Cricket is an international phenomenon. Originating from England, it now brings joy to over 2,5 billion fans around the world, and is the second most popular sport worldwide.
1
It dates back to the 16th century.
It originated in South East England and spread worldwide.
2
Cricket was most likely invented by shepherds.
They used a ball of wool to bypass the time spent on shepherding.
3
The man responsible for creating the fashion for cricket was William Gilbert Grace (1848-1915).
He was an amateur cricketer from England whose accomplishments and innovations popularized the sport. Grace’s career inspires players around the world to this day since he is considered one of the greatest cricketers.
4
It is the second most popular sport worldwide.
The systematic expanse of the British Empire throughout the ages introduced cricket to many nations. Nowadays, it is played in 180 countries.
5
Cricket bats are manufactured from white willow.
White willow (Salix alba) is native to Europe and central parts of Asia. Over time, a cultivar was introduced, named cricket-bat willow (Salix alba ‘Caerulea’), which is grown in England and is primarily used for manufacturing cricket bats. It is a lightweight wood that provides the necessary strength for cricket balls.
6
A cricket ball is made of a cork core with layers of twine covered in leather.
It weighs 165 grams.
7
The cricket fan base estimates at 2,5 billion.
8
It is highly weather dependent.
Cricket cannot be played in strong wind or in the rain.
9
The gates that a cricket ball must pass through are called wickets.
10
There are three major variants of cricket—the Three Formats.
They are Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODI), and Twenty20 Internationals, with Test matches being the traditional form.
11
The first Test match took place in 1877.
It was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Australia and England, with the Aussies claiming the victory.
12
The longest cricket match lasted for two weeks.
It pitted England against South Africa and took place in 1939. After 14 days it had to be declared as a draw since the ship with English players was due to return home.
13
The youngest cricketer was Pakistani Hasan Raza, aged 14 when representing his country for the first time.
14
The Cricket World Cup was founded by England, Australia, and South Africa.
15
The first Cricket World Cup, officially referred to as ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup was contested in England in 1975.
It was the first major One-Day International tournament.
16
The first Woman’s Cricket World Cup was held in 1973.
It is the oldest cricket world championship.
17
The strategy of a cricket team depends on the condition of the pitch.
18
Sachin Tendulkar, an Indian former cricketer, is the highest run-scorer in both Test matches and ODI.
He is considered one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history.
19
The record for most wickets in the history of the Cricket World Cup is held by former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath, who is regarded as one of the best international bowlers.
20
England holds the most losses in International Cricket—currently at 691.
At the same time, the national team played the most games—currently at 1,885.
21
The record for the fastest cricket pitch belongs to Shoaib Akhtar.
During the 2003 Cricket World Cup, he reached a speed of 161,3 km/h. He was nicknamed “The Rawalpindi Express”.
22
A score of 111 is considered unlucky.
It resembles a ball-less wicket. Fans believe that “the Nelson,” as it is referred to, bodes ill for the team. Although there is no evidence it is, in fact, ill-fated, such was strongly believed by a famous first-class cricketer and an umpire, David Shepherd, who would rise his leg every time the score reached 111. His famous quirk is popular among crowds watching a match.
23
A British phrase “good innings” was inspired by cricket.
It is used to describe a deceased who had lived a long and successful life.
