upright wooden sticks so placed that
that the ball cannot pass between them. Wooden 'bails' lie in grooves on top
of them. When hit by the ball the whole arrangement collapses, indicating
the batsman is 'out'. At this point, all watching sagely murmur 'bowled him',
and the next team member comes in to bat. The act of bouncing the ball on
its way to the batsman allows the bowler to impart 'movement' to the ball,
with the intention of catching the batsman unaware. This movement, or spin,
may cause the batsman to missjudge the flight of the ball, resulting him to
mis-hit into the waiting hands of a player from the opposite team, or even
to miss it all together. A collection of six balls ('deliveries') is called
an over; one delivery in an over can be aimed at the batsman's head. This
may cause the watching public to mutter 'that's just not cricket'. Which,
of course, it is.
According
to the speed ('pace') and movement of a ball, the batsman has various options.
He may drive it along the ground, lift it into air, or flick it to the side
or behind himself. Alternatively, he may use the safety pads on his legs (or
arms) to stop or deflect the ball. This is risky because it will invariably
prompt the bowler and his team to shout 'Howwizzzahhtt!'. This means something
like 'How does that look to you Umpire - is he out?' and is usually ignored
by the umpire (referee) unless he judges that the ball would have continued
on to hit the wicket. Then the batsman is given 'out' and the bowler's teammates
smugly feel that their banshee scream was justified. If the batsman is out
without having scored a run, this is a 'duck' and his embarrassment is compounded.
On the
edge of the field is the boundary. If a batsman hits the ball to this boundary
he is awarded four runs. If it does not bounce before doing so it is six runs
(and stands a good chance of hitting a spectator). 
The field itself is divided into two halves, the on side and the off side. 'On'
is synonymous with 'Leg', and represents the side of the field to the left of
the batsman as he faces the bowler or opposite wicket. Presuming of course he
is righthanded; if not, everything I've just said is reversed.
Fielders are placed at strategic positions (in order to both stop runs and to catch a batsman out if possible) and these positions have distinct names. For example, the long off position is near the boundary, far away from the batsman to his front and right, while silly mid-on represents a position of extreme danger, as the name might suggest, being as it is immediately to a batsman's left. A square leg says more about where one umpire stands rather than how he is standing, while backward point or deep fine leg says nothing about any mental or physical ability at all.
Indeed.
It has been said that the amount you know about cricket is inversely
proportional to a greater understanding of how to play. The popular American
entertainer Andy Williams, on seeing his first cricket match, was completely
intrigued by the bowlers, who spend a great deal of time rubbing the ball
up and down on their groin (see spin). Other neutral observers would be advised
to follow his example and worry not about the rules, teams or results but
instead treat the whole experience as a strange and fascinating ceremonial
ritual.