Class 7 English Notes Chapter 10 (The Story of Cricket) – Honeycomb Book

Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 10, 'The Story of Cricket', from your Honeycomb textbook. This chapter traces the fascinating history and evolution of a game deeply rooted in English culture, which later spread across the globe. For your exam preparation, pay close attention to the historical details, unique characteristics, and the social context surrounding cricket.

Chapter 10: The Story of Cricket - Detailed Notes

1. Origins and Early History:

• Cricket emerged from the various 'stick-and-ball' games played in England over 500 years ago.
• The term 'cricket' likely derives from the Old English word 'cryce', meaning a stick or crutch.
• By the 17th century, it was recognisable as a distinct game.
• It became codified (laws were written down) in the middle of the 18th century (First Laws of Cricket: 1744).

2. Unique Aspects of Cricket (Compared to other sports):

• Duration: Test matches, the original form, can last up to five days and still end in a draw, unlike most modern team sports with fixed time limits.
• Pitch Dimensions: The pitch length is specified (22 yards), but the size and shape of the ground are not fixed. Grounds can be oval (like Adelaide Oval) or nearly circular (like Chepauk in Chennai). This contrasts sharply with sports like hockey or football where field dimensions are standardized.
• Historical Reasons: These peculiarities are remnants of cricket's origins as a village game in England, where rules weren't initially standardized, and playing areas varied. The pace of village life also influenced the leisurely duration of matches.

3. Evolution of Cricket Equipment:

• The Bat:
  • Early: Resembled a hockey stick (curved at the bottom).
  • Reason: The ball was bowled underarm, along the ground.
  • Modern: Straight, flat blade made of willow wood. Width specified by law.
  • Reason for Change: Emergence of pitched bowling through the air required a different batting technique and bat shape.
• The Ball:
  • Remained remarkably consistent: Handmade, leather-covered, with a stitched seam. Weight specified (between 5 ½ to 5 ¾ ounces).
  • Its core materials (cork, twine) and basic construction method have changed little over time.
• Protective Gear:
  • Not part of early cricket.
  • Pads were introduced in 1848.
  • Gloves followed soon after.
  • Initially made from natural materials; later, vulcanised rubber and synthetic, lightweight materials were used.

4. The Laws of Cricket:

• First Written Laws (1744): Stipulated umpire roles, stump dimensions (22 inches high, 6-inch bail), ball weight, and distance between stumps (22 yards).
• Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC): Founded in 1787, it became the guardian of cricket's laws, publishing revisions and taking responsibility for their regulation. Its influence continues today, though the International Cricket Council (ICC) now governs the international game.
• Significant Law Changes:
  • LBW (Leg Before Wicket) law published around 1774.
  • A third stump became common.
  • Introduction of the six-seam cricket ball.
  • Overarm bowling, initially controversial, was legalized around the mid-19th century after much debate and experimentation (underarm and round-arm bowling preceded it).

5. Cricket and Social Class in England:

• Amateurs vs. Professionals:
  • Gentlemen (Amateurs): Wealthy individuals who played for leisure and status. Typically batsmen.
  • Players (Professionals): Poorer individuals who played for wages. Often bowlers and fielders, tasks considered more laborious.
• Social Distinction: The game reflected England's class divisions. Even the terms used ('batting' associated with higher status) mirrored this social hierarchy. Amateurs often captained teams, regardless of skill.

6. The Spread of Cricket:

• British Empire: Cricket spread primarily through British colonialism. It was initially played by white settlers and elites in the colonies.
• West Indies: Cricket became hugely popular. Success in cricket was seen by the Afro-Caribbean population as a symbol of racial equality and political progress, challenging colonial power structures.
• India:
  • Introduction: Brought by the British military and civilians.
  • Parsi Community: The first Indian community to embrace cricket, founding the Oriental Cricket Club in Bombay in 1848. They sought to integrate by adopting British customs.
  • Rivalry and Growth: Parsis challenged the exclusive 'whites only' Bombay Gymkhana. Later, Hindu and Muslim Gymkhanas were formed.
  • Communal Tournaments: This led to the Quadrangular (Europeans, Parsis, Hindus, Muslims) and later Pentangular ('The Rest' added) tournaments, based on religious communities. Mahatma Gandhi criticised these tournaments for dividing Indians.

