The exact origins of cricket are uncertain, but the game can be traced back to the 16th century in England. The first known reference to cricket being played dates back to a court case in 1597, which indicates that the game was already popular at the time.
However, the first officially recorded cricket match took place in 1709 between teams representing the villages of Bramley and Hambledon in England. The match was played in the village of Hambledon, and it was a two-day game. Hambledon won the match, which was played with four balls per over, by an unknown margin.
It’s worth noting that the rules of cricket were not standardized at the time, and matches were often played with different rules depending on the location and the players involved. The modern rules of cricket were developed over time, with the first formalized rules being written by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1744.
