The history of cricket is very old and interesting. The game originated in the late 16th century in southeastern England. It began as a simple game, played by children and farmers with a wooden bat and ball.
Early period
By the 18th century, cricket had become an established and popular sport in England. During this period, its rules began to be clarified and the game took a formal form.
In the 19th century, the game began to spread to different parts of the world with the colonial empire of England, especially in areas such as Australia, South Asia, South Africa, and the West Indies.
Start of international cricket
- The first international cricket match was played between the United States and Canada on , which was the first match played between two countries in any sport.
- Test cricket officially began on , when the first Test match was played between England and Australia in Melbourne. Australia won the match by 45 runs. Since this series, the historic Ashes series between the two teams began.
Changes in game formats
- The laws of cricket have changed over time. Initially, the game lasted for several days.
- In 1971, the One Day Cricket format was introduced, with the aim of making the game faster and more exciting. The first One Day match was also played between England and Australia in Melbourne.
- The first Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1975, in which the West Indies were the winners. This tournament increased the global popularity of cricket.
- At the beginning of the 21st century, another major change occurred in cricket and the T20 (Twenty20) format was introduced in 2003. This format is completed in a very short time and has made the game more popular around the world, especially among the youth.
Cricket is still the second most watched sport in the world and is governed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The game has evolved over time, with new formats and leagues constantly keeping it fresh and exciting.