7. Modern Cricket:

• Shift in Power: The influence of English amateurs declined. Power shifted from England/Australia towards nations like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
• Technology and Commerce:
  • Satellite television dramatically increased cricket's reach, especially in South Asia.
  • India became the largest viewership market and the game's commercial centre.
• Globalisation: The International Cricket Council (ICC) headquarters moved from London to tax-free Dubai, symbolising the shift away from British control.
• New Formats: One-Day Internationals (ODIs), pioneered partly by Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket in the 1970s, gained immense popularity, changing the game's pace and strategy. Shorter formats (like T20) evolved later.

8. Key Terminology:

• Test Match: The traditional, longest format of cricket (up to 5 days).
• ODI: One-Day International (limited overs per side, usually 50).
• LBW: Leg Before Wicket (a way a batsman can be dismissed).
• Stumps: The three vertical wooden posts at each end of the pitch.
• Bail: The small pieces of wood resting on top of the stumps.
• Pitch: The rectangular area (22 yards long) between the stumps where batting and bowling occur.
• Crease: Lines marked on the pitch to indicate positions for batsmen and bowlers.
• Underarm/Round-arm/Overarm: Different historical styles of bowling.
• Gentlemen/Players: Terms for amateur/professional cricketers in England.
• MCC: Marylebone Cricket Club (historical guardian of laws).
• ICC: International Cricket Council (current global governing body).
• Quadrangular/Pentangular: Communal cricket tournaments held in colonial India.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Here are 10 MCQs based on the chapter details. Choose the best answer for each:

1. According to the chapter, the earliest cricket bats resembled which piece of sports equipment?
   a) Tennis racket
   b) Baseball bat
   c) Hockey stick
   d) Golf club

2. What is the specified length of a cricket pitch according to the Laws of Cricket?
   a) 20 yards
   b) 22 yards
   c) 24 yards
   d) 25 metres

3. Which organisation, founded in 1787, became the guardian of cricket's laws?
   a) International Cricket Council (ICC)
   b) Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
   c) England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
   d) Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)

4. The chapter mentions that the first Indian community to establish a cricket club was the:
   a) Hindus
   b) Muslims
   c) Parsis
   d) Europeans

5. What was a major difference between 'Gentlemen' and 'Players' in English cricket history?
   a) Gentlemen were bowlers, Players were batsmen.
   b) Gentlemen played professionally, Players played for fun.
   c) Gentlemen were wealthy amateurs, Players were paid professionals.
   d) Gentlemen followed different rules than Players.

6. One unique characteristic of Test cricket mentioned in the chapter is:
   a) It is always played under floodlights.
   b) It can last five days and still end in a draw.
   c) The size of the ground is strictly standardized globally.
   d) Only two players per team are allowed on the field.

7. Which technological innovation significantly expanded cricket's audience, especially in South Asia?
   a) Radio commentary
   b) Internet streaming
   c) Satellite television
   d) Printed newspapers

8. The controversial Quadrangular and Pentangular tournaments in colonial India were organised based on:
   a) Geographical regions
   b) Professional status
   c) Batting averages
   d) Religious communities

9. Why did early cricket bats have a curved shape at the bottom?
   a) To hit the ball harder
   b) Because the ball was bowled underarm along the ground
   c) To comply with the laws of 1744
   d) Because wood was easier to curve than flatten

10. Where did the ICC headquarters move from London, signifying a shift in cricket's global power balance?
    a) Mumbai
    b) Melbourne
    c) Dubai
    d) Johannesburg

Answer Key:

1. c) Hockey stick
2. b) 22 yards
3. d) Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
4. c) Parsis
5. c) Gentlemen were wealthy amateurs, Players were paid professionals.
6. b) It can last five days and still end in a draw.
7. c) Satellite television
8. d) Religious communities
9. b) Because the ball was bowled underarm along the ground
10. c) Dubai

Study these notes carefully. Understanding the historical context, the evolution of rules and equipment, and the social dimensions is crucial. Good luck with your preparation!