Cricket, the second-largest sport in terms of participation worldwide, has a long history that dates back to the 16th century.
Did you know that there are 180 nations in the world where this sport is practised? Even the most ardent fans of cricket might not be aware of these interesting facts since it is one of the most popular sports!
We won’t lie; learning the game of cricket can be a little challenging for beginners. First, there are three different formats: test matches, one-day games, and Twenty20 (it’s best to leave out the Hundred for now).
The rules nuances are another issue. There are ten ways to remove a player, but some of them are so uncommon that they haven’t occurred in years.
However, it is a beautiful sport that enthrals you in a way that few other sports can once you comprehend the games and the rules.
Despite having its roots in England, cricket has spread throughout the world. In the major competitions, Australia and India are particularly successful, though England still competes. This was formerly an Olympic sport as well, but we’ll get to that later.
Do you know the length of the longest cricket match ever played? Or perhaps you can explain why players believe the infamous Nelson Score to be unlucky?
If not, read on to learn more fascinating trivia about cricket!
Check out the Amazing Fun Facts About Cricket Below
1. The second-most popular sport in the world is cricket.
Since its inception in the sixteenth century, cricket has continued to expand. The sport is now viewed or played by roughly 2.5 billion people worldwide in more than 180 nations. How outlandish are those figures!?
Although two of the most well-known teams are from England and Australia, India and Pakistan are where it is most popular.
2. Three different game variations are played in the competition.
Around the world, cricket is played at three different levels of competition. These are T20, one-day, and test match cricket.
The traditional format for a test match is a five-day contest. Test match cricket is regarded as the sport’s purest form. T20, which has games that last only a few hours as opposed to five days, is the format that is expanding the fastest.
The game of test cricket itself was first played in 1877.
3. In 1975, the Cricket World Cup was first played.
The International Cricket Council’s Cricket World Cup is undoubtedly the biggest event on the calendar of any cricket enthusiast.
England, South Africa, and Australia founded the event, which debuted in 1975. It takes place once every four years, and the most recent one saw England win the trophy in 2019.
4. Initially, cricket wickets had just two stumps.
Despite the fact that it’s inconceivable now, a wicket used to consist of only three stumps.
Prior to 1775, two stumps were the standard. However, English cricketer Edward “Lumpy” Stevens bowled the ball between the two stumps three times without removing the bail, and the batsman was declared “not out.” Shortly after, the third stump was revealed.
5. It’s not always necessary to use wicket bails
Nearly every cricket match features bails, the horizontal pegs that sit astride the stumps. However, they are not required in all situations.
For the sake of ensuring smooth play, the umpire may decide to remove the bails entirely or replace them with heavier ones when a strong wind threatens to blow them off.
6. Women started playing cricket in the 18th century.
Women have participated in cricket since at least the 18th century, despite the fact that men play the sport in far greater numbers. Even female-only tournaments were held in English towns like Surrey, Hampshire, and Sussex. The winning teams received prizes like barrels of ale and lace gloves.
7. At age 94, the oldest active test cricketer
Ronald Draper, a cricketer for South Africa, is the oldest active Test player still playing today. He is almost 95 years old. 1950 marked the year of his final test match.
Wilfred Rhodes, who took over 4,000 wickets in his career and played his last test match at the age of 52 back in 1930, was the oldest cricketer to ever actively play the sport.
8. The Nelson Score is regarded as unlucky.
This cricket fun fact is particularly intriguing because it is the only one we have that is entirely based on superstition. A team or individual who scores 111 points has achieved a Nelson Score. The only reason it is regarded as unlucky is that three 1s resemble a wicket without bails. We just adore arbitrary cricket information like this!
9. The Olympics included cricket in their programme in 1896.
Cricket wasn’t introduced until 1900, despite the fact that we can trace the beginnings of the Olympics back to 776 BC.
Cricket has only ever been played at the Olympics once, where Great Britain won the gold medal in 1900, despite being such a widely-played sport. However, there have been discussions about bringing cricket back to the Olympics in the future.
10. A 14-day cricket match was the longest ever.
Even at its best, a cricket match can last for quite some time, but one particular match really took the cake. An England-South Africa match in 1939 lasted 14 full days, with the players presumably sleeping for an additional 14.
The length of a match varies depending on the format, with Twenty20 matches typically lasting much less time than other formats.
11. Sachin Tendulkar made his debut at the age of 16
A legend, Sachin Tendulkar is frequently referred to as the “God of Cricket.” At the tender age of 16, he made his Team India debut. Over the course of his illustrious career, he amassed more titles and records than you could possibly count.
He is frequently cited as among the greatest batsmen in history. He is the first batsman to score a double century in one-day international cricket and the all-time leader in runs scored in international cricket.
12. There have been 21 consecutive maiden overs.
When a bowler completes six straight deliveries without allowing the opposition to score a run, that stretch is known as a maiden over. In 1964, while representing India, Bapu Nadkarni set a superb little record for himself by scoring 21 consecutive first-over runs.
13. Australian cricketers have the best luck.
The following is one of the stranger cricket facts. Australian cricketers, particularly Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, are widely regarded as the luckiest in the world.
Given the amount of time they played, both ended their careers with exemplary record sheets after winning an incredible three ICC Cricket World Cups.
14. The only cricketing rule that has not changed is the size of the pitch.
The cricket rules are subject to change with the times. In reality, every rule has been subject to change since the sport was first established, with the exception of one.
The designated length of a cricket pitch has not changed; the original choice of 22 yards still holds true under the current set of rules.
15. The record for the most wickets in a single test match is held by Jim Laker.
Some still consider Jim Laker’s record from the fourth Test of the 1956 Ashes between England and Australia to be one of the greatest accomplishments in cricket.
Laker is the only person in the illustrious history of cricket to have ever dismissed 19 Australian cricketers in a single game.
Also Read: Step-by-Step Guide to Become an International Cricket Umpire
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