Speech on the Game of Cricket: Origin, Equipment and Cricket in the Early Years

The Game of Cricket: Origin, Equipment and Cricket in the Early Years!

Cricket is believed to have begun (possibly as early as the 13th century) as a game in which country boys bowled at a tree stump or at the hurdle gate into a sheep pen. This gate consisted of two uprights and a crossbar resting on the slotted tops; the crossbar was called a bail and the entire gate a wicket.

The ball, (once presumably a stone,) has remained much the same since the 17th century, weighing between (140 and 170 grams). Its modern weight was established in 1774. The primitive bat was shaped out of a branch of a tree, resembling a modern hockey stick but considerably longer and heavier. Later the shape underwent a change. The bat was made straight to defend against length bowling.

The bat was shortened in the handle and straightened and broadened in the blade, which led to forward play, driving, and cutting. The bowling techniques were not very advanced in those days. Batting dominated bowling through the 18th century.

Cricket Equipment:

Due to its origin in English villages, the equipment used in cricket is all made out of naturally occurring objects. The bat, bells and stumps are made of wood. The ball is made of leather stitched with twine. Inside the ball, there is cork. Advances in technology have made only some changes in equipment.


The bat is still made out of willow and cane. The balls are hand stitched. Technological changes have however influenced the manufacture of protective equipment pads and gloves are now made of rubber. Helmets are made out of light weight synthetic materials.

Cricket in the Early Years:

The earliest reference to an 11-a-side match played in Sussex dates from 1697. In 1709, Kent met Surrey in the first recorded inter-county match at Dartford. The earliest known version of rules of cricket is dated 1744. It is believed that cricket was limited to the southern counties of England during the early 18th century. Over the years, its popularity grew and eventually the game spread to London. Heavy betting and disorderly crowds were common at matches.

In the second half of the 18th century, Hambledon Club, playing in Hampshire was the predominant cricket force. Then came the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London. It was formed from a cricket club that played at White Conduit Fields in 1787 and became the MCC.


In the following year, the first revised code of laws was formulated. Lord’s, which was named after its founder, Thomas Lord, has had three locations over its history. Moving to the current ground in St. John’s Wood in 1814, Lord’s became the headquarters of world cricket.

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