The sports writers have been trying since long to trace the origin of cricket. It is professed that a game similar to cricket might have been played in the sub-continent of Indo-Pakistan during the time of SIDHARTHA GAUTAM-THE BUDDHA (557-487 BC)
It is claimed that the game of cricket used to be played in England during the reign of King RICHARD THE LION-HEARTED. But it is said that King EDWARD IV, the victor of WAR OF ROSES considered it a childish game of bat and ball and banned it. QUEEN ANNE of England, however, believed it to be a MANLY GAME and restored it. RUDYARD KIPPLING is alleged to call the cricketers in their all white kit as the "FLANNELLED FOOLS"
Anyway the Western writers while unearthing its origin depended upon words and their approach was more a linguistic one. And some of them have taken into account certain paintings. Similarly some of the writers of the Indo-Pak, claim on evidences of some nature that cricket was played in this sub-continent during the time of GAUTAM-THE BUDDHA.
The difference of opinion over this matter does exist but the two modules of masterwork lying in the GANDHARA GALLERIES OF LAHORE MUSEUM in which the objects shown in the stone sculpture resemble very much to a CRICKET BAT and THE BALL. Coupled to it the way a person has gripped it also leads the imagination to opine that it might have been played in this sub-continent during the time of BUDDHA THE GREAT.
The sports historians from Europe have also tried to trace its origin and they have considered certain paintings, which according to their belief are not very clear and what actually is exhibited on the canvas is not the game of cricket for sure. They have simply deduced that it may have been the same game.
C. WHITAKER WILSON of Midland England, a famous cricket writer, broadcaster and actor opine: "In Anglo-Sexon there existed a word CRICC which meant a staff. I am inclined to think this is at least part of the origin of the word because the game was at one time played with a club or a staff". He Further states: "In the days of King RICHARD THE LION-HEARTED the game or at least a similar game was called HANDYN or HANDOUTE which seems to mean hand in or hand out. THE ACTUAL WORD CRICKET DIDN'T APPEAR UNTIL ABOUT 1550".
The opinions and findings of some other European writers are also quoted here. These are quite interesting. A very famous writer says: "The first definite reference to Cricket dates back to 1478 when a game called CRIQUET was played at St. Omer in North-East FRANCE. It was not until 1598 that the reference to the sport was made in England. It came out in a Court Case involving a piece of land at Guildford Inn. The first Cricket Match on record took place in 1646 when two teams did battle for honors at Coxheath in Kent".
Describing the origin of the present day touring system of cricket teams the writer adds: "English Teams have been touring abroad since 1859 and that year the first expedition took an All-England Team under the captaincy of GEORGE PARR to CANADA AND THE U.S.A. That was the start of International Cricket forming the basis of present day tours. In 1844 CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES played each other in an international Match making the oldest fixture between two National sides in Cricket taking place 33 years before TEST CRICKET began".
It is also said that the game might have been played in the Scandinavian Countries much before it actually started in England or elsewhere. But again the derivation depends on the words which are being used in those countries. The word "VIK" is however the source of this concept.
Another writer, while dusting off the records states: "In 1721 the Mariners of the East India Company's ships first time played cricket at BOMBAY in India".
But if the gray stone sculpture of the GAUTAM BUDDHA are kept in view, then Cricket was
being played on the soil of Pakistan even before Christ since TAXILA was the seat of
learning and other socio-cultural activities during the time of BUDDHA THE GREAT.
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