A Short History of Cricket

The game of cricket has a known history spanning from the 16th century to the near day, with international matches played since 1844, though the official history of international Test cricket began in 1877. During this time, the game urban from its start in England into a game which is now played competently in most of the Commonwealth of nation.

Cricket faced its first real calamity during the 18th century when chief matches practically ceased during the Seven Years War. This was mostly due to shortage of players and lack of venture. But the game survives and the "Hambledon Era" proper began in the mid-1760s.

Cricket faced another chief disaster at the beginning of the 19th century when a termination of chief matches occur during the culminate period of the Napoleonic Wars. Again, the causes were lack of players and lack of investment. But, as in the 1760s, the game survives and a slow revival began in 1815.

A Treacherous Game

It was a treacherous game – the first documented fatal accident related to cricket was in 1624, at Hosted Green in Sussex. Sadly, Jasper Venal died after being struck by a bat while trying to catch the ball. Its unclear if this was an accident, or if the batsman simply put too high a price on his wicket.

Cricket matches between village teams are documented before the English Civil War (1642-1651). The game developed steadily after the war, as town and city teams developed.

The history of cricket also records how the sport first attracted gambling for significant sums of money in the 18th century. This was an unattractive, though perhaps inevitable development, but did have the benefit of being the cause for the establishment of the first Laws of Cricket in 1744.

The most famous early club was Hambledon in Hampshire, which became the headquarters of the game for about 30 years until the opening of Lords and the MCC in 1787. The MCC has been the custodian of the Laws of Cricket ever since then.

English colonialism brought cricket to other parts of the world; to North America in the 17th century, to the West Indies, India and Australia in the 18th century, and to New Zealand and South Africa in the 19th Century. The USA played Canada in the first international match in 1844.