Yes us british do play some funny games <IMG SRC="tongue.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">.
Ok basically the teams take turns to bat. A bowler bowls the ball at the batter, and when he hits it, him and his partner run between the wickets. For every run they get 1 "run" - see the link? <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> Then for hitting a ball that goes to the boundry (outside of the pitch or field) you get 4 points. And finally, if you hit a ball that goes outside without even hitting the ground you get 6 runs.
The batters can be got out by hitting the stumps with the ball, being caught out, or like in baseball someone getting the ball to the wickets before they get back. Everyone in the team gets a turn to bat. and then it's the next teams go.
There is no set way of arranging fielders, it is upto the team, except the bowler and wicket keeper. Often people will put people "in the slip" which is near the batter, on the side they like to hit the ball in the hope that they will catch the batter out. Also some people go further out to return any balls that go a long way.
There we go, the simple guid to cricket
- cricketers I'm sure would like top point out any mistake or missed facts.