header banner
Default

Everything about the invention of cricket


CRICKET is one of the most watched sports in the world and is played in over 125 countries.

The popularity of cricket is always on the rise, especially in England and Wales, but when did the sport first start and who invented it?

1

Cricket was invented hundreds of years ago in the south east of EnglandCredit: Getty Images

Who invented cricket?

VIDEO: How Cricket Was Invented 😅🏏
Jimmy Rees

Cricket is thought to have been invented by children in the south east of England.

Some researchers believe it may have been invented as early as the 13th century.

Other historians have traced its origins back to the 17th century.

How was cricket invented?

VIDEO: Explained | Cricket | FULL EPISODE | Netflix
Netflix

It is believed that cricket began as a children's game.

It's thought the game was played by kids for many generations before adults started taking it up.

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the game of cricket may have been adapted from bowls.

Children living in the Weald, an area of woodlands and clearings in south east England, are thought to be the inventors.

There wasn't a written reference to cricket being played by adults until 1611.

That same year, cricket was defined in a dictionary as a game for boys.

Cricket slowly spread around the world and the first ever international cricket game took place in 1844.

The game, between the US and Canada, was held in New York.

The ICC, then known as the Imperial Cricket Conference, was founded in 1909.

England, Australia and South Africa were the founding members.

There are now 12 nations who are full members of the ICC:

  • Afghanistan
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • England
  • India
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • West Indies
  • Zimbabwe

There are 96 Associate Members, including Scotland.

What are the different formats of cricket?

VIDEO: History of Cricket | The Game of Bat & Ball | ICC Cricket World Cup Special | The Dr. Binocs Show
Peekaboo Kidz

There are three formats of cricket played at international level.

These three versions are Test matches, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals.

Test cricket is the traditional form of the game, and takes place over a five-day period comprising of two innings per team.

One Day Internationals, also known as ODIs, started in the 1970s.

These are one-innings matches of 50 overs per side.

The newest form of cricket is the Twenty20 Internationals, also known as T20.

As well as being the latest, the T20 matches are also the shortest and fastest form of the game.

A T20 match has 20 overs per side and is usually competed in three hours.

Sources


Article information

Author: Nicholas Williams

Last Updated: 1702973282

Views: 965

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicholas Williams

Birthday: 1935-01-28

Address: 9584 Mitchell Tunnel Suite 315, Chapmanburgh, WV 71661

Phone: +4066561009268092

Job: Article Writer

Hobby: Hiking, Chocolate Making, Sewing, Golf, Poker, Table Tennis, Playing Piano

Introduction: My name is Nicholas Williams, I am a capable, enterprising, spirited, priceless, Open, dazzling, sincere person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.