Cricket: The Gentleman's Game
CRICKET, often called the gentleman's game, has a rich and fascinating history that began in England. Today, we will dive deep into the origins of this game, the changes it has undergone over time, and the milestones that shaped its development.
Although the exact origin of cricket is unclear, it is believed to have been played as far back as the 13th century. In the early days, people bowled at a tree stump or the hurdle gate of a sheep pen. The game primarily involved rural workers in England, hitting a ball with a rudimentary bat. These early bats were not the same as the modern ones we see today but resembled more of a club or hockey stick. The first clear references to cricket appear in the 16th century.
The laws of cricket were formally established in 1744. The Hambledon Club, founded in 1760, became a premiere sports club, and later the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was created at Lord's Stadium in 1787, which became the sport's governing body. Cricket became the official sport of England, and the game soon started to spread to the United States and Canada.
Gambling became a part of the game, and people who gambled even started their own teams for their advantage. As cricket gained popularity, counties were formed.
The earliest known county match was between Kent and Surrey in 1709. Wealthy patrons funded the counties and brought players from other regions. Sussex County Cricket Club was the first official county club, formed in 1839.
The first recorded international match does not involve England or Australia but instead the United States and Canada. In 1859, England went to the United States to play cricket, marking the first overseas tour in the sport.
The inaugural Test match between England and Australia was played in 1877 in Melbourne, marking the birth of international cricket, with Australia securing a historic victory. England was defeated in the 1882 Test match against Australia, leading an English newspaper to mock the England team. Australia toured England again for a return series, marking the start of the Great Ashes series.
South Africa played its first test series against England in 1889. These three countries (England, Australia, and South Africa) became the first three members of the Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC). Later, countries like India and the West Indies were added as members.
Later, limited overs cricket was introduced, making the game more commercial, as many people came to see this format. The first ODI match was played in 1971 between England and Australia. The first-ever Cricket World Cup was played in 1975, with West Indies emerging as the champions.
Australia had Don Bradman, one of the absolute legends of the game, who averaged 99.94. Later, when cricket was introduced to India and the West Indies, many talented players emerged. Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Joel Garner dominated the game during the 80s and 90s. India had Sunil Gavaskar, and soon it also started producing many players after winning the 1983 Cricket World Cup, led by Kapil Dev.
Cricket initially started with 4 balls per over. In 1899, it changed to 5 balls, and by 1900, 6 balls per over became the standard. In 1922, Australia played with 8 balls per over, but later it reverted to 6 balls. Until 1864, overarm bowling was not legal, and only underarm and roundarm bowling were prevalent.
And this is how one of the biggest sports in the world was formed and became a huge phenomenon.
