For those unfamiliar with the history of cricket in the United States, it may seem unbelievable. The United States is predominantly known for its passion for team sports such as baseball and basketball. Cricket, on the other hand, is largely considered an immigrant phenomenon, gradually making strides towards achieving its American Dream. The U.S. cricket team, mainly composed of Indian and Caribbean immigrants, has been making headlines in the ongoing T20 World Cup by defeating established teams like Pakistan, a full-time member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
However, cricket has a rich and extensive history in the U.S. Long before baseball dominated the American sports scene, cricket was a popular and widely played game across the nation. George B. Kirsch, a sports historian and former Professor of History at Manhattan College, detailed in his 1984 paper 'American cricket: Players and clubs before the Civil War' that although cricket did not flourish as much as baseball, early enthusiasts of the game contributed significantly to the development of modern American team sports.
Let's delve into the origins, rise, and eventual decline of cricket in the U.S., tracing its journey from a colonial pastime to a nearly forgotten sport, and examining the ongoing efforts for its revival.
### Colonial Beginnings of Cricket in the U.S.
Cricket was introduced to North America by British colonists as early as the 17th century. The first documented reference to the game dates back to 1709 in a diary entry by William Byrd II, a prominent writer and satirist of pre-Revolutionary America. On May 6, 1709, Byrd wrote, "I rose at 6 o’clock and Colonel Ludwell, Nat Harrison, Mr. Edwards and myself played at cricket, and I won a bit. Then we played at whist and I won."
In 1751, the New York Gazette and the Weekly Post Boy published the earliest known report of a cricket match in North America, describing a game between teams from London and New York City. Cricket was a favoured pastime among British colonists, spreading to territories such as Virginia and Pennsylvania by the mid-1700s.
Despite the waning interest in all things British following the American Revolution in 1783, cricket continued to thrive. By the mid-1800s, the sport was played in 22 states, and institutions like Haverford College and the University of Pennsylvania had incorporated cricket into their athletic programs.
The Golden Age of Cricket in the U.S.
The 19th century is considered the golden age of cricket in the United States. During this period, cricket was the dominant bat-and-ball sport, even surpassing baseball in popularity. George Kirsch, in his paper 'American cricket: Players and clubs before the Civil War' published in the 'Journal of Sport History,' noted that the sport's modern phase began with the founding of New York's St. George Cricket Club in 1839 and Philadelphia's Union Club in 1843. By 1850, there were at least twenty cricket organizations in more than a dozen American communities, with around five hundred active players.
The first international cricket match was played in 1844 between the U.S. and Canada in New York, marking the world's first international sporting event, predating the modern Olympic Games. Philadelphia, in particular, emerged as a cricketing hub, with the establishment of the Philadelphia Cricket Club in 1854, one of the oldest cricket clubs in the U.S. Matches drew large crowds, and cricket was regularly featured in newspapers and periodicals.
How the American Civil War Gave Boost to Baseball
The American Civil War (1861-1865) marked a turning point for cricket in the U.S. Jason Kaufman and Orlando Patterson, in their paper 'Cross-national cultural diffusion: The global spread of cricket,' noted that elite cricketers’ reluctance to popularize the sport beyond their social circles contributed to its decline. The Civil War caused widespread disruption, with many cricketers enlisting in the military, leading to canceled matches and dwindling club memberships.
Post-war, baseball gained prominence, perceived as a more American sport compared to cricket's British roots. The cultural shift towards American nationalism and baseball's simplicity and accessibility made it more popular. George Kirsch noted that while cricket required a well-manicured grass surface for quality play, baseball was easier to organize and play, contributing to its rise over cricket.
The resurgence of Cricket in the U.S.
In recent years, cricket has seen a modest resurgence in the U.S., driven largely by immigration from cricket-loving nations like India, Pakistan, and the Caribbean. The formation of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) and its reorganization into USA Cricket have aimed to revive and promote the sport at grassroots and professional levels. The establishment of Major League Cricket (MLC), with its inaugural season in 2023, marked a significant milestone. The second season of MLC is set to begin shortly after the T20 World Cup, featuring high-profile cricketers like Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
While cricket remains popular primarily among immigrants from Southeast Asia, the T20 format’s mass appeal could lead to deeper penetration in the American sports landscape. Team USA’s progress to the Super 8 stage in the T20 World Cup signals a promising future for cricket in the U.S.
By understanding cricket's rich history in the U.S. and acknowledging the efforts to revive it, we can appreciate the sport's journey and its potential to become a significant part of the American sports scene once again.
