Cricket in the USA

Whilst most of the eyes of the cricketing worldcricket and was played in small town and city
are turning to the 2009 Ashes Series betweensquares. This was easily played in urban areas.
England and Australia how many of you knownMore importantly a select number of cricket clubs
that in the past our American cousins played thewent on to sponsor the first American baseball
game of gentleman?teams, as they came to be called .In the 1900s,
As early as the 1700s, American cricket clubsthe game of baseball became so popular in the
were established and this was not long after theyUSA that it all but put to death the game of
first appeared in England. Cricket quickly becamecricket that gave it life. Within a few short
established as a leisurely pastime. Not long after,decades, cricket in the USA was nothing but a
eastern Canada developed their own clubs. Thisdistant memory.
acted as a catalyst to both the US and CanadianSome 30 years ago in the back in the 1970s, the
cricket clubs to go in search of regularUSA turned once again to cricket as populations
competition and it soon led to the firstincreased with a corresponding interest in cricket.
international cricket match.Disney even looked at the potential profits that
The first Canada vs. USA cricket match has beencould be gleaned by bringing cricket back to the
played annually since the 1840s, and bringsUnited States. The jury is still out as to whether a
upwards of 10,000 fans to New York. Believe itnew cricket association should be re launched or if
or not it is one of the oldest international sportingthe sporting American public would spend money
events in the world today. The Canada vs. USAinvesting in first-class cricket matches and
cricket match was to prove be the first of whatwatching international cricketers in their own cities
would eventually lead to a far reachingand towns. With down turn in the global economy,
international sport.the time is possible not quite right to reintroduce
The 20th century saw cricket in America go intothe game to the North American shores but who
terminal decline. Whilst In the late 1800s, cricketknows what the future holds for this potentially
remained an amateur sport, at the same timelucrative market. The face of cricket continues to
both England and Australia were on the verge ofevolve and as you watch the bitter rivalry played
launching a professional system for theirout between the English and Australian cricket
cricketers. Internationally, a real effort was putplayers for the 2009 Ashes series this summer,
into improving cricketing standards but manydare to believe that one day a the USA cricket
North American cricket clubs chose to remain eliteteam will visit these shore to contest an inaugural
preserving their amateur status. Who now hasfirst test between the two nations.
heard of Town ball? A sport developed out of