Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport that originated in England in the 16th century. The first recorded game of cricket was played in 1646, and the sport quickly gained popularity in England and its colonies.

In the 18th century, cricket became an organized sport, and the first cricket club was formed in 1760. The first international cricket match was played between Canada and the United States in 1844.

Cricket continued to grow in popularity in the 19th century, and the first international cricket match between England and Australia was played in 1877. This match marked the beginning of Test cricket, which is the longest form of the game and is still played today.

In the early 20th century, cricket became more widespread, with countries such as South Africa, New Zealand, and the West Indies forming their own cricket teams. In 1975, the first Cricket World Cup was held, and the tournament has since become a major event in the sport.

• Today, cricket is played at both amateur and professional levels around the world, with the sport particularly popular in England, Australia, India, and other countries in the Indian subcontinent. There are three main forms of cricket: Test cricket, One Day International (ODI) cricket, and Twenty20 (T20) cricket.