History of Cricket
Updated: May 19
Part 1 - In the Beginning
Cricket is a game that began quietly, in fields and village greens, long before it became the vibrant game we love today. From what we know through various resources, cricket has come a long way from these humble beginnings to the very first test match and the birth of The Ashes in the late 19th century.
From a children's game to a competitive sport
The roots of cricket are said to go all the way back to rural southeast England in the 16th century. It is thought to have been played as a simple bat-and-ball game by children in the countryside of Kent and Sussex. By the late 17th century, it had evolved into an adults' game where villages would challenge each other and wagers would be placed. They would play for local pride.
The 18th century saw cricket gradually convert from a casual pastime into a serious sport. As the game spread, especially in southern England, it attracted the attention of the wealthy. Landowners and aristocrats began to sponsor teams, paying the best players to represent their side. Matches drew crowds and heavy betting.
As the game evolved into a competitive sport, it needed order. As such, the early versions of the Laws of Cricket appeared in the mid 18th century. They set out the basics that are still recognisable today in terms of how to bowl, how to dismiss a batter, how to score runs and how games are won.
...The MCC soon took over from Hambledon as the game’s main authority as Thomas Lord managed to stage more attractive games with the presence of many aristocrats. The original Lord's cricket ground was established at what is now Dorset Square Street, Marylebone, London in 1787. It was then moved to St. John's Wood Estate in 1814 before finally settling in at its current location at St. John's Wood Road west of Regent's Park...
Hambledon and the rise of organised cricket
Before Lord’s, before the MCC, there was Hambledon, more fondly known as the 'cradle of cricket'. In the late 18th century, the Hambledon Club in Hampshire became the unofficial centre of cricket. Its players were among the best in England, and its matches drew attention from far and wide.
At Hambledon, ideas about technique and tactics began to develop. Bowlers experimented with flight and pace. Batters learned to play straight and defend their stumps. The game was still played on uneven pitches, with rudimentary equipment, but the foundations of modern cricket were starting to take shape.
The MCC, the Laws and the birth of Lord's
The Marylebone Cricket Club, better known as the MCC, was formed in 1787 in London, founded by Thomas Lord. The MCC soon took over from Hambledon as the game’s main authority as Thomas Lord managed to stage more attractive games with the presence of many aristocrats. The original Lord's cricket ground was established at what is now Dorset Square Street, Marylebone, London in 1787. It was then moved to St. John's Wood Estate in 1814 before finally settling in at its current location at St. John's Wood Road west of Regent's Park.
The MCC formed the laws or cricket and these laws brought greater consistency to cricket games were carried out. They defined the pitch and its dimensions, the stumps, and the basic form of the game. Over time, changes like the introduction of overarm bowling and the refinement of fielding positions would push cricket closer to the sport we know today.
Cricket crosses the seas
As the British Empire expanded, cricket too found its way to Britain's colonies across the globe. By the early 19th century, cricket was being played in the West Indies, India, North America, South Africa, and, importantly for our story, Australia.
In Australia, cricket took root very quickly. The climate in most parts of Australia suited long days outdoors, and the game offered a warm sense of “home” for the British settlers. Local clubs formed, intercolonial matches were organised, and Australian cricketers began to develop their own style of play.
...the first English team toured Australia in 1861/62. These early tours were a mix of serious cricket and showmanship, with matches sometimes played between unevenly numbered teams, where for example, 11 English players would play against a team of 18 or 22 locals to keep things competitive...
England vs Australia: the first encounters
The idea of English cricket teams touring overseas was taking shape by the mid 19th century and, as a result, the first English team toured Australia in 1861/62. These early tours were a mix of serious cricket and showmanship, with matches sometimes played between unevenly numbered teams, where for example, 11 English players would play against a team of 18 or 22 locals to keep things competitive. This gradually paved the way for the very first test cricket match to take place. It was played in March, 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Australia between an English team led by James Lillywhite and an Australian team led by David Gregory.
The contests were popular and often fierce, but they were not yet considered to be official international matches. However, a rivalry was brewing. The Australians wanted to prove that they could beat the mother country at its own game, a feeling that still sparks a fire within Australian cricketers and their public to this day.
Fun Fact:
The very first international cricket match took place between the United States of America and Canada (currently only Associate cricketing nations that appear in ICC tournaments from time to time) from September 24–26, 1844, at St George's Cricket Club in New York, USA. Canada won by 23 runs. Interestingly, this took place more than 30 years before the first official Test Cricket match in 1877.
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