The Ashes 2009 - Get Latest News, Interviews, Features at Cricket Nirvana

The Ashes 2009 - Get Latest News, Interviews, Features at Cricket Nirvana

HISTORY OF CRICKET

Nobody can give a statement when a game started. Cricket is not an exemption. Still the evidences proves that cricket become a serous game in Saxon or Norman times by children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England that lies across Kent and Sussex. Once it was just a game of children and shepherds. It was a long lasting entertainment and time pass for them. Slowly cricket picked up its speed and spread all around England. Some claims that cricket derived from a gamer called bowls. But there is no clear cut evidences to prove that theory. In the beginning anything which had a sphere shape turned in to a ball. Any kind of portable wood used as a bat, and any tree had turned to a stump. It was just a time pass and game. But on the way from an unknown point cricket is named as a ‘gentleman’s’ game.

The first available reference about ‘cricket’ is from the year 1598. It is marked as ‘creckett’. ‘Crocket’ is also found in some references. According to Heiner Gillmeister, a European language expert of Bonn University, "cricket" derives from the Middle Dutch met de (krik ket)sen (i.e., "with the stick chase")Not just two, dozens of chances are they. Any way our stream of thought should flow towards the mainstream of cricket.

17th century

By time of English civil war cricket became an adult game and domestic teams and villages started to play matches each other. It became a part of their pride, history and victory. Means by that time cricket became cricket in terms of law, followers, and entertainment elements. Press coverage and gambling took place in a flash. Suddenly cricket started its journey towards the limelight amongst the important games in the world. Its growth in 18 century was so quick. And everything related with cricket became something official. All basic rules of cricket had been recorded form the 18th century.

Milestones:-
• In 1728, the Duke of Richmond and Alan Brodick drew up "Articles of Agreement" to determine the code of practice in a particular game and this became a common feature, especially around payment of stake money and distributing the winnings given the importance of gambling
• In 1744, the Laws of Cricket were codified for the first time and then amended in 1774, when innovations such as lbw, middle stump and maximum bat width were added. These laws stated that the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes. The codes were drawn up by the so-called "Star and Garter Club" whose members ultimately founded MCC at Lord's in 1787. MCC immediately became the custodian of the Laws and has made periodic revisions and recodifications subsequently
• 1751, Yorkshire is first mentioned as a venue
• Scorecards began to be kept on a regular basis from 1772
• 1787 formation of MCC and opening of lords cricket ground.
• In 1864, another bowling revolution resulted in the legalisation of overarm and in the same year Wisden Cricketers' Almanack was first published. The "Great Cricketer", W G Grace, made his first-class debut in 1865. His feats did much to increase the game's popularity.
• The first ever international cricket game was between the USA and Canada in 1844
• 1971 first one day international
• 1975 first one day international world cup
• 2007 first T20 world cup

The story never ends. I tried to run through the chapters of cricket and picked up just some important points which I captured from a fast ride.