Many experts on cricket regard Don Bradman as the greatest batsman of all time. He played in 52 tests, scoring 6,996 runs, with an unrivalled average of 99.94. Many other batsmen have scored more than 5,000 runs in test cricket. In 1993, Allan Border reached 10,200 runs in test cricket passing the total of Sunil Gavaskar of India. Fred Spofforth was the earliest of Australia's great fast bowlers. He became known as the demon. Australia has also produced such great fast bowlers as Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee. Famous slow bowlers include Richie Benaud, Clarrie Grimmett, and Arthur Mailey. All-rounders include Jack Gregory and Keith Miller, while wicketkeepers include Don Tallon and Rodney Marsh. The ICC is in charge of the overall administration of the four-yearly World Cup cricket competition, though the ruling bodies of the countries where the competitions take place are responsible for local arrangements. The World Cup was inaugurated in 1975 and the first three tournaments took place in England. In 1975, the World Cup was contested by the then six test match-playing countries, plus East Africa and Sri Lanka. The West Indies beat Australia in the final. In 1979, the World Cup, contested by the same teams except that Canada played instead of East Africa, was again won by the West Indies, who beat England in the final. In 1983, when Zimbabwe played instead of Canada, India were the victors, beating the West Indies. The 1987 World Cup, played by the same eight countries as in 1983, took place in Pakistan and India. In the final, Australia beat England. The fourth World Cup competition was held in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand. The eight countries which had competed in 1987 were joined by South Africa. The 1992 competition was won by Pakistan who beat England in the final. Sri Lanka beat Australia in 1996 to clinch the cup. Australia won the cup in 1999 by beating Pakistan. Cricket is a game played with a bat and a ball by two teams of 11 players each. It is one of the most popular games in Britain and in many countries that once were British colonies. Cricket is played on a round or oval grass field. The action centres on a strip of ground, called the pitch, between two wickets. Each wicket consists of three wooden stumps and two sticks called bails, which rest on top of the stumps. The teams take turns batting and fielding. A member of the fielding side called the bowler stands near one of the wickets. The bowler runs up to the wicket and bowls (delivers) the ball with a stiff-armed motion at the opposite wicket. The ball bounces once in front of the wicket on most deliveries. A fielder called the wicketkeeper stands behind the wicket. Members of the batting side are called batsmen. A batsman called the striker stands at the far wicket, facing the bowler, and tries to hit the ball with a long, flatsided bat. If the ball knocks a bail off the wicket, the striker is out (dismissed). If the ball is hit into the field, the striker and a batsman called the nonstriker--a teammate at the opposite wicket--may try to score a run. The batsmen score each time they run to the opposite wicket before a fielder can knock off a bail with the ball. Sometimes they can run back and forth several times before a fielder can return the ball. The next striker is the batsman who is at the wicket opposite the bowler when the ball is returned. The two batsmen continue to play until one of them is out. The batsman who is out is then replaced by a teammate. Runs are also scored for hits that reach or cross the field's boundary line. A major cricket match may last from three to five days or more. The team that scores the most runs wins. The ground and equipment The grounds vary in size. Most grounds on which official matches are played measure about 137 metres wide and 150 metres long. The wickets are 22 yards (20.12 metres) apart in the centre of the field. They stand opposite and parallel to each other. The area between the wickets is called the pitch. Each wicket measures 9 inches (22.9) centimetres wide. The stumps of each wicket are close enough together so the ball cannot pass between any two of them. The tops of the stumps stand 28 inches (71.1 centimetres) above the ground. The bails are 43/8 inches (11.1 centimetres long) and rest in grooves on the tops of the stumps. The bails do not rise more than 1/2 inch (13 millimetres) above the stumps. White lines made by chalk or lime mark certain boundaries called creases. A line called the bowling crease is drawn through the stumps of each wicket. It is 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 metres) long, with the middle stump of the wicket at its centre. A line called the popping crease is marked 4 feet (1.22) metres in front of the bowling crease. The popping crease extends at least 6 feet (1.83 metres) on either side of the centre of the wicket but is considered to be unlimited in length. Lines called return creases are marked from each end of the bowling crease. The return creases extend forward to the popping crease and back at least 4 feet (1.22 metres) behind the bowling crease. However, the return creases are considered to be unlimited in length. The bowler must deliver the ball with some part of the front foot behind the popping crease. The back foot must be between the return creases. Equipment. The rules of cricket do not specify the material to be used