In South East England, a few children played a sport for recreation in the 16th century. The game played by the kids was the blueprint of modern cricket. It was in 1877, when this sport’s first professional match took place between England and Australia. However, it is noteworthy to mention that club cricket teams from North America and England often played against each other. But these matches were only exhibits. It was during the inter-war years, when cricket expanded globally.
In 1896, Athens hosted the first ever summer Olympics. Cricket was scheduled to be one of the sports. But unfortunately there were no entries received, and cricket had to be cancelled from the schedule. In the following Olympics held in Paris in 1900, Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Netherlands registered for competing in cricket. But since Belgium and Netherlands lost their bid to host the Olympics, they withdrew from the cricket competition. As a result, Great Britain and France remained the only competing sides for the Olympics.
It was a one-off match scheduled to be played in the test cricket format. The venue was the Velodrome de Vincennes, a cycling track. Great Britain was popularly known as England back then. The French translation for England was Angleterre. Thus, ahead of the match the advertising posters read that the French side was taking on the Angleterre for the cricket Olympics title.
All matches in cricket have historically seen a playing team of eleven. But for this match, both sides reached a mutual agreement and fielding a 12-men side. Players representing the Great Britain comprised of club cricketers from Devon and Somerset Wanderers. The French side majorly comprised of British immigrants.Of the 24 players who took to the field, only two had previous experience of playing club cricket. The first innings of the British side began on 19th August. They were all out for 117. In response, thanks to Frederick Christian’s seven-wicket haul, the English were able to bowl out the French side for 78. Overnight, the English side had a lead of 39 runs.
The following day, two English players CBK Beachcroft (also the captain of the side) and Alfred Bowerman struck half centuries. They declared on 145 and the French were given a target of 185. The French side tried to draw the match and opted for a defensive approach. But a 4:55 p.m., when only five minutes were left for the day’s play to end, the final French wicket fell. They were all out for only 26 runs. England’s Montagu Toller picked up seven wickets in the second innings.
Since it was a one-off match, it was largely seen as an exhibition than an Olympic event. As a result Great Britain bagged the silver medal whereas the French got the bronze. Both sides received miniature versions of the Eiffel Tower. After twelve years, this match was recognized as an Olympic match and the medals of both teams were upgraded to gold and silver.
After the 1900 Olympics, the 1904 Olympics once again saw a deficit in entries for cricket. Thus, the sport was cancelled from The Games. Now, after 128 years, cricket is set to make a comeback in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. A men’s and a women’s event will be held separately and the matches will follow a T20 format.
