The History of Cricket

THE HISTORY OF CRICKET

1. Cricket.  Cricket, as a team game with bats and a ball, has been known since the Middle Ages of the last millennium. The game got its name from the Saxon word, designated as “Stick”. Historians suggest that this game is based on old games with a club and a ball.

It is authentically known that the game originated in the southeast of England. In those places there is a large number of pastures for sheep, where low grass grew. The first players rolled a ball of sheep’s wool along herd with shepherd's sticks.

The first historical information about cricket dates back to 1300. In the annals of the times of Prince Edward, the amount of funds spent on the game "krieg" is indicated.

Until the 16th century, mentions of cricket were episodic in nature, but among them famous personalities are sometimes mentioned. So it became known that Oliver Cromwell in his youth was very fond of cricket.

In the eighteenth century, an attempt was made to draw up the first set of rules for cricket. It was called the “Code of 1744” and determined various provisions of the game, including the dimensions of the court, bat and ball. After the game began to be played according to the rules, it gained great popularity. Already at the end of the 18th century, the first official English team of the village of Hambledon was created, which subsequently founded the first Cricket Club in England in 1750. Three decades later, in 1787 new rules of the game were developed.

The authors of these rules were members of the cricket club Marie le Bon. Through the efforts of the English, cricket spread throughout the English colonies. In 1912, the teams of Australia, England and South Africa played the first Cricket World Championship. However, the championship was unsuccessful and did not determine the winner. Due to bad weather, the matches were discontinued.

The World Championships resumed in 1975. The second championship was attended by teams from Australia, England, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and East Africa. Since then, world championships have become regular. It is held once every four years and involves the participation of both professional and amateur cricket teams.

Sports equipment for cricket includes a ball, bats and protective pads and gloves.

2. Cricket Ball

A cricket ball is a ball with a diameter of about 7 cm and a mass of about 170 grams. As a rule, the ball is made of balsa wood, which is covered with genuine leather painted white or red on top. Parts of the skin are stitched together in the center, forming a seam protruding above the surface. This seam is of great importance when feeding. The serving player tries to send the ball in such a way that the ball hits the ground with this seam and changes the flight path, thereby making it difficult for the betsman to hit the ball. In some cases, a leather case is filled with compressed sawdust or tow.

3. Cricket Bat

The cricket bat looks like a short oar. On one side the bit is flat, and on the other side there is a triangular protrusion, which gives the bit the necessary rigidity.

The handle is cylindrical. In preparation for the game, it is usually wrapped with cloth or rubber. The handle is long enough to allow players to hold it with both hands.

As a blank for the manufacture of bits using a wooden blank from willow, from which the bit is cut. The size of the projectile should not exceed 96.5 cm, and the width of the site is not more than 10.8 cm. The weight of the bit ranges from 1.1 to 1.4 kg.

The player’s protective equipment consists of leather gloves, a head cork helmet, and plastic patch plates. The main objective of protective equipment is to protect parts of the player’s body from a flying dense ball and prevent injuries.

Athlete's shoes should be light and comfortable on the one hand, and have anti-slip properties on the other. As a rule, leather shoes with a sole in the form of a tread are used.

The clothing of athletes playing cricket depends on weather conditions, and the color of the uniform on the color of the ball. If the game is played with a red ball, then the color of the form is white or cream, and in the case of playing with the ball in white, the coloring of the form is dark.

To play cricket, you also need a cap with a large visor or a hat with large fields to protect from the sun.