Chapter 10: The Story of Cricket
(From NCERT Honeycomb, Class 7 English)
Story Overview (A Historical Account)
"The Story of Cricket" is an informative chapter that traces the history and evolution of the game of cricket. It delves into its origins in England, its unique characteristics, the development of its rules, its spread across the British Empire, and its growth and popularity in India, especially with the advent of television.
Detailed Summary
Origins and Early Development
Cricket evolved from many stick-and-ball games played in England over 500 years ago. The word 'bat' is an old English word for stick or club. By the 17th century, it was a distinct game. Initially, till the mid-18th century, bats were shaped like hockey sticks, curving outwards at the bottom, because the ball was bowled underarm along the ground. This shape provided the best chance for the batsman to make contact.
Peculiarities of Cricket
Cricket has some unique characteristics:
- Duration of Test Matches: A Test match can last for five days and still end in a draw, which is unusual compared to other team sports like football (90 minutes) or baseball (nine innings in less time than a limited-overs cricket match).
- Ground Dimensions: Unlike most other team sports, cricket does not have fixed dimensions for its playing ground. Only the length of the pitch (22 yards) is specified. This means grounds can vary greatly in size and shape (e.g., oval like Adelaide Oval, or nearly circular like Chepauk in Chennai).
Codification of Laws and Evolution of Play
The first written 'Laws of Cricket' were drawn up in 1744. These laws stated that two umpires chosen from "gentlemen present" would decide all disputes. The stumps were 22 inches high, and the bail across them was six inches. The weight of the ball was specified, and the two sets of stumps were 22 yards apart.
The world's first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s, followed by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1787. The 1760s and 1770s saw a significant change: bowlers started pitching the ball through the air rather than rolling it along the ground. This revolutionized the game, giving bowlers options of length, deception through the air, and increased pace, opening possibilities for spin and swing. In response, batsmen replaced curved bats with straight ones to master timing and shot selection. By 1780, major matches lasted three days, and the first six-seam cricket ball was created.
Materials and Equipment
Cricket's essential tools—the bat and ball—are still handmade from natural, pre-industrial materials. The bat is made of willow wood, and the handle is made of cane. The ball is made of leather, cork, and twine. However, protective equipment like pads (introduced in 1848), gloves, and helmets (made of lightweight synthetic materials) have evolved significantly with technology to make the game safer.
Cricket in India
Cricket spread to various parts of the British Empire, including India. Its origins in India can be traced to Bombay (now Mumbai). The Parsi community, being the first Indian community to adopt Western customs due to their trade ties with the British, also took to cricket. They founded the first Indian cricket club, the Oriental Cricket Club, in Bombay in 1848, funded by prominent Parsi businessmen like the Tatas and Wadias. They faced discrimination and struggled for ground access but eventually built their own 'gymkhana'. A significant moment was when a Parsi team beat the Bombay Gymkhana (a club for white colonials) in 1889, marking a 'happy ending' and asserting their identity.
India entered the world of Test cricket in 1932, fifteen years before its independence. Test matches were initially played between parts of the British Empire, not sovereign nations. C.K. Nayudu was an outstanding Indian batsman and the first Indian Test captain.
Modern Cricket and the Impact of Television
The advent of television profoundly transformed cricket. It brought the game to a vast audience, including small towns and villages, making international matches accessible and allowing young viewers to learn and imitate their heroes. This expanded cricket's global market. India, with its massive viewership, has become the largest market for cricket, and Indian players are among the best-paid and most famous in the world. The centre of gravity of the game has shifted from London to South Asia, evidenced by the ICC's administrative offices moving from London to Dubai. The popularity of the one-day game (and later Twenty20) has significantly overshadowed Test cricket due to its faster pace and definitive results, making it more appealing to modern audiences.
Key Aspects Discussed
- History: Traces cricket's evolution from stick-and-ball games to a codified modern sport.
- Rules and Equipment: Details the development of cricket laws and how equipment has changed over time.
- Unique Characteristics: Explains the oddities of Test match duration and unfixed ground dimensions.
- Indian Connection: Highlights the role of the Parsi community and India's entry into Test cricket.
- Impact of Technology: Focuses on how television revolutionized cricket's reach and popularity globally.
Themes
- Evolution of Sport: Shows how a simple game can evolve over centuries with changing rules, equipment, and playing styles.
