While passionate about badminton, many of my fondest childhood memories were lived on the cricket field. It didn’t matter whether it was summer, or winter, a bunch of 11 kids would take one bat and a ball, team up with 5 to 6 kids from a nearby colony, and play till 6:30 in the evening.

All those memories came up when I talked to a childhood friend of mine. He and I were two kids aged 15-16 who would show up on the playground daily. We talked about badminton and cricket and that is when it struck me, why not have a blog combining the two?

Cricket was the childhood sweetheart of many while badminton has become the professional reality of many in the cities today. The manifold increase in badminton’s popularity can be directly affiliated with its minimalistic nature as a sport. At the same time, cricket is fun with a crowd.

Today’s blog is not about comparing the two sports’ popularity. Instead, it would be an exhilarating journey celebrating both the sports’ triumphs. After all, cricket and badminton are two titans of the sporting world that might seem worlds apart, but they share a deep-rooted passion and global appeal. While one captivates audiences with its explosive battles on the pitch, the other enthralls with its lightning-fast rallies and strategic finesse on the court.

History

The Origins and Early Development of Cricket

If you have watched Aamir Khan’s “Lagaan” – you would know the British considered themselves the inventors of cricket. It might just be a speculation but the earliest recorded instances of cricket can be traced back to the 16th century A.D. in England. Originally played by kids using balls made of rags and a wooden bat, the game of cricket evolved into a popular sport among the English gentry and gained widespread recognition across many of the British colonies.

Over time, cricket came to be known as the Englishman’s favorite pastime. Early on, Test cricket was the only form of cricket played by the players with each match played over 5 to 6 days. Then came the ODI’s and more recently, the T20’s.

Often known as the gentleman’s game, the first-ever International cricket match was held on 15th March 1877 between England and Australia – giving rise to an eternal rivalry that continues to date. The first-ever Indian team to play an International cricket match was formed in 1888. It was a team that majorly comprised Parsees who proudly represented their country and community.

The rest is history. The International Cricket Council (ICC) was established in 1909 by England, Australia, and South Africa. Back then it was called the Imperial Cricket Council. Later on, many other countries joined the ICC with India becoming its member in the year 1930. In 1975, the first-ever Cricket World Cup was organized in England.

West Indies won the first two editions of the World Cup. India won the 1983 edition of the world cup instilling a sense of love and devotion for this sport forever in the hearts of the Indians. Today, we are a vastly cricketing country with the modern form of the game taking on our lives each day.

The Origins and Early Developments of Badminton

I have already covered this topic in one of my previous blogs. If you want to have a detailed overview of how badminton came into being as a modern-day sport, here’s the link. Badminton can be traced back to a timeline as old as the Indic-Vedic civilization or the Egyptian Pharaohs.

Traces of its primitive form can still be found in many cultures. For example, Hanetsuki, a game similar to badminton, is a traditional pastime during the Japanese New Year or Spring. We can find similar traces in many cultures around the world.

Initially known as “Battledore and Shuttlecock” – modern badminton got its first set of rules in the 19th century. It was one of the most popular games amongst the British garrison officers stationed in India.

The earliest known name for badminton in modern colloquial language is “Poona.” The British named it “Battledore and Shuttlecock” before it was called Badminton after Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England, giving the sport its current name.

Tracing Their Growth into Global Sports

Let’s look at their growth together in tandem.

Cricket expanded throughout the British Empire and became popular in nations such as Australia, South Africa, and India. The establishment of the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909, which is now called the International Cricket Council, standardized the rules and facilitated the international promotion of the sport. Currently, cricket is played in more than 100 countries and enjoys significant popularity in the Commonwealth nations.

It’s funny how two games that came up as a means of recreation for the British, became world-famous sports with Asian countries dominating it in the world scenario.

Over the ages, both badminton and cricket have experienced dramatic changes as they have embraced new technologies and adapted to shifting social mores. As the titans of sports, they have captivated audiences and motivated many sportsmen with their extensive appeal and deep-rooted history.