in making a cricket ball. The best balls have a cork centre wrapped with twine, and a leather cover. The ball must be between 83/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 centimetres) in circumference, and it must weigh between 51/2 and 53/4 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams). The bat cannot be more than 38 inches (96.5 centimetres) long nor more than 41/4 inches (10.8 centimetres) wide at any point. It must be made of wood. The bat has a round handle and a flat, bladelike hitting surface. Cricket players may wear peaked caps or helmets, open-necked shirts, trousers, and spiked or crepe-soled shoes. Batsmen and wicketkeepers wear protective leg pads and gloves. Players who field close to the wicket may also wear such protective devices as shin-guards. The game A cricket match may consist of one or two innings by each team. In first-class cricket, all matches are two-innings matches. But one-day cricket in which each team has one innings, consisting of a limited number of overs, has become popular. Such matches are not considered to be first-class. In first-class cricket, a team's innings ends when 10 of the 11 players have been dismissed. But the captain of the batting side may declare the side's innings closed at any time. Team captains toss a coin to decide who will bat first. After the first innings of a two-innings match, the captain whose team batted first may order the opposing side to follow-on if the opposing side is behind by a certain number of runs. The opposing team must then start its second innings immediately after its first innings. The opposing team may be ordered to follow on if it is behind by 200 runs in a match of five days or more, by 150 runs in a three- or four-day match, by 100 runs in a two-day match, or by 75 runs in a one-day match. If the team that follows on scores a lower total in their two innings than their opponents scored in one, the team that batted first wins by an innings. If the team that follows on passes their opponent's total in their second innings, then the first side will bat again, taking the fourth innings instead of the third. A team may also win by a certain number of wickets. A team wins by wickets if it takes the lead during its second innings and the opposing team has already batted twice. If the team takes the lead after four batsmen have been put out, for example, it wins by six wickets because six batsmen have remained not out. If a match is not won by an innings or by wickets, the outcome is expressed by the number of runs scored by each team. Scoring. Most runs are scored by running from one wicket to the other. Each batsman must safely cross the opposite popping crease to score one run. Batsmen also score runs when they hit the ball out of the playing area, which is enclosed by the boundary. They score four runs when the ball rolls or bounces across the boundary line. They score six runs if the ball clears the boundary before hitting the ground. Runs called extras or sundries may also be scored in various ways. Sundries include byes, leg byes, wides, and no balls. A bye is a run scored when the ball passes the batsman without touching the bat or any part of his body and without knocking off a bail. A leg bye is a run scored when the ball hits the striker anywhere but on the hands. A ball that hits the hands or gloves below the wrist is played as if it had hit the bat. A wide ball is a delivery that the umpire rules is out of the batsman's reach. One run is automatically scored for a wide ball. A no ball may be called for certain violations of the rules. The main violations occur when (1) the bowler throws the ball instead of bowling it or (2) the bowler's feet are not in the proper position when the ball is delivered. A penalty of one run is scored for a no ball. But if a batsman hits a no ball and the batsmen score runs, these runs are counted instead of the penalty. Dismissals. There are several ways to dismiss a batsman. The most direct way is by bowling a ball which dislodges a bail from the stumps. Batsmen are also out if they are caught--that is, if they hit a ball that is caught by a fielder before it bounces or that lands in a fielder's clothing without touching the ground. Either batsman may be run out when trying to score. A batsman is run out if a wicketkeeper or other fielder breaks the wicket with the ball while the batsman is between the popping creases. He is then said to be out of his ground. A batsman is out stumped if he is out of his ground when not attempting a run and the wicketkeeper removes a bail with the ball, or with the hand in which he is holding it. A batsman can also be out LBW (leg before wicket) if he prevents the ball from hitting the wicket with any part of his body except with his hands. A batsman is out hit wicket if, while playing at a ball, he breaks the wicket with his bat or with any part of his body or clothing, including his cap or helmet falling off. A batsman is also out if he hits the ball a second time except to keep it from hitting the wicket. Obstructing the field occurs when a batsman prevents a player from fielding the ball. If the umpire decides that the batsman's action was deliberate, he declares the batsman out. A batsman may be out handled ball, if he intentionally touches a ball in play with a hand that is not holding the bat. Umpires make sure the game is played according to the rules, and they settle all