Origins of Cricket in England

Cricket — An English Game The origin of cricket is generally believed to be in England which is also considered to be the birthplace of cricket, as the world today knows it.

Cricket is a game that is often associated with the English countryside and has a rich history of more than four hundred years. The specific history of the game is sketchy but through a process of development, it has grown to be one of the most favourite and renowned sports in the globe. This essay will discuss the evolution of cricket in England from its early history in the medieval period to the formation of the Marylebone Cricket Club as well as later.

Early Beginnings:

The first document that provides specific information on cricket can be traced back to a legal prosecution of a case in Guildford, Surrey, England in the old stylishness calendar of 1597 but the new style year 1598. In a case that concerned the legal battle over a piece of land, testimonial evidence was made that the individual had been able to play cricket on the particular piece of land around 1550. This much is clear, but there is a possibility that the innovation may have occurred even earlier with cricket being played. The word ‘cricket’ is quite likely to have evolved from the Middle Dutch word “crick” (-e), meaning a stick or crook, and the Old English word “crick” meaning a crutch or staff. Such terms suggest that in its rudimentary form, the game could have been played in England in the 13th century.

The origin of the game of cricket is widely assumed to have been in the English counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey which were southeaster parts of England. The game was first played when a simple bat, either from a shepherd’s crook or any other curved tool, and a ball, perhaps a lump of wool or rags, were used. Cricket games in this form can be played by any number of players split into two teams that try to score as many runs as possible by striking the ball and then running between two points which are called wickets.

It is important to analyse the growth and development that took place during the seventeenth century.

On the eve of the 17th century, the game started to leave the rural setting behind and became more and more an adult pastime. It was previously common in villages, having been played in meadows and countryside, which led to its growing popularity among the nobility and knights. The earliest and earliest documented evidence of cricket being played as an adult sport was in 1611 when two men from Sussex were prosecuted for neglecting to go to church on Sunday to play cricket.

It can be noted that the local clubs’ organization of matches promoted the further spread of cricket among the population. The Hambleton Club is on record as one of the oldest clubs that was founded in the 1760s in Hampshire. Even before these proposed changes were put into practice, Hambleton had emerged as the centre of attention for cricket fans, with people thronging to the venue to watch or place bets on the game. The club was also instrumental in the refinement of the rules of the game and different techniques that have put cricket in place for today.

The effects of The English Civil War:

To sum it up, the English Civil War was crucial in the formation of cricket and elongated the match length. That is why, during the war, many traditional ways of spending leisure time were limited or non-existent; great assemblies were under no circumstances allowed. But let me emphasize that cricket was not adversely affected by these changes; it adapted and even flourished during this chaos. Soldiers fighting for the Royalists were reported to have engaged in the game as the war persisted, and hence, it attained broad acceptance among the population.

The monarchy was restored in 1660 and this event spurred new interests in leisure activities and thus an interest in cricket. It evolved into a more structured sport and matches were often played by high-risk players who had influential individuals or organizations fund their teams and bet for matches with big money. This period also noted the earliest references to the game as played in public schools, which would help popularize the game in later periods.

This empowered county cricket and so the birth of county cricket can be said to have been initiated between the years 1839 and 1843.

Later in the 18th century, players began organizing themselves into teams based on the English counties and competing against each other. The first recorded inter-county match was played between Kent and Surrey way back in the summer of 1709 and similar games were organized. These matches were usually played for a stake of a good amount of money and received much public attention.

It was also during this period that the game was beginning to develop standard rules through body codes, among others. Cricket laws began getting codified in 1744 when they were put down formally for the first time, with rules that were laid down to be followed strictly while playing the game. It comprised the laws applying to the size and shape of the bat, the dimensions of the pitch, and the scoring system. The implementation of the laws provided more structure and order to the game, providing positive foundations for its future progression.

There exist several published sources dealing with the Hambleton Club and its significance in the development of cricket as a sport as well as with the mistakes made by the Club.

The social club known as the Hambleton Club was formed in the 1760s which can be considered to have had a significant contribution towards the development of cricket. Originally established in the small village of Hambleton in Hampshire, they were able to attract some of the game’s leading talents during that era and evolved into the unofficial hub of cricket. A Hambleton match was extremely competitive and attracted many people, as many people flocked to the game from other places.

The club played a big role in fixing all the standard procedures and patterns of the game. Technological advancements credited to the Hambleton side include the actualization of the modern straight bat, the overarm bowling or the fast bowling, and a defined batting line-up. It also had a very active part in spreading the fame of the game beyond the rural areas and bringing cricket to the towns and cities within England.

To understand the emergence of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) it is imperative to understand the evolution of cricket, particularly in England during the 18th century.

Another important development for the game of cricket is considered to be the establishment of the Marylebone Cricket Club or MCC in 1787. The MCC was officially established at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London and soon emerged as the sport’s governing body and guardian of the Laws of Cricket. This club reached other parts of the world and was among the pioneers who contributed to the development of the game outside England.

The first significant input of MCC was in 1788 when it came out with a new set of rules/regulations known as the Laws of Cricket. These laws brought significant alterations to the rules of the game such as making lengths of pitches standardized at 22 yards and making it mandatory for bowlers to bowl with straight arms only. They also arranged frequent matches and tours that enabled the MCC to popularise cricket by extending its appeal to new fans.

Evolving Cricket Through the Ages: The 19th Century and Beyond:

Thus, the 19th century marked the further development of cricket as for popularization and formalization. The growth in the formation of county clubs and inter-county matches put organizational structure in the game and the rail transport system improves the transportation of teams as well as the fans going to watch the matches.

The early 1850s marked the first instance of an international cricket game, between the USA and Canada. The first ever Test cricket match was played in 1877 between England and Australia in Melbourne. In 1890, the newly established County Championship offered an official competition for English county teams, which helped develop the love for the sport and establish its status even more.

Thanks for reading