There are two teams of 11 players each. Depending on which version of the game you are playing the game spans 1 day in case it is a one day'er or 5 days if it is a test match. One side at one time is playing as the batting side and the other as the bowling side. Normally only two players of the batting side are allowed on the field where as all 11 players of the bowling side, sometimes called the fielding side, are present in the ground.

In a test match, 90 overs must be delivered in a day of play. In a one day, both sides must bowl 50 overs and play or bat for 50. In the center of the ground is a clear patch of land called a batting pitch. On each side of the pitch are wickets made of wood. They are three on each side. If a bowler manages to hit these wickets, the batsman is considered out. The batsman can also be caught which is when he hits the ball in the air and one of the fielder catches it just like in baseball or the batsman can be run out.

The bowling team has players scattered all over the ground. One players bowls to the player whose turn is it to bat. If the batsman manages to hit the ball, he has the option to take a run or 2 or 3. If the ball crosses the boundary, and it has touched the ground before crossing over, the batting side gets 4 runs. If it hasn't touched the ground before passing over, the side gets 6 runs. There are two persons officiating the game called umpires. Their task is to decide whether a person is out or if its a 4 or a 6 and settle disputes.

There are several methods a player (batter) can be given out. One is the bowled out, which is when the bowler manages to strike the stumps or wickets. Another is run out, still another the catch. One important way is the leg before wicket (LBW) which happens when the bowler hits the legs of the batsman on the condition that the ball doesn't hit any part of the bat. An appeal is usually made to the umpire asking whether the player is LBW. If the umpire thinks that had the legs were not in the way, the ball would have gone to hit the wicket, the batsman is judged out.

There are a lot of minor rules which you can find over at cricinfo.com