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The origins of cricket
A sports memorabilia article
The origins of cricket
The summers of mid 16 century England saw the beginnings of what was to become the nation's most fashionable sport.
The game of cricket originated in Saxon times in the woodland clearings of the Weald in South-Eastern England. The year of 1598 is the earliest reference where the game is referred to as creckett.
Cricket gained in popularity and continued to be enjoyed throughout the 17th century played notably on Sundays after mass, this being for many a time for leisure and respite from the arduous working week.
Wickets could be up to six feet wide and only a few inches high. Pitch dimensions, equipment and playing decisions were variable, the bat resembling a willow hockey stick and four ball overs delivered underarm along the surface of the wicket.
In 1760 pitching the ball became an accepted method of delivery. It was not until 1864 that overarm deliveries became the norm; this incidentally was also the year of the publication of the first Wisden Cricketers Almanac.
At this time in England betting was on the increase and before long much of its focus was on what was fast becoming the national game.
County cricket teams began forming around 1660, usually encouraged by local dignitaries, landowners, and Lords of the Shire who, now showing an interest in village green cricket had begun to encourage the locals, possibly some becoming the first cricket professionals. It was not until 1963 that the distinction between amateur and professional was finally abolished in English cricket.
In 1744 the laws of cricked were formally drawn up by the Stars and Garter club later to become the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Some good examples of sports memorabilia are available from around this time.
1794 saw the first recorded inter-schools match: Charterhouse v Westminster.
1806 saw the first Gentlemen v Players match at Lord's later to become the home of MCC.
In 1877 England playing in Melbourne lost their first Test Match against Australia by 45 runs, 1880 saw the first Test played in England resulting in a 5 wicket win against Australia at the Oval, this was also the venue for their defeat to Australia in 1882.
A member of the Sporting Times reported "the England team is in ashes" thus began the era of the Ashes.
The ashes of a bail contained in a small ceramic urn are still fiercely contested today.
A sports memorabilia collectors dream piece.
A label containing a six line verse is pasted on the urn. This is the fourth verse of a song-lyric published in Melbourne Punch on 1 February 1883:
When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn; Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return; The welkin will ring loud, The great crowd will feel proud, Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn; And the rest coming home with the urn. In February 1883, just before the disputed Fourth Test, a velvet bag made by Mrs Ann Fletcher, the daughter of Joseph Hines Clarke and Marion Wright, both of Dublin, was given to Bligh to contain the urn.
The MCC has remained the custodian of the laws of cricket whilst Lords cricket museum still contains the most celebrated collection of cricket memorabilia in the world.
From its early origins cricket is now played in over 100 countries around the world
Sports memorabilia collection is ever increasing in popularity and many excellent examples are available including hand signed bats, balls, programmes, completed scorecards, tour memorabilia, Ashes memorabilia.
Written by Tony Selby.
Sports memorabilia
About the Author
Tony Selby collects buys and sells authentic sports memorabilia especially, cricket, football, rugby, tennis, boxing and motor racing.
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