Cricket: History

First recorded women's match			1745
Rules of cricket first compiled			1774
MCC formed			1787
First international match (USA v. Canada)			1844
First Test Match (Melbourne)			1877
First Test Match in England (at The Oval)			1880
The Ashes instituted			1882
Official County Championship first contested			1890
The first 'timeless test' (England v. Australia, at The Oval)			1926
The last 'timeless test' (South Africa v. England, at Durban)			1939
Gillette Cup – England's first one–day competition – first contested			1963
John Player League (Sundays, 40 overs) first contested			1969
Cancellation of England's tour marks the beginning of South Africa's isolation			1970
The first One Day International played (Australia v. England, Melbourne)			1971
The first World Cup			1975
Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket first contested			1977
NatWest took over sponsorship of the Gillette Cup			1981
Refuge took over sponsorship of the Sunday League from John Player			1987
Ban on South Africa lifted following the end of apartheid			1991
Durham became a first–class county			1992
Sunday League renamed the National League			1999
County Championship split into two divisions			2000
Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society took over sponsorship of the NatWest Trophy			2001
Twenty20 Cup first contested			2003

1973

1993

2009

2017

1988

2009

2017

First used 6 September 1776 in Coulsden v Chertsey, Surrey		3–stump wicket
The first Australian tourists (1866) were all		Aborigines
Hambledon CC's ground		Broadhalfpenny Down
Often said to have been introduced by Christina Willes, sister of Kent cricketer John Willes; in fact, introduced by Tom Walker of Hambledon in the 1790s		Roundarm bowling
Founder members of the ICC: England, Australia and		South Africa
The ICC moved its headquarters in 2005 (from Lord's and Monaco), to		Dubai