Rules, Similarities, and Differences

Rules

Cricket

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players each on a large oval-shaped field. The objective is to score more runs than the opposing team by hitting the ball with a bat and running between two sets of small wooden posts called wickets.

The game is divided into innings, with one team batting while the other team fields and bowls. The batting team tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running between the wickets, while the fielding team attempts to get the batters out by various means, such as bowling them out, catching the ball, or hitting the wickets with the ball.

Badminton

Badminton is a racket sport played on a rectangular court divided by a net. The objective is to hit a lightweight shuttlecock (a feathered or synthetic projectile) over the net and into the opponent’s court, intending to prevent the opponent from returning the shuttlecock successfully.

The game can be played in singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side). Players use rackets to strike the shuttlecock back and forth across the net, and points are scored when one side fails to return the shuttlecock before it hits the ground or commits a fault, such as hitting the shuttlecock outside the court boundaries.

Similarities and Differences

Though their primary goals may appear to be very different, badminton and cricket have several things in common. In both games, players use a bat or a racket to hit an item (a ball or a shuttlecock) and score runs or points when their strokes are successful.

There are many notable differences between the two sports’ regulations and gameplay. Players alternate between hitting and fielding in the team sport of cricket, which is played on a big field. On the other hand, badminton is a smaller court game that can be played solo or in pairs. Shots are constantly exchanged back and forth.

Additionally, whereas badminton’s rules are relatively simpler and concentrate on the accurate placement and execution of strokes within the court borders, cricket’s laws are more intricate and contain complicated strategies relating to bowling, fielding, and scoring runs.

Despite these distinctions, participants in both sports must possess extraordinary skill, endurance, and strategic thinking, which makes them both appealing and difficult to perfect.

Notable Players and Legends

The G.O.A.T.s of Cricket

The game of Cricket in its 200 years of vast history has seen some of the greatest players rise to the pinnacle of sportsmanship. These mid-wicket tales are engraved on the century board of Lord’s Cricket Stadium, United Kingdom. Some of these mid-wicket tales are lesser known batsmen and bowlers who fought adversaries and other shortcomings to consolidate their position in the annals of the history of this sport.

Players like Sir Donald Bradman, are widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time, with his remarkable career batting average of 99.94. Sachin Tendulkar, the “Master Blaster” from India, holds numerous batting records, including the most runs scored in both Tests and ODIs. Other cricketing greats include Sir Viv Richards, Shane Warne, Wasim Akram, Shri Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Sir Garfield Sobers, each renowned for their exceptional skills and contributions to the game.

While mentioning cricketing legends from the Indian soil, Kapil Dev, Pataudi, and the entire team of 1983 and before need a special mention. And if we are to mention legends, the Parsee community of India and the Holkars of Saurashtra also deserve a special mention because of their zeal for the sport of cricket which is at par with any modern religion in India. We shall talk about each of these contributions in the later blogs.

The G.O.A.T.s of Badminton

There have also been a number of legendary badminton players who have left their mark on the history of the game. Many people rank Chinese badminton player Lin Dan, a two-time Olympian and five-time world champion, as one of the all-time greats.

With his amazing movement and cunning shots, Malaysian icon Lee Chong Wei dominated the sport for more than ten years. Other legendary players in badminton include Taufik Hidayat, Zhang Ning, and, more recently, Tai Tzu Ying and Viktor Axelsen, whose remarkable athleticism and talents have captivated fans.

No list of badminton greats is complete without the mentions of Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, and Carolina Marin. These legends have paved the way for many in the modern era. Talking a bit about the yesteryears – these two badminton legends have represented their country in the international circuit and have won accolades. However, they are known for fueling the dreams of many young badminton players in India. Pullela Gopichand and Prakash Padukone – through their academies have honed many a player to take center stage in world badminton.

These legends have also played a pivotal role in popularizing their respective sports, attracting new fans and garnering global recognition. Their legacies continue to live on, serving as a testament to the enduring spirit and greatness of cricket and badminton.