The World Cup of Cricket is underway in New Zealand and Australia -- and Afghanistan is the Cinderella team. They lost their first match today, but not before the U.S. Embassy in got so excited by the team's fast start that it tweeted out a congratulations on their victory. That led to The Guardian (and probably millions of others) mocking American lack of knowledge (and ability: we failed to qualify).
Even in this country, the World Cup is getting a bit of media attention nationally, including a Philadelphia Inquirer article by former Crosscut Publisher Greg Shaw. As he notes, America got off to a good start in sport -- G. Washington had the troops playing "wicket" at Valley Forge and the U.S. and Canada actually held the first international cricket competition in 1844. For those who really would like to know, Greg says that the Wikipedia page offers enough explanation that five minutes reading "will tell the beginner enough to enjoy the game." As someone who conducted a couple fruitless searches for a good guide (after Greg wrote "Coder by day, cricket bowler by night" on the local scene in 2013), that sounds like a decent place to learn enough to know something to say in cheering for the Afghan team.
According to another Wikipedia page, the U.S. broadcast rights are held by Dish and ESPN Broadband, with both requiring payment.
