Sportsfolio

History & origins

The story of Cricket

Cricket grew out of children's games in south-east England, was adopted by aristocratic patrons who wanted something to bet on, and then travelled the world along the routes of the British Empire. It stayed and became genuinely local — nowhere more than in South Asia, which is now the sport's centre of gravity.

Milestones

11 moments that shaped the modern game.

  1. 1598

    First written record

    A court case in Guildford referred to 'creckett' being played on common land decades earlier, the earliest firm evidence of the game.

  2. 1744

    The first laws

    The London Club codified pitch length, stump dimensions and the manner of dismissal. The 22-yard pitch has never changed since.

  3. 1787

    Marylebone Cricket Club is founded

    The MCC became the game's custodian at Lord's, and still owns the Laws of Cricket today.

  4. 1877

    The first Test match

    England played Australia in Melbourne over four days. Australia won by 45 runs — and by an identical margin in the centenary rematch a hundred years later.

  5. 1882

    The Ashes are born

    After Australia beat England at the Oval, a mock obituary declared English cricket dead and the body cremated. The two nations have contested the resulting urn ever since.

  6. 1932

    Bodyline

    England bowled fast and short at the bodies of Australian batters to contain Don Bradman. It worked, nearly caused a diplomatic incident, and led directly to new laws on intimidatory bowling.

  7. 1971

    The first one-day international

    A washed-out Test in Melbourne was replaced with a 40-over exhibition. Around 46,000 people turned up, and the limited-overs game was suddenly commercially obvious.

  8. 1975

    The first World Cup

    Eight teams played 60-over matches in England, with West Indies beating Australia in a final that finished after nightfall.

  9. 1983

    India win the World Cup

    A side given no chance beat the dominant West Indies at Lord's, and cricket's commercial centre began moving decisively towards South Asia.

  10. 2003

    Twenty20 is invented

    The England and Wales Cricket Board created a three-hour format to bring back weekday crowds. Within a decade it was the sport's dominant commercial product.

  11. 2008

    The Indian Premier League

    City franchises, player auctions and prime-time broadcasting created the richest competition in cricket and reshaped the international calendar around it.