disputes. One umpire stands behind the bowler's wicket to make decisions on whether the striker is caught or out LBW, and to rule on run outs at the bowler's end. A second umpire stands to the side of the striker's popping crease to rule on a stumping or run outs at that end. The umpire at the bowler's end also decides whether the ball is in play. The ball is in play from the moment the bowler begins the run-up to the popping crease. The ball is dead (not in play) when (1) it is finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper or bowler, (2) it lodges in the clothing or equipment of a batsman or umpire, (3) it lodges in a fielder's helmet, (4) it has been called lost, (5) a boundary is scored, (6) a batsman is out, (7) a penalty is awarded after a fielder intentionally stops the ball with something other than the body, (8) the umpire calls "over" or "time," (9) the umpire suspends play because of an injury to a player, or (10) the umpire intervenes in a case of unfair play. Playing cricket The batting side. The order in which a team's batsmen will bat is decided by the captain. After a batsman is out, a teammate replaces him until 10 players are out. One batsman always remains not out. A batsman may hold the bat any way that is comfortable and effective. Batsmen should stand with their weight evenly distributed and the feet slightly apart. Most batsmen stand with one foot on each side of the popping crease. One of the great skills of batsmanship is the ability to hit the ball so that it passes between the fielders. The batting strokes may be divided into two categories, forward play and back play. Each may be used either (1) to attack and try to score runs or (2) defensively to protect the wicket. For both strokes, the batsman swings the bat back in a movement called the back-lift, then brings it forward and down past the feet to hit the ball. On a forward stroke, the batsman moves the front foot forward near the path of the ball, putting his weight on the front foot. When facing a slow bowler, the batsman may take two or three steps towards the ball, rather than one long step. A forward stroke is better for a ball that bounces near enough to the batsman to be hit on the half-volley--that is, as soon as it bounces off the ground. Forward strokes are usually made with the bat pointed down--that is, with an angled bat. In this way, the ball is played along the ground and not in the air, where it may be caught. The back stroke is better for a ball that bounces so far in front of the batsman's wicket that the batsman can see which way the ball moves after it hits the ground. When playing defensively, the batsman brings the back leg into the path of the ball and points the bat down. There should be no space for the ball to pass between the bat and the batsman's body. In attacking back play, batsmen use a variety of strokes, depending on where the ball bounces and in what direction it moves. For example, they may swing the bat at an angle to the path of the ball with a hook or cut stroke. Another stroke called the back cut is played off the back foot to a ball wide of the off stump. The square cut sends the ball square of the batsman (roughly at right angles to him). The late cut sends the ball fine (at a slanting angle behind the wicket). As soon as the bowler delivers the ball, the nonstriker should be backing up (moving toward the opposite wicket) and ready to run. Batsmen do not have to try to score if the ball is hit. On most hits that go in front of the wicket, the striker decides whether it is possible to score. If it looks like both batsmen can safely reach the opposite popping crease, the striker calls to the nonstriker that they should run. When the ball goes behind the wicket, the nonstriker decides whether the batsmen should try to score. Misunderstanding between the batsmen is the main cause of run outs. The fielding side consists of the bowler, the wicketkeeper, and nine other fielders. The other fielders' positions vary in name and location. The most common positions are shown in the diagram that appears in this article. The captain directs the fielders to various positions. After the bowler has delivered a certain number of balls, the umpire calls "over." An over consists of either six or eight legitimate deliveries. Wide balls and no balls do not count in the total. After each over, the striker becomes the nonstriker and the nonstriker becomes the striker. Two successive overs cannot be bowled from the same end in one innings. In limited-over cricket, the game ends after a certain number of overs rather than after one or two innings. Good bowling is based on coordinated body, arm, and shoulder motion. The run-up to the bowling crease is designed to give the bowler enough power and balance to bowl the ball at the desired speed. At the final stride, a right-handed bowler's left shoulder should point toward the batsman. When the bowler's left foot has swung forward, the right shoulder should move forward and point in the direction the ball will travel. The bowler's wrist must be loose and the hand cocked back before releasing the ball. For the most power, the bowler continues the arm motion after the release. Bowlers try to deliver the ball so it bounces a short distance in front of the batsman. Such a delivery is difficult to hit because the batsman is uncertain whether to play forward or back. In addition, bowlers try to get batsmen out