History Of Cricket- The Starting Of A New Era In Modern Sports

This is my first ever post in this blog, so I was just wondering how to start off and  what topic should I be writing on. So few days ago I was watching ICC CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY it was then when I realized that maybe I should start with CRICKET so here iam bringing you a brief HISTORY on CRICKET and how it started. It was way back in late 16^th century when the journey of CRICKET started, although officially CRICKET attained its international recognation in 1844. The first match ever recorded was played in SUSSEX, ENGLAND in 1697.

CRICKET actually started off as a child’s game but eventually the adult version of this game was said to have started in 17^th century. Some speculate that CRICKET is take off of a game called BOWLS and LAWN bowling with the slight variation that a bat is used to keep the ball from reaching the target almost similar tobaseball. The basic tools used to play CRICKET were thought to be matte lumps of sheep’s wool to be used as the ball and the stick, crook or farm was also used as the bat that time.

CRICKET began to grow after the restoration of 1660 and this when the this game attracted gamblers to itself. In 1664, the Gaming act was passed and it put a limit on the stakes of a game for 100 pounds. By the end of 17^th century CRICKET was becoming the game that was betted on daily, and this game was starting to attract more and more gamblers to it.

In17th century North America was introduced to this game by the Englishmen. By the end of 18^th century it has spread through other parts of the world as well. Let me tell you a short story on when the name of cricket was used. It was 1598 when this name cricket was first came under lights. It was 1598 and there was a court case being contested in Surrey, ENGLAND. The court case was regarding the ownership of a plot of land. An old man had testified to the court that he and a group of his friends has played a game called ‘CRECKETT’ (I know  it might sounds odd but this was what the old man had spelled that time) on that land 50 years prior when they attended school there. I don’t know who won the case but this was the first time that an adult has confessed or mentioned playing the game rather than attending a church mass.

In 1719, the first "county" match was played, with the Londoners (Middlesex) vs. the Kentish. It gained publicity in the southern counties of England, but was eventually transplanted to be mainly in the London grounds of wealthy patrons. During this time, crowds were often rowdy, with high monetary stakes on important matches.

Coming to international matches, The first ever internatinal game of cricket was played  between USA and CANADAin 1844. This match was played in NEWYORK. In 1859, a team of leading English professionals set off to North America on the first-ever overseas tour and, in 1862, the first English team toured Australia. And this continued as both Australia and England both started exchanging visits which lead to the famous ‘The Ashes’ series.  According to the records these were the two countries that inaugurated the Test matches. Later on South Africa joined it and became the third official Test playing nation.

When the Imperial Cricket Conference (as it was originally called) was founded in 1909, only England, Australia and South Africa were members. Later on India,West Indiess and New Zealandd became Test nations before the Second World War and Pakistann soon afterwards. The international game grew with several "affiliate nations" getting involved and, in the closing years of the 20th century, three of those became Test nations also: Sri Lankaa, Zimbabwae and Bangladesh. Test cricket remained the sport's highest level of standard throughout the 20th century.

Earlier in the intial days when CRICKET was played only 4 balls per overs were balled which was then replaced by 5 balls and later on changed with the current six balls per over. Many other nations experimented with 8 balls per over too but that didn’t last long. But after the second world war it was fixed that it will be bowled 6 ball per over only.

Today, Cricket is still a major sport that still attracts players, spectators and even media interest as well. The ICC has over time expanded the development of the game and it hopes to produce more national teams that are capable of competing at the Test level. In June of 2001, the ICC has brought the Test Championship Table and in October 2002, the One Day International Championship Table was introduced.

The newest addition to Cricket is the Twenty20, this a style of Cricket that was first seen in England for professional inter county teams and it was introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board. If you have never seen a game of Cricket, go see one, it really is very fun and exciting. That was all about CRICKET and it’s history. Hope you all find it informative.