INDIANAPOLIS — The Midwestern city best known for its basketball and auto racing is gearing up for a proper game of cricket — the ball-and-bat sport most Americans know only from British films or by surfing through international sports channels.

Indianapolis is spending $6 million to equip one of its parks with a premier cricket field, known as a pitch, and space for Gaelic football, rugby, hurling and other sports mainly popular overseas.

Mayor Greg Ballard hopes his World Sports Park project brings international exposure to Indiana’s capital and helps local companies attract talented overseas workers by offering them a home for their favorite games.

“I don’t think there’s any city that’s trying to put all these pieces together, but there’s always a first-mover advantage for those who try to do it right,” he said. “These are global sports and they’ll give us more visibility in the global marketplace.”