by changing the direction of the ball. Bowlers change the direction by controlling the ball's speed and by gripping and spinning the ball in special ways. They can thus make the ball curve (change direction in flight) or break (change direction after it bounces). The international administration of cricket Traditionally, the chief administrative body for cricket is the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), in London, a private club with about 18,000 members. The MCC was founded in the late 1700's. Since 1788, it has made and published the laws of cricket. It still holds the copyright on the laws of the game and controls their revision. It also does its best to uphold the spirit of the game. The highest level of cricket is found in international competitions called test matches. Official tests are played between teams representing Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. These countries are full members of a body called the International Cricket Council (ICC), which meets annually to organize the year's test match programme and to discuss topics relating to the game. The ICC was originally founded in 1909 as the Imperial Cricket Conference, representing three countries: England, Australia, and South Africa. India, New Zealand, and the West Indies joined in 1926, and Pakistan joined in 1952. When South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961, its membership of the ICC ceased, although it continued to play test cricket until 1970 (see COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS). In 1965, the ICC was renamed the International Cricket Conference and agreed to admit cricketing countries that did not play test matches as associate members. Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Fiji, and the United States were the first associate members. In 1989, the ICC was renamed the International Cricket Council. It then consisted of two foundation members (England and Australia), five full members (India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies), and 18 associate members. South Africa was readmitted to the ICC in 1991. The World Cup. The ICC is in charge of the overall administration of the four-yearly World Cup cricket competition, though the ruling bodies of the countries where the competitions take place are responsible for local arrangements. The World Cup was inaugurated in 1975 and the first three tournaments took place in England. In 1975, the World Cup was contested by the then six test match-playing countries, plus East Africa and Sri Lanka. The West Indies beat Australia in the final. In 1979, the World Cup, contested by the same teams except that Canada played instead of East Africa, was again won by the West Indies, who beat England in the final. In 1983, when Zimbabwe played instead of Canada, India were the victors, beating the West Indies. The 1987 World Cup, played by the same eight countries as in 1983, took place in Pakistan and India. In the final, Australia beat England. The fourth World Cup competition was held in 1992 in Australia and New Zealand. The eight countries which had competed in 1987 were joined by South Africa. The 1992 competition was won by Pakistan who beat England in the final. Cricket in the United Kingdom Cricket is played throughout the United Kingdom. But it is most popular in England, where it originated. Cricket was probably played as early as the 1300's. It became a major sport in the 1700's. In its earliest forms, the ball was bowled underhand, and bats were shaped like hockey sticks. In the mid-1800's, overarm bowling became legal, and batsmen began using bats like those of today. In 1859, the first overseas cricket tour took place. An English team went to North America and played against teams in Canada and the United States. Organization. Cricket is played as an organized game at many levels. Test matches and similar contests, such as one-day international matches, are played against the other cricketing countries. The test and county games together comprise first-class cricket. The other levels of cricket include school, club, and village matches. Test cricket evokes great interest, especially the matches between the "old enemies," England and Australia. The rivalry of these two sides goes back to 1877. But the competitive spirit is just as intense when England plays test sides from other countries. County cricket is supported largely by sponsorship, fund-raising campaigns and revenue from test matches and other major games. A total of 18 county cricket clubs play in the Britannic Assurance County Cricket Championship. Seventeen of the clubs are from England and one, Glamorgan, is from Wales. An additional 20 clubs play in the Minor Counties Championship. County matches were once played over three days, but a four-day match programme was introduced starting in 1993. Test matches are played over five days. One-day limited-over games have also proved popular and have attracted sponsorship. The Natwest Trophy (60 overs each side) is a knockout competition for all the First-Class counties, 13 Minor Counties League sides, and national sides from Ireland and Scotland. The final takes place at Lord's Cricket Ground, in London. The competition was founded as the Gillette Cup in 1963. Sponsorship passed to the National Westminster Bank in 1981. The Benson & Hedges Competition (55 overs each side) is another knockout contest involving the FirstClass