It may be surprising to some, but cricket is actually a very popular sport, rivaling the viewership of basketball and even the Holy Grail of sports – football. So where did cricket come from? Who started cricket? Why is it even named “cricket” in the first place? This article will tell you the origins of cricket in the form that we now play and enjoy today.
Table of Contents
Origins of Cricket
The beginnings of the game that we call cricket can be traced back to the 16th century, although it could have been developed in its most basic form far earlier than that. The game is said to have been played first in the fields of South England. It was even said the future king of England, Edward II, had participated in an early form of cricket, too.
Particularly played by children in places such as Kent and Surrey, cricket soon became a sport that focused more on adults and in professional play, with gambling becoming an occasional side activity. This was prevalent during the reign of Charles I and also in the years after the Restoration in the middle 1600s.
English colonists, meanwhile, have started to spread the game in countries like India, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Also, cricket clubs were being formed locally by people such as Charles Lennox, Sir William Gage, and Edwin Stead. It was also here that the foundation of the first rules of cricket were formalized, with the first “Laws of Cricket” known to have existed as early as 1744.
Why is it Named “Cricket”?
The origins of the name cricket can be attributed to multiple sources. Many say that the name originated from the Old English word “creat”, with some saying that cricket was based off the word “craic” instead which literally means “fun and games”.
Other possible origins came from Surrey in the late 16th century where a game of “creckett” was played. The Middle Dutch word “krick(-e)” (stick), Old English word “cricc/cryce” (crutch/staff), French word “croquet” (wooden post) may also be the basis of the sport’s name.
Modern Cricket in the 19th Century
Modern cricket teams were founded in the 19th century, the most popular of which was player and manager William Clarke’s All-England Eleven team that travelled across the country to play, further exposing the public to the budding sport.
The popularity of cricket boomed during the mid-1800s as railways became more accessible. This allowed cricket teams to be able to play against each other quicker and more regularly with audience attendance booming, too.
One of the most famous cricket players of all time, W.G. Grace, also started his career during this period in the mid-1800s. Also, the first international cricket game which was played between US and Canada was held in 1944. Other international teams followed suit, with teams hailing from Australia and South Africa being founded soon after.
The ICC
The Imperial Cricket Council (later named the International Cricket Council in 1965) was founded by three representing countries in 1909. From then until now, the ICC has been the global governing body for professional international cricket competition.
Today, the ICC has 108 members with their annual events and tournaments, particularly the Cricket World Cup, pulling in billions of viewers as well as being an annual media showcase worth billions of dollars.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there can be no definite answer as to who exactly invented cricket. That answer may be lost in time, but the sport’s impact from its humble beginnings centuries ago to the global phenomenon that it is now cannot be denied.
As with all things, cricket is an ever-evolving sport, with those who have played in the South England fields almost half a millennium ago probably no longer recognizing the sport that they helped found. Still, the excitement, the fun, and the challenge and competition are still constants, which is why cricket as a sport was able to stand the test of time and has even flourished with age.