History of Cricket

Cricket is the second most popular spectator sport in the world after soccer, played by an estimated 20 million people all over the world. And although cricket is often seen as the quintessential English game, some evidence indicates it had its origins in France during the Middle Ages. The history of cricket probably begins during the Saxon period in England, when it was a popular game played by children, and most historians think that's where the popular sport originated. For centuries, it was enjoyed almost exclusively by children until the late 16th century, when adults started to play for fun.

Cricket continued to grow in popularity in England during the 17th century; for the first time, the concept of counties competing against each other was introduced. Gambling on cricket matches became commonplace around this time, and the game attracted interest from the aristocracy and nobility. The spread of English colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries saw the game take root in many other parts of the world, including India, the West Indies and North America. The laws of cricket were made official for the first time in 1744, and the Star and Garter Club - better known today as the Marylebone Cricket Club - was responsible for overseeing the rules.

The mid 18th century saw cricket become even more popular in England, with various modifications to the rules and how the game was played. The ball was pitched rather than rolled, and teams began to keep more accurate scores by using scorecards. Hambledon, founded in the 1760s, became the most famous cricket club in England; other popular clubs of the time included Chertsey, Sevenoaks and Maidstone. The 18th century also saw a decline in cricket's popularity, largely due to a shortage of eligible players because of a series of conflicts, including the Seven Years War and the Napoleonic Wars. British troops however, found time to play cricket the evening before the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815.

The growth of railways in the 19th century helped to make the game more accessible; spectators could travel to and from matches more easily, and the century also saw the creation of county clubs as we know them today. Cricket was played widely throughout the British Empire, and troops with plenty of free time would routinely challenge the locals to matches. Perhaps the most famous cricketer ever, W G Grace was born in 1848 and did a lot to increase the sport's popularity; he is especially known for his innovations in batting. The US and Canada took part in cricket's first ever international match in 1844, and the concept of Test matches was introduced 20 years later.

The history of cricket as a truly global sport could be said to date from the late 19th century. In 1882 the first Ashes match was played between England and Australia, leading to the establishment of various other competitions, mostly between the Commonwealth countries. The early 20th century is often seen as cricket's 'golden years' although by the mid 20th century, the sport was criticized for being too slow. One day cricket was introduced, and the limited number of overs in a match inevitably meant faster and more exciting play. New batting and bowling styles were introduced, and a 20 overs per side format introduced in 2003 meant the game was anything but dull. Given its popularity, it's likely the history of cricket will continue for several centuries more.