What is Cricket? Where it is originated?

What is Cricket?

Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two team with Eleven players in each team. A 22-yard (20 meters) pitch with two bails on three stumps on each side.  The game is played with a cricket ball consists of a cork core wound with string then a leather cover stitched, a wooden bat, and involves two phases: batting and bowling/fielding.

Where is Cricket originated?

Having Originated from South-East England, This Gentleman's Sport had its roots from the late16th Century. Becoming an established sport in the 18th century, it gradually spread its roots Globally and developed in 19th and 20th Centuries. 

First Grand Match of Cricket Played by Members of the Royal Amateur Society on Hampton Court Green,
August 3rd, 1836

The 1st reference to cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611, when two men in Sussex were prosecuted for playing cricket on Sunday instead of going to church, In the same year, a dictionary defined cricket as a boys' game, and this suggests that adult participation was a recent development.

The 1st ever international cricket game took place in 1844 between US & Canada, the match was played at the grounds of St George's Cricket Club in New York.

1st ever overseas tour was took place when leading English Professionals set off to North America in 1859. In 1862, 1st English team toured Australia. In between May & October 1868, Australians toured England which was Australia's 1st overseas tour.

The English team 1859 on their way to the US

In 1877, England team toured Australia & played two matches against full Australian XI's which are now regarded as the inaugural Test Matches. The following year Australian's toured England for the 1st time and the success of their tour ensured a popular demand for similar ventures in future. No Tests were played in 1878 but more soon followed out, at The Oval in 1882, the victory in a tense finish gave rise to The Ashes.

The first Australian touring team (1878) pictured at Niagara Falls

South Africa has became the 3rd Test Nation in 1889.

Cricket experienced substantial growth in various colonies, fueled by the perception of British sports, including cricket, as a source of nationalistic pride. Many colonized communities viewed these sports as a means to assert themselves against their colonizers, finding a rare opportunity for triumph in this arena.

Cricket now has become the 2nd largest sport in the world.

Now we learn about some of the Key points about cricket

Objective:

   The primary objective in cricket is to score more runs than the opposing team. This is achieved by batting and running between two sets of wickets, which are three wooden stumps with two bails on top.

Teams:

• Each team has two phases during a match: batting and bowling/fielding.
• The team batting tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, while the bowling team aims to dismiss the batsmen and limit the number of runs scored.

                   

Innings:

• A cricket match is typically divided into innings, with each team having the opportunity to bat and bowl.
• In limited-overs cricket (like One Day Internationals or T20 matches), each team gets a set number of overs to bat and bowl.

Bowling and Batting:

• The bowling team tries to get the batsmen out using various techniques, such as bowling the ball to hit the stumps, catching the ball after the batsman hits it, or trapping the batsman leg-before-wicket (LBW).
• The batting team aims to score runs by hitting the ball with a bat and running between the wickets. Batsmen can also score runs by hitting the ball to the boundary, which earns four runs, or hitting it over the boundary, which earns six runs.

Types of Cricket:

• There are 3 different formats of the game, including Test cricket, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 (T20) cricket. Test cricket is played over five days, ODIs have a limited number of overs per side, and T20s are even shorter and more fast-paced.

Fielding Positions:

• Fielding positions are strategically placed around the field, and players are assigned roles such as bowlers, batsmen, wicketkeepers, and fielders. The captain decides the field placements based on the situation in the game.

Umpires and Officials:

• Umpires are responsible for enforcing the rules of the game. There are on-field umpires and a third umpire, who reviews decisions using technology, especially in international matches.

Cricket Formats:

• Test cricket is considered the longest and most traditional form of the game, while ODIs and T20s are shorter formats that allow for more aggressive play.

Cricket has a massive following, especially in countries like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, and South Africa, among others. Major international tournaments, such as the ICC Cricket World Cup, are highly anticipated events in the cricketing calendar. The sport has a rich history, with legendary players and memorable matches contributing to its global appeal.