C1.2 Cricket – Origin of the game

Most commonly found references account cricket originated in 1600s though digging a bit deeper will yield results that would connect origin of cricket to 1300s or even before that in the 1066. There are some theories that claim cricket had a known existence back in the 8^th and 9^th Century with references suggesting ball and bat game was being played or somewhat similar game during this period. The most common belief is that cricket originated as a diversion played by shepherds on sheep-grazing fields. One shepherd would defend one of the paddock fences known as wicket gates from being hit by stones thrown by another shepherd, using his crook to try to hit the stones away. Another similar and widely accepted theory on the origin of cricket is that it developed among the farming and metalworking communities of the Weald, which spreads across Kent and Sussex. It is significant that these counties and neighboring Surrey were the earliest centers of excellence and that it was from here that the game eventually reached London, where it achieved mass popularity, and Hampshire, where it achieved both fame and legend. However, there is an alternative view that the sport originated in Flanders and was brought to southern England by immigrant weavers, having said that the precise origin of cricket remains hazy……of course I tried to locate and authenticate proofs on its origin and here is the story.

NB: my authentication power doesn’t come from any time machine but from cross referencing sources that may be called reliable ;)

C1.2.1 Cricket – 8^th till 10^th Century accounts - “Lagaan - The Punjabi style” or “Monty python and the Holy Grail – King Arthur style”

Any cricket enthusiast will tell you that cricket originated in Britain and gradually moved to other countries via the influence that England had over the world in those times. History records similar events at different places at different times….Another conjecture records Cricket to have evolved in the Punjab Region in India around 8^th Century referring from a game played using a bat and ball….well it wouldn’t have been exactly like our English or Kashmir willow polished bats neither were the shiny ALFRED READER or KOOKABURRA leather balls, don’t even think about other fancy cricket accessories. There have been accounts of bat and ball being played in the Mediterranean region during 8^th and 9^th century. In some references it is believed that in the Mediterranean region, the game of bat and ball was sometimes sponsored by Churches in order to promote community. There are contemplations that these activities are the harbinger of the present game as we know it today and were later brought to England by Normans around 1066 conquest of Saxons. Probably King Arthur should have played the bat and ball game with the Saxons in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie; it would have given further boost to its already exaggerated rating. There are other pictorial and written references of several stick and stone games being played in 1183 resembling cricket but it will difficult to make ancestral tree out of it.

C1.2.2 Cricket – 13^th Century (1300) - “The Royal Game”

The wardrobe accounts of the royal household in the period of King Edward I famously or infamously (you decide) known as Longshanks (for his tall built) in the year 1300 hold a reference made to have spent sum of 100 shillings and 6 pounds on game called “CREAG” and to have taken part in that game at the town of Newenden in Kent by Prince Edward at the age of 15. It is quite likely the cricket was children’s game and remained so for centuries.

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