- Dec 2, 2024
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Cricket is one of the most popular sports of the current times. It is spread across the globe with previously colonised nations like India or Australia playing the sport professionally. It is spreading its wings with every passing day with the sport gaining popularity in regions like the Americas and the Middle East, thanks to franchise leagues. Here is a small account of the history of the beloved game.
It is believed that Cricket was invented during the Saxon or Norman times by children living in dense woodlands of southeast England. The first account of the game played by adults is from 1611. Village Cricket developed in the 17th century which aided the development of county cricket with the first county names being used in a game in 1709.
It became the leading sport of London in the 18th century with Women’s Cricket dating back to 1745. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Lord’s Cricket Ground were established in 1787 and it became the custodian of cricket laws. Rolling the ball was superseded around the 1760s and the hockey-style bat was changed to a straight-faced bat.
The game had to survive a scarcity of funds due to the Napoleonic wars in the 19th century. Sussex became the first English county club to be formed in 1839 while others followed. The development of railways helped in teams travelling for games and Women’s Cricket saw a significant boom as well.
Overarm bowling was legalised in 1864 and the Wisden Cricketer’s Almanack also saw its first-ever publication. The 19th century also saw the beginning of international cricket with the first international game and overseas tour taking place. The development of domestic tournaments like the County Championship and Sheffield Shield also took place in the 19th century.
The highlight of the 20th century was the formation of the Imperial Cricket Conference. The sport started to blossom well in its member countries. Women’s Cricket also took its first steps in the international arena. In the 1950s, a unique one-inning game started to be played which ultimately gave birth to a limited-overs game. The first ODI came to be played in 1971. Soon after, the Cricket World Cup was announced and made into a regular thing with West Indies winning the inaugural edition in 1975.
The next significant element in 20th-century cricket was the World Series, a privately run cricket tournament that only ran for two years. However, it led to innovations like coloured kits and night games. The inclusion of a third umpire privileged to TV reviews and the use of modern technology finds its origin in the 20th century.
The highlight of 21st-century cricket was the introduction of the shortest format, the T20. India became the inaugural winner of the T20 World Cup in 2007. Another major change was the introduction of an early table to keep track of the best Test teams, a Test mace was awarded as a trophy to the best-performing teams. 21st century is the one of major innovations in the game. Latest technologies like the Decision Review System, complex rules like powerplays, etc. made their way into the game. The first Day-night Test with a pink ball was played in 2015. Last but not least, this century is also witnessing the blossoming impact of franchise leagues.
Overall, tracing the history of cricket gives up a detailed idea of how the game progressed over time to fit the schedules and living habits of the populace enjoying them. From unlimited format to having shorter formats like the ODI and T20Is, from domestic competitions to franchise leagues, from a hockey-styled bat to the latest technologies, the game has certainly come a long way.
