Unique Facts About the Sport Cricket

The sport of cricket has thrown up many interesting facts and statistics throughout its history, as well as some interesting characters. The game originated in England and is referenced in the accounts of King Edward I, as early as 1300. The first written laws of cricket were produced in 1744 and the sport was exported around the world by sailors playing the game with small oars as bats and a rolled ball of rags or wool.

  1. History

    • The first recorded international cricket match was between America and Canada over three days--Sept. 24, 25 and 26, 1844. The game was played at St. George's Club Ground in New York. Canada won the match by 23 runs and was watched by approximately 20,000 spectators. The first international game between the United States and England took place at Hoboken, N.J., on Oct. 3, 4 and 5, 1859. England scored 156 runs and bowled out the U.S. team for scores of 38 and 54, winning the match by 64 runs.

    Highest Batting Test Score

    • Brian Lara, of the West Indies, holds the record of the highest ever Test match score. He managed to accumulate 400 runs not out at St. John's Recreation ground, Antigua, against England on April 10, 2004. Australia's Matthew Hayden briefly held the record when he knocked 380 runs against Zimbabwe, on Oct. 9, 2003. Hayden surpassed Lara's record of 375 scored against England on April 16, 1994, at the same ground in Antigua. The long-standing record was held by Sir Garfield Sobers, of the West Indies, before Lara and Hayden's feats. The West Indies legend managed to score 365 runs not out against Pakistan in Kingston, Jamaica, on Feb. 26, 1958.

    Longest Match

    • England and South Africa played for 14 days straight in Durban, South Africa, in 1939. England required 42 more runs to win with five wickets in hand on the last day of the match. The England team's boat was due to sail home the next day, so the game was officially declared a draw.

    Unlucky Score

    • The score of 111 is considered unlucky by English batsmen and is referred to as a Nelson. A superstitious batsman will attempt to play on one leg until the score moves on. The 111 refers to Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson of the Royal Navy and alludes to him having one eye, one arm and one leg. This superstition is inaccurate; Nelson had both legs when he was shot and killed at the Battle of Trafalgar.

    The Ashes

    • The Ashes series was created in 1882 when England played Australia at the Oval cricket ground and needed 85 runs to win. Australia managed to win the game by eight runs. The English crowd was shocked, and the press created a mock obituary for English cricket that appeared in the Sporting Times newspaper on Aug. 29, 1882. Cricket stumps were burned and placed in an urn by journalists as a publicity stunt. England and Australia compete for the Ashes trophy every two years.