- Cultural Diffusion: Illustrates how cricket spread through the British Empire and became deeply embedded in the culture of former colonies like India.
- Social Dynamics: Touches upon class divisions (amateurs vs. professionals) in England and colonial-era rivalry and identity assertion in India through sport.
- Impact of Technology: Emphasizes the transformative role of television in globalizing sports and creating a mass audience.
- Globalisation of Cricket: Demonstrates how cricket's economic power shifted from its origin in England to the Indian subcontinent.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Evolved | Developed gradually, especially from a simple to a more complex form |
| Peculiarities | Unusual or odd features or qualities |
| Codified | Arranged into a systematic code; formalized with rules and regulations |
| Disputes | Arguments or disagreements |
| Umpires | Officials who preside over a game or match to ensure fair play |
| Principals | Here, probably referring to the main people involved or captains of teams |
| Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) | A famous cricket club in London, historically responsible for the Laws of Cricket |
| Pitch the ball | To bowl the ball through the air (as opposed to rolling it along the ground) |
| Deception | The action of deceiving someone; trickery |
| Pace | Speed |
| Spin | A technique used by bowlers to make the ball deviate sideways when it pitches |
| Swing | A technique used by bowlers to make the ball curve sideways in the air |
| Shot selection | The choice of strokes made by a batsman |
| Six-seam cricket ball | A modern cricket ball, typically having six lines of stitching |
| Materials | The matter from which a thing is or can be made |
| Pre-industrial | Referring to a period before the widespread use of industrial machinery |
| Vulcanised rubber | Rubber that has been chemically treated to increase its strength and elasticity |
| Community | A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common |
| Zoroastrians (Parsis) | Followers of Zoroastrianism, an ancient monotheistic religion, many of whom settled in India |
| Gymkhana | In India, often refers to a sports or social club |
| Rivalry | Competition for superiority in the same field |
| Happy ending | A successful or fortunate outcome after a period of difficulty |
| Sovereign nation | An independent country with its own government |
| Advent | The arrival of a notable person, thing, or event |
| Viewership | The audience for a television programme or video |
| Centre of gravity | The central point around which something tends to revolve or is most important |
| Overshadowed | Appeared more important or significant than something else |
| Professional | Engaged in a specified activity as one's main paid occupation |
| Amateur | A person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than a professional basis |
NCERT Textbook Questions & Answers
Working With The Text
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Name some stick-and-ball games that you have witnessed or heard of.
Some stick-and-ball games that I have witnessed or heard of include Hockey, Baseball, and Golf.
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The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket. Why?
The Parsis were the first Indian community to take to cricket because they had close ties with the British due to their interest in trade. This connection led them to adopt Western customs and practices, including the game of cricket.
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The rivalry between the Parsis and the Bombay Gymkhana had a happy ending for the former. What does 'a happy ending' refer to?
The 'happy ending' refers to the victory of the Parsi cricket team over the Bombay Gymkhana (a club for white colonials) in a cricket match in 1889. This victory was a significant moment for the Parsis, marking their success against racial discrimination and proving their abilities on the field.
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Do you think cricket owes its present popularity to television? Justify your answer.
Yes, cricket owes its present popularity largely to television. Television coverage brought the game to millions of households, including those in small towns and villages, making international cricket accessible to a vast audience. This exposure allowed people to watch and learn from their heroes, vastly expanding the game's viewership and market globally.
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Why has cricket a large viewership in India, not in China or Russia?
Cricket has a large viewership in India because India was part of the British Empire, where cricket was introduced and fostered. In contrast, countries like China and Russia were not part of the British Empire, and thus, cricket did not establish roots or gain popularity there. India also boasts the largest cricket market and some of the best-paid and most famous players, further fueling its popularity.
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What do you understand by the game's (cricket) 'equipment'?
The game's 'equipment' refers to the various tools and protective gear required to play cricket. This includes essential items like the bat, ball, and stumps, as well as protective gear such as pads, gloves, and helmets.
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How is Test cricket a unique game in many ways?
Test cricket is unique because a single match can last for five days and still end in a draw, a characteristic not found in almost any other modern team sport. Additionally, while the pitch length is fixed at 22 yards, the size and shape of the playing ground are not specified, allowing for significant variations in different stadiums around the world.
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How is cricket different from other team games?