county sides, a Minor Counties XI, a Combined Universities team, and Scotland. The competition dates from 1972. The Benson and Hedges final also takes place at Lord's. The Sunday League (40 overs each side) is a limited-overs league played on Sundays. The League was founded as the John Player Special League in 1969. Refuge Assurance took over the sponsorship in 1987. Since 1988, the top four counties in the League have played an end-of-season 40-over knockout competition for the Refuge Assurance Cup. However, Refuge Assurance's sponsorship ended at the close of the 1991 season. Women's cricket has been popular for many years and has recently developed rapidly. Its governing body is the Women's Cricket Association, founded in 1926. A women's test side plays international matches. Britain's best-known cricket ground is probably Lord's Cricket Ground at St. John's Wood, London. It is the home ground of the Middlesex county side and is a venue for test matches and other regular features. Lord's is British cricket's administrative headquarters. Test matches are played at other famous county grounds besides Lord's. They include Old Trafford, Manchester (home of the Lancashire side); Headingley, Leeds (Yorkshire's home ground); Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottinghamshire's home ground); Edgbaston, Birmingham (Warwickshire's home ground); and the Kennington Oval, in south London (Surrey's home ground). Administration. Since 1969, cricket's chief administrative body, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), has shared its administrative role in British cricket with the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) and the National Cricket Association (NCA). The TCCB controls all first-class cricket throughout the country, and the NCA controls all other formal cricket. The MCC, the TCCB, and the NCA together make up the Cricket Council. The Cricket Council is now the governing body of English cricket. The TCCB's duties include the selection of test sides. The board appoints the selectors who choose the team to play in each individual test match. The NCA, which expanded its authority and activities in the 1970's, has benefited greatly from commercial sponsorship. One of its important duties is to supervise coaching schemes for young players. History. The origins of cricket are not known precisely, but it was probably played as early as the 1300's. It was certainly well established by the time of the Tudor monarchs (1485-1603). Cricket's development seems to have prospered in the weald of Surrey, Kent, and Sussex. Regular organized matches were played by the Hambledon Club on Broadhalfpenny Down between 1750 and 1787. The MCC was founded in 1787 and won early acceptance as the game's governing body. The first test match took place at Melbourne, Australia, in 1877, when an Australian side beat James Lillywhite's XI by 45 runs. Since 1882, England and Australia have played a regular series of test matches for the Ashes. This term was first used after Australia had beaten England in a match in London. After that defeat, an English newspaper, the Sporting Times, printed a mock obituary notice, written by Shirley Brooks: "In affectionate remembrance of English Cricket, which died at the Oval, 29th August 1882. Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. N.B. The body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia." The following winter, Ivo Bligh, afterwards Lord Darnley, went to Australia. He promised to try to bring back the "ashes" of English cricket. His team won. Some Australian women in Melbourne burned a stump used in the third game and put the ashes in a small urn, which they presented to the English captain. When Lord Darnley died in 1927, the urn, by a bequest in his will, was given to the MCC. It is now displayed in the MCC Museum behind the pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground. The elegance of Edwardian cricket matches was shattered by the effects of World War I, and the game's protracted period of recovery spanned the 1920's. By the 1929-1930 winter season, the MCC was strong enough to send two test sides to tour New Zealand and the West Indies. England's 1932-1933 tour to Australia, under D. R. Jardine, was the controversial bodyline bowling series. For a description of this series and its effects on Australian-English relations, see the section on Cricket in Australia (History) later in this article. The 1960's, 1970's and 1980's saw many changes, including the development of one-day cricket; the introduction of commercial sponsorship; the proliferation of one-day international matches beyond the usual test series; a decline in attendance at county championship matches; and an increase in the number of overseas players at first-class level in English cricket. 1977 saw the emergence of World Series Cricket (WSC), backed by Kerry Packer, an Australian television executive. Packer's enterprise brought a brash commercialism to cricket. WSC was disbanded in 1979, but its effects continued. