| A basic form of the sport can be traced back to the | | | | Hambledon was the game's greatest club and its |
| 13th century, but it may have existed even earlier | | | | focal point. MCC quickly became the sport's premier |
| than that. The game seems to have originated | | | | club and the custodian of the Laws of Cricket. |
| among children of the farming and metalworking | | | | The 19th Century saw underarm replaced by first |
| communities in the Weald between Kent and Sussex. | | | | roundarm and then overarm bowling. Both |
| Written evidence exists of a game known as creag | | | | developments were accompanied by major |
| being played by Prince Edward, the son of Edward I | | | | controversy. The concept of a "champion county" |
| (Longshanks), at Newenden, Kent in 1300. | | | | arose in the 1820s and then, starting with Sussex |
| In 1598, a court case referred to a sport called | | | | CCC in 1839, county clubs were founded and these |
| kreckett being played at the Royal Grammar School, | | | | ultimately formed a County Championship. |
| Guildford around 1550. The Oxford English Dictionary | | | | In 1859, a team of England players went on the first |
| gives this as the first recorded instance of cricket in | | | | overseas tour (to North America) and 18 years later |
| the English language. | | | | another England team took part in the first-ever |
| A number of words are thought to be possible | | | | Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against |
| sources for the term cricket. The name may derive | | | | Australia. |
| from a term for the cricket bat: old French criquet | | | | The legendary W G Grace started his long career in |
| (meaning a kind of club) or Flemish krick(e) (meaning | | | | 1864. It can fairly be said that he revolutionised the |
| a stick) or in Old English crycc (meaning a crutch or | | | | sport and did much to ensure its massive popularity. |
| staff). (The latter is problematic, since Old English 'cc' | | | | The last two decades before the First World War |
| was palatal in pronunciation in the south and the west | | | | have been called the "Golden Age of Cricket". It is |
| midlands, roughly ch, which is how crycc leads to | | | | almost certainly a nostalgic idea based on the sense |
| crych and thence crutch; the 'k' sound would be | | | | of loss brought about by the war, but even so the |
| possible in the north, however.) Alternatively, the | | | | period did produce some great players and |
| French criquet apparently derives from the Flemish | | | | memorable matches, especially as organised |
| word krickstoel, which is a long low stool on which | | | | competition at county and Test level developed. |
| one kneels in church and which resembles the long | | | | The inter-war years were dominated by one player: |
| low wicket with two stumps used in early cricket. | | | | Don Bradman, statistically the greatest batsman of all |
| During the 17th century, numerous references | | | | time. It was the determination of the England team |
| indicate the growth of cricket in the south-east of | | | | to overcome his incredible skill that brought about the |
| England. By the end of the century, it had become an | | | | infamous Bodyline series in 1932/33. |
| organised activity being played for high stakes and it | | | | Cricket entered an epochal era in 1963, when English |
| is likely that the first professionals appeared in that | | | | counties modified the rules to provide a variant |
| period. We know that a great cricket match with | | | | match form that produced a certain result: games |
| eleven players a side was played for high stakes in | | | | with a restricted number of overs per side. This |
| Sussex in 1697 and this is the earliest reference we | | | | gained widespread popularity and resulted in the birth |
| have to cricket in terms of such importance. | | | | of One-day International (ODI) matches in 1971. The |
| The game underwent major development in the 18th | | | | governing International Cricket Council quickly |
| Century and had become the national sport of | | | | adopted the new form and held the first ODI Cricket |
| England by the end of the century. Betting played a | | | | World Cup in 1975. Since then, ODI matches have |
| major part in that development and rich patrons | | | | gained mass spectatorship, at the expense of the |
| began forming their own "select XIs". Cricket was | | | | longer form of the game and to the consternation of |
| prominent in London as early as 1707 and large | | | | fans who prefer the longer form of the game. |
| crowds flocked to matches on the Artillery Ground in | | | | As of the early 2000s, however, the longer form of |
| Finsbury. The Hambledon Club was founded in the | | | | cricket is experiencing a growing resurgence in |
| 1760s but its team was already playing first-class | | | | popularity but a new limited overs phenomenon, |
| matches in 1756. For the next 20 years until the | | | | Twenty20, has made an immediate impact. |
| formation of MCC and the opening of Lord's in 1787, | | | | |