Locally adapted i.e. played differently in different
places, up until the est. of the MCC in 1755 (who
later developed the Articles of Agreement ((AOA))
Inclusive
Both men and women played and both classes
played
Roles within the game: gentry and wealthy = batsmen;
lower class = bowler ('serve' the ball)
Employment
Because played by both classes, it led to
employment i.e. a good lower class cricketer
would be employed by the wealthy as
gardeners or games keepers so you could play
in their cricket team = PATRONAGE.
Early Rules
Interest by gentry lead to a standardisation of the rules.
The MCC wrote the ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT i.e. the rules
of the game. For example:
Introduced the middle stump, to make 3 stumps, rather than just 2
outer stumps.
6 balls in an over before changing ends.
Bowling could be under OR overarm.
Banned charging into a fielder
if going to catch you out!
Limited Equipment
Simple
Pitches were uneven and unrolled.
Scores were kept by 'notching' on wood.
No Real Boundaries
The game developed on the
spaces that were available.
Rural
'Home Counties' cricket e.g. Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex
Played on village greens.
Hambledon CC
1756 - First real
pioneers of cricket
Played out of a pub called 'The Bat & Ball Inn' in
Hambledon, Hampshire.
They beat everyone they played and the team became nationally renowned.
Because of the high standard of cricket being played, people
came to watch.
Attracted large crowds of up to
2000 SPECTATORS!
Players were paid to play.
The Hambledon CC played for large
amounts of money.
Payment
Players were paid to play.
Non-Violent
A civilised game - which could be attributed to
the involvement of the upper classes.
BUT you could get a batsman / runner
out by throwing the ball at them
between the wickets!
MCC
Formed in 1788.
Employed Hambledon players as coaches and/or players.
Moved to current site in St. John's Wood in 1811 - LORDS (Home of Cricket).
Wagering
A LOT of wagering on result!
Gentry to show wealth and/or status.
Peasants to make money (rags to riches).
PUBLIC SCHOOL CRICKET
Popular because of the characteristics it developed.
Athleticism
Trust
Teamwork
Leadership
Courage
Honesty
Prowess
Endeavour
Loyalty
High Status
Very popular
House Fixtures
...and later INTER-SCHOOL FIXTURES
as transport developed.
Enabled by the ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.
Loyalty to the 'house' and to the 'school'.
MASTERS
Employed Cricket Masters.
Often working class people e.g. high
performing players of Hambledon CC.
MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Linked with 'athleticism' which strengthened
crickets popularity and high status.
POST-INDUSTRIAL CRICKET (RATIONAL RECREATION)
Transport
The industrial revolution improved transport - the
development of transport meant people could travel.
This saw the development of touring
teams such as the WILLIAM CLARKE
ALL ENGLAND XI
William Clarke All England XI
William Clarke was an entrepreneur who
employed professional cricketers.
The team toured England and competed in
matches all over the country.
Would sometimes play 'DOUBLE TEAMS' i.e. their 11
players would play against 22 players of their
opponents!
Attracted huge crowds - SPECTATORS.
Popularity / Regularity
Cricket became more popular and county cricket took
over from touring sides.
As a result more frequent matches were organised.
The County Championship was est. in 1890
This is the dominant form of regular cricket still today.
W.G. Grace
First cricket super star - still known today
for his batting prowess.
He dominated the game.
He became 'bigger than the game itself' e.g. he
once overruled an early dismissal at the Oval
saying, "The spectators have come to watch me
bat, not you umpire!"
Ashes
International games became viable
due to transport improvements.
First Ashes event took place in 1882 - Australia beat England at
The Oval, in their first Test defeat on English soil.
Some Australian women burned a bail and gave the
ashes to the English Captain.
England beat Australia away the following winter.
Improvements in Technology
Factories were able to mass produce materials and
resources, enabling....
...stadia to be built for spectators / better pitches
Better equipment e.g. bats, pads etc.
Amateurs & Professionals
Strict class divide - middle / upper class amateurs
/ working class professionals.
Treated very differently.
Names appeared differently on programmes e.g.
Mr J Bloggs (amateur) v Bloggs (professional)
Ate separately.
Travelled separately.
Entered field from different door.
Captain usually an amateur (ALWAYS an amateur at national level).
'Shamateur'
Players who were supposed to be amateurs who earned £50 per game.
W.G. GRACE was a 'shamateur' - he earned £120,000 from cricket (between 1870 and 1910).
Travel & Transport
Car, rail and air use enabled players and spectators
to travel to matches and still does today.