The game of cricket like any other Sport went through many changes in its equipment. The interesting story is as follows:
BAT
The bats in the early years were very different. They were flat faced
but rounded, looking like a hockey stick. The present bat's maximum dimensions are
4.5" (10.8 cm.) wide and 38 inches (96.5 cm.) long.
BALL
The ball has remained almost the same since the 17th Century weighing
between five (5) and six (6) ounces (140 and 170 gm). Modern weight of the ball was laid
down in 1774, its circumference standardized in 1838 but slightly reduced in 1927.
PITCH
The length of the Cricket PITCH however always remained around its
present measurement of 22 yards (20.12) meters in length.
STUMPS
However, the stumps have seen many changes. In the early 17th Century
they were upto 6 feet (1.83 meters) wide and less than 12 inches (30.48 cm) tall. By the
end of the century they had been reduced to two feet (60.96 cm) and 1 feet (30.48 cm)
high. The third stump was not introduced until around 1775.
By 1775 the wicket was only 6 inches (15.24 cm)wide and 22 inches (55.88 cm) high. But towards the end of 18th century it was two feet (60.96 cm) tall and 7 inches (117.78 cm) wide. It became 26 inches (66.04 cm) tall in 1819 and it measured 27 inches (68.58 cm) tall and 8 inches (20.32 cm) wide in 1823.
The wickets faced these changes during exactly hundred years. The
present dimensions of 28 inches (71.1 cm) by 9 inches (22.86 cm) were introduced exactly
in 1931. Earliest stumps had one bail, the two bails are supposed to be introduced around
1785.
[END]
OnlyCricket.org