The sport of cricket has evolved over centuries, transforming from a simple child's game into the national pastime of many countries. Cricket was initially played in England, but the British Empire exported the game to its colonies, many of which still play cricket today. In particular, the former colony of Australia maintains a keen interest in the game, both in national play and through an international rivalry with its former colonial masters.
The Game
Cricket in Australia is identical to cricket in the United Kingdom and other countries. Two batsmen stand at either end of a dirt pitch, each guarding a wicket made up of three vertical sticks and two crosspieces. A bowler throws a ball at the batsman opposite him, who tries to deflect it. The remaining 10 members of the bowler's team stand ready to catch the ball if hit in the air, or field it if hit on the ground. Meanwhile, the batsman can attempt to score runs by swapping places with his teammate, leaving the wickets vulnerable as they run. Depending on the type of match, a game of cricket can last an afternoon or can take place over multiple days.
Interstate and International
There are two major distinctions of cricket in Australia, interstate and international. Cricket Australia governs the sport in the country, and each state has its own cricket board or club that oversees events in the state. Teams at this level usually play short matches, such as the Twenty20 format, which limits the game to 20 "overs," or around four hours. International cricket matches usually are longer, with games extending from morning to evening, or in some cases, across multiple days.
Test Cricket
In the late 19th century, a new format of cricket matches began to rise in popularity. International teams would compete over a five-day period in games that would last from morning until evening. These matches tested the endurance of the players, and the authority of the sport designated this style of cricket as "test" cricket. In the beginning, the two test cricket rivals were England and Australia, although other former British colonies have fielded their own test cricket teams.
The Ashes
Early in the history of cricket, England dominated the sport, easily defeating teams fielded by its former colonies. However, in 1882, the Australian team pulled off an amazing upset, defeating the English team on English soil for the first time. The writer Reginald Brooks wrote a humorous obituary for English cricket the following week, suggesting that the mortician would cremate the body and deliver the ashes to Australia. The following year, the English captain vowed to return "the Ashes," and by the beginning of the 20th century, the name stuck. Today, England and Australia compete every other year, with the winning team hailed as heroes for returning "the Ashes" to its home country. In 2011, England defeated Australia at home for the first time in 24 years.
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