Cricket differs from other team games primarily in its duration, with Test matches lasting five days and potentially ending in a draw. It also has unique rules regarding ground dimensions, where only the pitch length is fixed, unlike other sports that specify the entire playing area. Furthermore, cricket has seen a significant evolution in bowling techniques (from underarm to overarm) and corresponding changes in batting equipment (curved to straight bats).
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How have advances in technology affected the game of cricket?
Advances in technology have significantly affected cricket, especially through television coverage, which expanded its global reach and market. Technology has also improved protective equipment like pads, gloves, and helmets, making the game safer. While the basic tools (bat, ball) remain handmade, modern materials have enhanced player safety and performance.
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Explain how cricket changed with changing times and yet remained unchanged in some ways.
Cricket changed with times through the evolution of bowling techniques (from underarm to overarm), the introduction of new formats like one-day and T20, improved protective gear due to technology, and its global spread via television. However, it remained unchanged in fundamental ways: the basic tools like the bat and ball are still handmade from natural materials, the pitch length remains 22 yards, and the core objective of scoring runs while getting opponents out remains the same.
Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
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What was the shape of the cricket bat till the mid-18th century and why?
Till the mid-18th century, cricket bats were shaped like hockey sticks, curving outwards at the bottom. This was because the ball was bowled underarm along the ground, and the curved bat offered the batsman the best chance of making contact with the ball.
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When were the first written 'Laws of Cricket' drawn up and what did they state about umpires?
The first written 'Laws of Cricket' were drawn up in 1744. They stated that "the principals shall choose from amongst the gentlemen present two umpires who shall absolutely decide all disputes."
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Mention two major changes in bowling that occurred in the 1760s and 1770s.
In the 1760s and 1770s, bowlers began to pitch the ball through the air rather than rolling it along the ground. This change gave them options of length, deception through the air, and increased pace, leading to possibilities for spin and swing.
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How did the Indian Parsi community manage to play cricket despite facing discrimination?
The Indian Parsi community, after facing discrimination and denial of access to grounds by the white Bombay Gymkhana, eventually managed to build their own gymkhana to play cricket. This allowed them to pursue their passion for the game independently.
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What has been the impact of the one-day game and T20 on Test cricket?
The one-day game, and subsequently T20, have significantly overshadowed Test cricket. Their shorter, faster-paced formats, and definite results make them more appealing to modern audiences, leading to a shift in popularity and viewership away from the longer traditional Test matches.
Long Answer Questions (80-100 words)
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Discuss the unique characteristics of cricket that set it apart from other team sports.
Cricket possesses several unique characteristics that differentiate it from other team sports. Firstly, a Test match can remarkably last for five days and still conclude in a draw, which is unparalleled in other modern team games like football or baseball, which have fixed, shorter durations. Secondly, unlike most team sports that define the precise dimensions of their playing fields, cricket only specifies the length of the pitch (22 yards). The overall size and shape of the ground can vary significantly, leading to diverse playing conditions at different stadiums worldwide. These oddities are deeply rooted in its historical evolution as a rural English game.
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How did cricket come to India and what role did the Parsi community play in its early development there?
Cricket arrived in India as a result of the British Empire's influence. It was primarily introduced by British soldiers and colonial administrators. The Parsi community in Bombay (Mumbai) were the first Indians to embrace cricket. Being economically well-off and having strong trade ties with the British, they were quick to adopt Western customs and lifestyle, including sports. They founded the 'Oriental Cricket Club' in 1848, the first Indian cricket club, funded by prominent Parsi businessmen. Despite initial discrimination and struggle for access to playing grounds from the white elite, the Parsis persisted, building their own gymkhana and eventually proving their prowess by defeating the Bombay Gymkhana, thereby significantly contributing to cricket's roots in India.
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Explain how television revolutionized the game of cricket globally and particularly in India.
Television revolutionized cricket by dramatically expanding its reach and transforming it into a global phenomenon. Before TV, only those living near major cities could watch international matches. Television brought the game directly into millions of homes, making it accessible to a vast audience, including those in remote towns and villages. This exposure allowed aspiring cricketers to watch and emulate their heroes, fostering new talent and passion for the game. In India, television played a pivotal role in cricket's explosion in popularity, making it the dominant sport. India now boasts the largest viewership and market for cricket, leading to Indian players becoming some of the best-paid and most famous worldwide, and shifting the game's economic power to the subcontinent.
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