| is a very old game that is steeped in tradition. The | | | | stories of very high stakes being bet on the games. It |
| earlier types of cricket go back to at least the | | | | also became a much more popular spectator game |
| thirteenth century and the roots of the game can be | | | | with large crowds watching matches and more formal |
| traced back to the south of England. It seems to have | | | | games being arranged. Lords cricket club in London |
| been popular among the families of farmers in the | | | | was established in 1787 as the home of cricket. It is still |
| south east. A game that seems to be similar was | | | | one of the most important and traditional clubs in |
| even mentioned as early as thirteen hundred, although | | | | cricket today. It is the home of the MCC who are the |
| it is not sure that this was cricket. However, the first | | | | official holders of the rules of cricket. |
| known reference to the name cricket was made in | | | | In the nineteenth century cricket became more like the |
| the late sixteenth century in the south of England. This | | | | game it is today with the start of over arm bowling. |
| was at a school where the game was being played. | | | | This made the game a lot better as it was more |
| The origin of the name "cricket" is not actually known, | | | | accurate and made it much more interesting to watch. |
| but there are many possible sources for the name. | | | | In the mid nineteenth century, the first overseas tour |
| One of the most popular ideas is that it is from the | | | | was to America and it was then followed some years |
| French language. The word could even be from the | | | | later by a tour to Australia to the Melbourne Cricket |
| French word criqet which means bat. Although there | | | | Ground. |
| are also Flemish and Old English contenders for the | | | | In 1864 the great cricketer WG Grace began playing |
| title. Actually even the French word criqet is originally | | | | cricket. He was to influence the game more than any |
| from the Flemish. So it is not really possible to say | | | | other single person. He was a doctor and continued to |
| exactly where the name cricket is from, but it has | | | | practice when he was not playing the game. He |
| been around since at least the end of the sixteenth | | | | played at the top level for over forty years. He scored |
| century. | | | | over one thousand two hundred runs in the year 1902 |
| In the year sixteen hundred the game of cricket was | | | | when he was fifty four. He was a very domineering |
| first brought to India by the east India Company. During | | | | character and was well known for arguing with the |
| the seventeenth century the game became more and | | | | umpires when he did not like their decisions. In the mid |
| more popular in the south east of England and it was | | | | twentieth century, the crowds got to see the greatest |
| played by a lot more people at this time as there are | | | | batsmen that ever lived, the Australian Don Bradman. |
| numerous references to the game during the | | | | He was so good that the England team resorted to |
| seventeenth century. After a while it was played in a | | | | very direct tactics in the "bodyline series", where they |
| more formal fashion in the later part of this century. It is | | | | bowled at the man instead of the wicket in an attempt |
| even thought that there might have been professional | | | | to beat the Australian team. This was so controversial |
| players at this time. It is certain that some of these | | | | that it led to strained diplomatic relations between |
| games were played for large amounts of money and | | | | England and Australia until the start of the Second |
| there was a lot of gambling on the matches that were | | | | World War. |
| being played in the seventeenth century. This is also | | | | In the sixties the game changed as limited over |
| when the number of players was established at | | | | matches were played and made the game much |
| eleven on each side. This is a time that was very | | | | more accessible to many more people. This started |
| important for the game as it was when it really | | | | the one day internationals and the first one was played |
| became the early prototype of the game that it is | | | | in 1971. The game became even more accessible in |
| today, although the bowling technique had not yet been | | | | recent years with the start of Twenty20 cricket. This |
| formalised. | | | | is where each team has a maximum of twenty overs |
| During the eighteenth century there were more and | | | | and makes the game much faster and it generally |
| more references to the game and it was much more | | | | lasts for no more than 3 hours. Even today the game |
| widespread at this time. There were numerous | | | | continues to change and gets better and it is likely to |
| references to the game being played and there were | | | | carry on that way. |