Cricket Not British...Howzat?
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Cricket has always been a popular sport in the British commonwealth countries and has been played since the 1600's as history goes. But recent reports may shake up and shock British history forever. Apparently the game was imported from Belgium according to a BBC report and University studies...
A poem thought to have been written in 1533 has been uncovered, which suggests the game originates from Flanders. In the work attributed to John Skelton, Flemish weavers are labelled "kings of crekettes", according to Paul Campbell of the Australian National University. The discovery challenges the long established theory that the sport evolved from English children's games.
The first definitive references to the game appeared in England in the 1600s, when fines were handed out for those missing church to play. A game played by the masses in the country was taken into public schools and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the century that followed. The first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s and the world-famous Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787.
But German academic Heiner Gillmeister and his Australian colleague, Mr Campbell, say the discovery proves the quintessential English pastime is anything but English.
THE IMAGE OF IPOCRISIE
O lodre of Ipocrites,
Nowe shut vpp your wickettes,
And clappe to your clickettes!
A! Farewell, kings of crekettes!
Poem attributed to John Skelton
Mr Campbell has uncovered a reference to cricket in the 16th Century work, The Image of Ipocrisie, attributed to the English poet John Skelton, which refers to Flemish weavers who settled in southern and eastern England. They are described as "kings of crekettes"; "wickettes" are mentioned too. Thought to be the weavers brought the game to England and played it close to where they looked after their sheep, using shepherd's crooks as bats. Mr Campbell's research was based on earlier investigations by Mr Gillmeister, a linguist from the University of Bonn. He is certain cricket cannot have started in England.
In response to these findings, cricket historian David Frith said: "It is hard to deny that this is a breakthrough. This discovery points to an addition to the great history of cricket. It's exciting we haven't yet written the final word on it." He added: "It does make you wonder why Belgium isn't playing test cricket though, doesn't it?"
Does anyone reallly care where is started? The British are the nation who pushed the game forward just like fish and chips from the vikings or a cuppa tea from India. But would you now think "oh Cricket...thats just so Belguiqe!". Hmmm that's just not cricket now is it?
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