Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, with more than 300 million players. The sport is also one of the oldest, dating back to the 16th century in Britain. India is acknowledged as the birthplace of cricket and it remains one of the most popular sports there. Asia has a huge number of cricket lovers who follow their teams across every corner of the continent. There are many things about this game that most people don’t know or overlook. Let’s take a look at some interesting facts you probably didn’t know about cricket.
History of Cricket
Cricket is one of the world’s oldest games. The earliest evidence of cricket being played is in the mid-14th century having been mentioned in a number of medieval manuscripts. The earliest surviving records of cricket are in 1444 when Thomas Wydlond, an attorney in Lincoln’s Inn, mentioned the game in a manuscript. A game called creckett was first mentioned in Kent in the 16th century and many believe that this was where it started. Cricket was first played outside of the British Isles in the Eastern Caribbean where the game was introduced by the British in the 18th century. Wherever there was a British colony, cricket was quickly taken up by people of all social classes. In 1827, the first Test Match was played between Australia and England. Cricket got its name from crikket, a kind of bat used in the game.
How Cricket Got Its Name
Cricket is a British game but how did it get its name? The word ‘cricket’ is derived from the Middle English word ‘criche’ which means “stick”. This refers to the use of a willow stick in the game. The game of cricket was first played in the British Isles in the early 16th century and it remained a popular pastime in the country. Over the centuries, the game experienced many changes and evolved into a popular sport by the mid-18th century.
The First Test Match
The first Test Match was played between Australia and England in the year 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This was a five-day contest that featured two teams of 11 players each. The teams had to bowl their opponents out and then bat until they were all out. The matches were usually played over five days and the top two teams were declared the winners. The first Test Match was a huge success and in the following years, many countries in the world came to play this game. The format of the game remained the same for many years, with a few exceptions. The game was also included in the Olympic Games for a brief period in the year 1900.
Not an Olympic Sport Yet
Cricket was one of the most popular sports in the world by the early 20th century, but it wasn’t included in the Olympic Games until the year 1900. The IOC had to ask the International Amateur Cricket Federation to recognise the sport as an official one. The IOC also made a rule that the athletes could not carry a bat while playing the game. The first cricket match to be played at the Olympic Games was held between Great Britain and France. The British team won the match by an impressive margin. There have been many cricket-themed events at the Olympic Games over the years, such as the women’s cricket tournament that was first held in the year 1988.
Different Types of Cricket Balls
Cricket is a game that has been played for centuries and it has also been adapted into many different forms. While the traditional game is popular in many parts of the world, there are several different types of cricket balls used around the world. The first type of ball is used in the West Indies. This ball is known as a ‘scratch ball’ and it is made from a synthetic material. This type of cricket ball is used in the West Indies, where the surface is typically made from grass. A second type of ball is used in Pakistan and is called a ‘hand-woven’ ball. These balls are traditionally made from cotton, which is spun and then woven together. There are also ‘mud’ balls in Bangladesh and ‘mud’ is a common name for dried mud in the country. There are also ‘rice’ and ‘corn’ types of balls used in Latin America.
Longest T20 Match
The longest T20 match is a cricket match between South Africa and New Zealand that lasted for an incredible 16 days. This was held at the Newlands cricket ground in Cape Town, South Africa. This match ended on August 10, 2017, when South Africa won the final by an innings and 327 runs. This match was so long that it was actually declared ‘unofficial’. Cricket matches are designed to be played over the course of five days and the 16-day match was not sanctioned by the International Cricket Council.
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The match was also declared unofficial because it was not played according to the standard rules of cricket. The rules state that a team cannot have more than five players in the field at any point during a match and the final was played with seven players each.
Bottom Line
Cricket is a hugely popular sport that has been played for centuries and has also been adapted into many different types of balls. As a result, there are many different types of cricket balls used around the world. The first type of ball is used in the West Indies and the second type is used in Pakistan, while the next one is a ‘mud ball’. The next interesting fact we’re going to learn about cricket is that the game isn’t even an official Olympic sport yet!
