Cricket in the United States
By Polina Anastassieva
It is thought that cricket may have been invented during Saxon or Norman times by children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England. Little boys bowled into either a tree stump or a sheep pen gate. The crossbar on the gate was the bail, and the gate the wicket. The first reference for the sport being played by adults was in 1611. There is also the thought that cricket may have derived from bowls, by the intervention of a batsman trying to stop the ball from reaching its target by hitting it away.
In 1744, 42 “laws of cricket” were established. They stated, “The principals shall choose from among the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes. The stumps must be twenty-two inches high and the bail across them six inches. The ball must be between five and six ounces, and the two sets of stumps twenty-two yards apart.” There were no limits on the shape or size of the bat. The world’s first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s, and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787.
Due to constant evolution of the sport, in 1909, England, Australia, and South Africa founded the ICC, (earlier Imperial Cricket Council, now International Cricket Council) to govern all the matters concerning the game. In 1965, it was renamed the International Cricket Conference and took up its current name in 1989.
Additionally, in the 21st century, Bangladesh made their debut. The game grew so much that a new format was formed containing 20 overs (or 120 “pitches”) per side. One of the highly popular formats, T20 Cricket took hold, putting One Day Cricket at risk. In 1844, the first international match was played between the USA and Canada, marking the first international rivalry- not just in cricket, but in all sports. In 1877, the first Test match was played between England and Australia, marking the birth of cricket’s biggest rivalry. By 2017, Afghanistan and Ireland became the 11th and 12th Test nations.
Some interesting facts about the game:
- The average speed of a pitched ball is 80 miles per hour, or about 128 kilometers per hour. The fastest bowlers in the world bowl upwards of 95 mph/152 kph.
- Both of the competing country’s anthems are sung prior to the beginning of the match.
- The order in which the national anthems are played is typically determined by the host country or the organizing body of the tournament.
- In comparison to the United States baseball, in cricket, if a ball is hit into the stands, the spectators have to return the ball back to the field.
- The top five countries known for this sport include Australia, India, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. In addition, countries such as Pakistan and Jamaica, have also become popular in enjoying this sport.
Below is a short clip from a World Cup match held in Dallas, Texas in June this year. Specifically for the World Cup, the flag of each of the participating countries is carried out prior to the start of the match.
Photos by Polina Anastassieva
Polina Anastassieva, is a compliance, fraud prevention and detection, and risk management analyst, as well as an international business consultant. Polina is also an entrepreneur and a writer, her blog, specifically focuses on understanding international topics such as trade, culture, foreign affairs, and conducting business around the globe. She has also been featured on St. Edward’s University‘s alumni website, as a distinguished member and supporter for the community. Additionally, she is on the board of World Affairs Council of Austin.
Sharon Schweitzer JD, is a diversity and inclusion consultant, cross-cultural trainer, etiquette expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. In addition to her accreditation in intercultural management from the HOFSTEDE Centre, she is an attorney and mediator. Sharon served as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat Geo People. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business, Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, won a coveted Kirkus Star, and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books. She’s a winner of numerous awards, including the British Airways International Trade Award at the Greater Austin Business Awards.
#SharonSchweitzer, #AccesstoCulture, Access2Culture, #InternationalCelebration, #AccesstoAsia, #GlobalEtiquette, #Cross-CulturalTrainer, #InterculturalCommunication, #InternationalCommunication, #Interculturalist, #Etiquette, #CultureExpert, #Speaker, #KeynoteSpeaker, #Culturalintelligence, #Cricket, #NewZealand, #Pakistan, #Jamaica, #SouthAfrica, #India, #England
Leave A Comment