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the TCCB introduced several changes aimed at raising the standards of first-class cricket among players eligible to play for England. These changes included the introduction of four-day cricket, the imposition of penalties for pitches considered to be substandard, and the limitation of only one overseas player per county club. Outstanding cricketers. W. G. Grace heads the list of famous English batsmen. Another batsman of outstanding quality was C. B. Fry. Sir Jack Hobbs scored 197 centuries during his career. Frank Woolley was a left-hander of exquisite skill. Wally Hammond was a batsman of grace and power. Sir Leonard Hutton won fame for his record-breaking 364 at the Oval against Australia in 1938. Batsmen of the era since World War II include Denis Compton, Peter May, Colin Cowdrey, Ted Dexter, Geoffrey Boycott, David Gower, and Graham Gooch. Ian Botham became one of the finest all-rounders of all time. Among bowlers, Sidney Barnes holds pride of place with many experts. Others include Maurice Tate, Harold Larwood, Hedley Verity, Alec Bedser, Brian Statham, and Freddie Trueman. Trueman was the first bowler to take more than 300 wickets in tests. Notable wicket-keepers were Godfrey Evans and Alan Knott. Cricket in Australia Cricket has been one of the most popular sports in Australia for more than a hundred years. Australia is one of the world's leading nations in international cricket. The largest crowd ever to watch a cricket test match anywhere in the world totalled 250,534 over six days of the third test of the 1936-1937 series between Australia and England. The match took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The largest crowd ever to watch a single day's play anywhere in the world was 90,800. Again the venue was Melbourne, but this time the teams were Australia and the West Indies. Organization. Cricket is played at all levels in Australia. Every school with boys has cricket teams. The states of Australia compete for the Sheffield Shield. The Sheffield Shield was given by Lord Sheffield, an English patron of the 1890's, for competition among the Australian states. The shield bears the coat of arms of Sheffield and Australia. It dates from the 1892-1893 season, when New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria competed. Victoria won. Queensland was admitted in 1926, Western Australia in 1947, and Tasmania in 1977. Test matches are played between Australia and England for the Ashes about every two years, alternately in England and in Australia. Australia also plays against India, Pakistan, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. Until 1970, Australia also played against South Africa. Women's cricket is also popular. A women's match took place between New South Wales and Victoria in 1891. But the Australian Women's Cricket Council was formed 40 years later, in 1931, with New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland as the foundation members. Interstate games were played, and in 1934-1935, an English team visited Australia. Since then, several series have been played both in Australia and abroad. Administration. The Australian Cricket Board of Control (ACB) is the representative body of cricket in Australia. It was founded in 1905. History. The first matches in Australia that are definitely known about took place in Sydney in 1803. But casual games were undoubtedly played before that time. By 1840, cricket had taken a firm hold in Sydney. Tasmania introduced cricket in the early days of settlement. But the exact year is unknown. Wickets were pitched on Batman's Hill soon after John Batman selected the site of Melbourne. In November 1838, three years later, the Melbourne Cricket Club was formed. It wielded great influence over Australian cricket for several years, though it worked in harmony with the Sydney Cricket Ground to arrange early tours. In 1838, the first meeting was called in South Australia to form a cricket club. The South Australian Cricket Association was formed in 1871. Settlement in Western Australia was made in 1829. Although cricket was played soon afterward, it was not regarded seriously. It was not until 1893 that a Western Australian team toured the eastern colonies. A challenge by the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1856 led to the first intercolonial game, with New South Wales defeating Victoria by three wickets. In 1861, a Melbourne catering firm sponsored a tour of Australia by 12 professionals from England, under the captaincy of H. H. Stephenson. The team played against the odds of 15, 18, and sometimes 22 Australian players and lost only 2 of 15 matches. The sponsors made a large profit. This encouraged further visits, and in 1873, W. G. Grace captained a team to Australia. In 1868, Charles Lawrence took a team of Aborigines to England. His team won 14 matches, lost 14, and drew 19. The best performance by the visitors was given by Twopenny against Hampshire. Twopenny took 9 wickets for 9 runs, 8 of them bowled, and then caught the 10th batsman. He took 5 for 12 in the second innings. Dave Gregory captained a white team to England from Australia in 1878. Of 41 matches, the visitors won 19, lost 7, and drew 15. Test matches with England began after James Lillywhite brought out the fourth English team in 1876. But after New South Wales, with 15 players, twice beat the English team of 11 players, and Victoria, also with 15 players, once beat England, it was decided to play on even terms with 11 men a side. After taking his team to New Zealand, Lillywhite brought his men to Melbourne, where, on March 15, 1877, the first test match between Australia and England was begun. It lasted for three days, and Australia won by 45 runs. The only century of the match was made by Charles Bannerman, who