General Information
Cricket is a bat-and-ball team sport that is first documented as being played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, cricket had developed to the point where it had become the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international matches were being held. Today, the sport is played in more than 100 countries although it is most popular in the Test playing countries of Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. It has between 2 and 3 billion fans worldwide, including 1.5 billion in the Indian subcontinent.
There are several variations in the length of a game of cricket. In professional cricket this ranges from a limit of 20 overs per side (20/20 or Twenty/Twenty), 50 overs per side (Limited Overs or One dayer) to a game played over 5 days (Test cricket or Test match). Depending on the length of the game being played, there are different rules that govern how a game is won, lost, drawn or tied.
In Australia, Cricket Australia, formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board, is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket. It is incorporated as an Australian Public Company, limited by guarantee.
Cricket Australia operates all of the Australian national representative cricket sides, including the Australian cricket team, the Australia national women’s cricket team and youth sides as well.
There are 3 national competition that are played in Australia. These are the Sheffield Shield (4 day matches), the Ford Ranger Cup (50 over one day matches) & the KFC Twenty/20 Big Bash. The teams that compete in these competitions are: New South Wales Blues, Queensland Bulls, South Australian Redbacks, Tasmanian Tigers, Victorian Bushrangers & Western Australian Warriors.
Cricket Australia also provides awards for various categories of players, including Test Players of the Year, One Day Players of the Year, Bradman Young Players of the Year, State Cricket Players of the Year, Women International Cricket Players of the Year and the Allan Border Medal for the overall best Australian cricket of the year.
Cricket Australia also honours players for exceptional service to the game of cricket in Australia by annually adding former players of great distinction to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
However the main aim for all aspiring crickets in Australia is to represent its country in Test cricket and wear the Baggy Green cap, including playing for Australia against the Poms for the Ashes.
Some of the greatest ever players to represent Australia are: Sir Donald Bradman, Shane Warne, Greg Chappell, Glen McGrath, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Keith Miller, Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, Adam Gilchrist, Bill O’Reilly, Bill Ponsford, Neil Harvey, Ray Lindwall, Arthur Morris, Richie Benaud & Ricky Ponting only to name a few.
