Although its exact date of origin is unknown, it is believed that cricket originated as early as the 16th century in southeast England. Cricket is a summer sport beginning in late April or early May and consists of a willow (bat) and a leather ball. The name cricket is derived from the Anglo-Saxon root cricc, meaning a shepherd’s staff. It is believed that the first players were young, English children who played it in the countryside. These children hit the ball into either a tree stump or a wicket sheep pen gate. The game was not played by adults until the 18th century. However, the ball was often batted instead of bowled until an advancement in the design of bats. Cricket became the leading sport in London by the first half of the 18th century. The first set of laws for the sport were written in 1744 and later amended in 1774 by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The earliest reference to the sport was a match played in Sussex in 1611 and the first recorded match was in 1646 in Kent. By 1780, big matches often lasted 3 days. These days, matches can last from a couple of hours to multiple days and can often end in a draw.
Cricket diffused across the world during colonization as early as the 17th century. British colonists and soldiers who traveled across the world brought the sport with them and introduced it to colonies of the British Empire, the first being North America. The game spread by cultural diffusion through British colonization in the 18th century to the West Indies, India, New Zealand, and Australia. The Caribbean and South Africa were introduced to the sport also by colonization in the 19th century. Although less popular in the United States, the popularity of cricket is truly seen with international nations. Cricket is the second most-watched sport in the world, the first being soccer. The sport is played most in countries such as India, England, Australia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Along with many other countries, cricket was introduced to the US colonies by British colonists in the early 18th century. It was first played in Georgia, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. During a harsh winter at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, George Washington played a modified version of cricket with his soldiers to maintain the fitness of his troops. English settlers diffused the game through New York and Philadelphia. The game was primarily played by gentrified native members of the upper class but was also played by the working and middle class with their social superiors in Philadelphia. By the mid-19th century, cricket clubs were established in every American city.
Although the sport’s popularity has died off since the Revolutionary War, it is increasing in popularity within the cities of Dallas, Seattle, and Washington D.C. There are currently six cities in the US with Major League Cricket (MLC) teams: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Washington, and Dallas. Although the sport used to primarily be for the upper class, the sport now has become more accessible and has attracted more working-class people. In addition, since cricket is so popular globally, the immigration of people to the United States bring with them their love and passion for the sport, thereby increasing its popularity in the US.