played for Australia. He retired hurt after scoring 165. A second test match was played in 1877, also in Melbourne. England won by four wickets. This was the origin of what became one of the world's most famous sporting competitions. From 1882, the regular test matches between Australia and England were played for the Ashes. Cricketing rivalry between the countries was always keen. In the 1932-1933 season, when England devised a leg theory attack to curb the great Australian batsman Don Bradman, it threatened relations between Australia and Britain. The series was held in Australia. Captaining England was D. R. Jardine, with fast bowlers Harold Larwood, Bill Voce, G. O. B. Allen, and W. E. Bowes. The leg side was packed with fielders and the fast bowlers pitched balls that bounced dangerously toward the batsmen. The attack was known as bodyline. Several Australian batsmen suffered injuries from flying balls. W. M. Woodfull, the Australian captain, was struck severely over the heart. Wicketkeeper Bert Oldfield was knocked unconscious when he was struck on the head by a ball from Larwood. Woodfull made the famous remark: "There are two teams out there and one of them is playing cricket." In the third test, in Adelaide, both Woodfull and Oldfield were injured. The Australian Board of Control sent a cable to the MCC, expressing the opinion that the attack was unsportsmanlike and stating that, unless the tactics were altered, friendly relations between the two countries would be greatly impaired. The MCC replied that it had confidence in the team, the captain, and the players, and offered to cancel the tour if the board so wished. The tour continued, but Larwood retired at the end of it because of the unfavourable criticism. Outstanding cricketers. Many experts on cricket regard Don Bradman as the greatest batsman of all time. He played in 52 tests, scoring 6,996 runs, with an unrivalled average of 99.94. Many other batsmen have scored more than 5,000 runs in test cricket. In 1993, Allan Border reached 10,200 runs in test cricket passing the total of Sunil Gavaskar of India. Fred Spofforth was the earliest of Australia's great fast bowlers. He became known as the demon. Australia has also produced such great fast bowlers as Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee. Famous slow bowlers include Richie Benaud, Clarrie Grimmett, and Arthur Mailey. All-rounders include Jack Gregory and Keith Miller, while wicketkeepers include Don Tallon and Rodney Marsh. Cricket in South Africa Cricket is a major game in South Africa and the first recorded match, between teams made up of army officers, took place in 1808. Organization. From 1889, the chief internal competition was the Currie Cup, but in 1991 the competition was reorganized and the ruling body announced that, from the 1992-1993 season, the domestic competition would be known as the Castle Cup. Administration. The ruling body, founded in 1991, is the United Cricket Board of South Africa. It almalgamates the ethnically separate cricket organizations previously set up under apartheid (see APARTHEID). History. The first matches between South Africa and England given test match status were played in 1888-1889. Due to political controversy, however, South Africa did not play any official test matches between 1970 and 1991. Its return to international cricket was marked by three one-day internationals played in India in November 1991, followed by its participation in the World Cup competition in 1992. South Africa then played its first test match for 21 years against the West Indies in Barbados in April 1992. South Africa has produced many great players, including batsmen Graeme Pollock and Barry Richards, spin bowler Hugh Tayfield, and all-rounder Mike Procter. The South African Basil D'Oliveira moved from Cape Town and played for Worcestershire and England with great success. Cricket in New Zealand Cricket is a popular game throughout New Zealand. The first-class sides are Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Otago, and Wellington. Organization. From 1906, New Zealand's first-class teams competed in a challenge competition, the Plunket Shield. It was named after a governor-general of New Zealand. The competition became a league in 1921-1922. In 1974-1975, the Plunket Shield was replaced by the Shell Trophy, sponsored by the Shell Oil Company. Each team plays eight league matches. New Zealand's limited-overs competition was introduced in 1971-1972. Administration. The top cricketing organization in New Zealand is the Cricket Council's Board of Control. History. New Zealanders have played cricket since the 1830's, and first-class cricket began in the 1860's. The first New Zealand team to play overseas competed in Australia in 1898. But New Zealand did not achieve test status until 1929-1930, when New Zealand played a touring MCC side. The only other test team to play New Zealand before World War II was South Africa. New Zealand played its first test against Australia in 1945-1946. But, apart from this one game, New Zealand and Australia did not meet in a test match series until 1973-1974. Australian cricket overshadowed New Zealand cricket for many years, but New Zealand emerged as a major international team in the 1980's. They owed much to such batsmen as Glenn Turner and Martin Crowe, and to the all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee. Cricket in India Cricket arouses great enthusiasm in India. It has captured the imagination of many people, especially since India won the World Cup in 1979. Organization. The main competition is the Ranji Trophy, which was founded in 1934 and named in memory of the great cricketer Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, who later became the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. Major centres of cricket include Bombay, whose team has achieved the greatest success in the Ranji Trophy, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and other state capitals. Administration. The supreme cricketing organization is the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). History. Old Etonians (former pupils of Eton College, England) played against Parsis in India as early as 1784 and the Calcutta Club, once regarded as India's MCC, was formed in 1792. India's first great cricketer, K. S. Ranjitsinhji, played in England for Cambridge University, for Sussex, and in 15 test matches for England. The first Indian side to have first-class status toured England in 1911, but India did not achieve test match status until 1932. Great Indian players include the batsman Sunil Gavaskar, the all-rounders A. H. ("Vinoo") Mankad and Kapil Dev, and several great spin bowlers, including Bishen Bedi and B. S. Chandrasekhar. Cricket in Pakistan Pakistan has rapidly achieved a considerable reputation in world cricket. In 1992, Pakistan won the World Cup when they beat England in the final. Organization. The chief first-class cricket competition is the Qaid-I-Azam Trophy, which was introduced in 1953-1954. The Wills Cup, dating from 1980-1981, is the leading limited-overs competition. The main cricketing centre is Karachi. Administration. The supreme body for cricket is the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP). History. Pakistan gained test match status in 1952-1953, when it played a three-match series against India, winning one game, losing one, and drawing the other. Since then Pakistan has had an impressive record. Its great batsmen have included three brothers, Hanif Mohammad, Mushtaq Mohammad, and Sadiq Mohammad. Zaheer Abbas and Javed Miandad Khan were other fine batsmen. Imran Khan became one of cricket's greatest all-rounders, while Abdul Qadir's spin bowling has delighted spectators around the world. Cricket in the West Indies The West Indies have become known for their often spectacular cricket. They were once regarded as brilliant but inconsistent. But in the 1970's and 1980's, they dominated world cricket, winning the World Cup in both 1975 and 1979. Organization. Six teams--Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and Windward Islands--compete in the Caribbean Regional Cricket Tournament. This tournament was founded in 1965-1966 and was sponsored by Shell. The Shell Shield was replaced by the Red Stripe Cup after the 1986-1987 season. The six teams also compete in a limited-overs competition, the Geddes Grant Shield. Administration. The supreme cricketing authority is the West Indies Cricket Board of Control (WICBC). History. Cricket began in the West Indies in about 1800. By 1863, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, and British Guiana (now Guyana) had cricket clubs. In 1886 and 1887, teams from the West Indies exchanged visits with teams from Canada and the United States. The first Triangular Tournament was staged in 1892-1893 between Demerara (Guyana), Barbados, and Trinidad, but the great distances between the islands made it impossible for Jamaica, which also had a good side, to compete. Seven English sides toured the West Indies before World War I and the first West Indies team visited England in 1900. They were granted first-class status on a return visit in 1906. Test match status was gained in 1928. Despite the brilliance of two players, the batsman George Headley and the all-rounder Sir Learie Constantine, the West Indies were at first regarded as better players at home than overseas. After World War II, the West Indies produced many great players, including Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Garfield (Gary) Sobers. During the 1980's, the West Indies, under Clive Lloyd and later Vivian Richards, dominated world cricket. Their success was based on a bowling attack consisting of four fast bowlers. Great fast bowlers of this period included Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Michael Holding, and Malcolm Marshall. Cricket in Sri Lanka The British introduced cricket into Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in the 1820's, and a cricket club was formed in Colombo in 1832. Sri Lanka became a full member of the International Cricket Conference (now the International Cricket Council) in 1981, and it gained test match status in 1982-83. However, the internal strife on the island led to the cancellations of several projected tours and this proved a major setback in the development of Sri Lankan cricket. Cricket in other countries Cricket also flourishes in Zimbabwe, which has played in international cup matches, and was granted test match status in 1992. Cricket is also played in many other parts of the world, including Argentina, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, East Africa, Fiji, Gibraltar, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, the United States, and West Africa. All of these have representatives on the International Cricket Council.