There is no exact date that can be attributed as the day the game of cricket came into existence. But there are various evidences which suggest that it was somewhat created during the Saxon (597-1066) and Norman (911-1204) times

Many experts believe that the children of the Weald invented this game during these times and it remained with them for centuries before the adults picked it up. However it was much different from the game we know now. Research shows that it evolved from a game in which a player hurled a small piece of wood or a ball, and another hit it with a club.

Like the origin of the game, the origin of its name is equally uncertain. Some say ‘cricket’ was derived from the term ‘creckett’. It may also have been derived from Dutch word ‘krick’, which means a stick. Another possible source is the Middle Dutch word krickstoel, meaning a long low stool used for kneeling in church and which resembled the long low wicket with two stumps used in early cricket.

The first definite reference to the game is found in a 1598 court case concerning dispute over a school's ownership of a plot of land. A 59-year old John Derrick testified that he and his school friends had played 'creckett' on the site fifty years earlier. In the same year, the term 'cricket' appeared in Florio's Italian-English dictionary for the first time.
In the 17th century, the first reference of cricket becoming an adult’s game was found. In 1611, two men in Sussex were prosecuted for playing cricket on Sunday instead of going to church. Same year, Randle Cotgrave's French-English dictionary translated the French word "crosse" as a cricket staff.

After the Civil War ended in 1648, unlawful assemblies were banned by the Puritan government. During this period sports like football and cricket took a huge blow. In 1660, the Restoration of the monarchy began. Charles II restored the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Betting and county cricket:

The Restoration gave a fresh lease of life to cricket. It also attracted gamblers. Betting got legalised in 1664, when the Parliament passed the Gaming Act, which limited stakes to £100. By the end of 17th century, cricket emerged as primarily a gambling sport. The newspapers too focused on the betting rather than on the play.  In 1697, a newspaper reported of a "great match" played in Sussex, which was 11-a-side and played for high stakes of 50 guineas a side.

Since betting became an inseparable part of cricket, the gamblers decided to form their own teams to have better winning chances. It is believed that this lead to the formation of the county teams. The first known county match was played between Kent and Surrey in 1709.

Cricket goes abroad:

The first ever cricket match to be played abroad was by the British residents in Aleppo, Syria in 1676.

However, it was introduced in North America in the 17th century. In the 18th century, it was taken to the West Indies and India. By 1788, it moved to Australia. Cricket moved to New Zealand and South Africa in the early 19th century.

Laws of cricket:

While the basic rules of cricket evolved with the game itself, the Laws of Cricket were formed in 1744 by the London Club. The length of the pitch was fixed to 22 yards. The amendments were made later to these laws. In 1771, width of bat was limited to 4 1/4 inches.

After 1760, the original form of bowling (i.e. rolling the ball along the ground) was replaced with bowlers to pitching the ball and with varying line, length and pace. Since 1772, scorecards were maintained. That helped in keeping a track of the growth of the game.

In 1774, the rule of LBW was innovated along with the inclusion of the middle stump. In 1787, the Marylebone Cricket Club was formed, who became the custodians of the laws of the game and modified when and if necessary. In 1788, the MCC revised the Laws of Cricket for the first time. In 1795, the first case of LBW dismissal was recorded.

In 1809, the weight of the ball was standardised from between 5 and 6 ounces (142 to 170 g) to between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (156 to 163 g). Width of the cricket bat was also standardised. The length of wicket was increased from 22 to 24 inches and bails from 6 to 7 inches. In 1931, the stumps were made higher to 28 inches.

In 1828, the MCC allowed the bowlers to raise their hands level with the elbow. In 1829, the length of the stumps and bails were further increased to 27 inches and 8 inches respectively. Around 1836, batting pads were invented while the wicket-keeping gloves were first used. A new Code of Laws was approved by the MCC in 1835, and then in 1884.

In 1884, some the biggest changes were introduced, which are still followed. Some of them are – Fixing the number of players (i.e. eleven players a side), follow-on rule and that a side will have to dismiss the opposition twice to win the game. Earlier five deliveries consisted an over. It was changed to six-ball an over in 1900.

Test Playing Nations:

In 1868, Australia toured England. In 1889 South Africa played their first Test match. In 1928, West Indies played first Test. In 1930, New Zealand played their first Test. In 1932, India played their first Test. In 1932-33, the first bodyline tour of Australia happened. In 1935, the bodyline was outlawed by the MCC.

In 1909, the ICC was formed by England, Australia and South Africa. At that time it was called the Imperial Cricket Conference. India became a Test playing nation before the Second World War along with New Zealand and West Indies. Pakistan too became a member soon after they came into existence. They played their first Test match in 1952.  In 1982 Sri Lanka became the eight Test playing nations. Zimbabwe followed suit in 1992. Bangladesh became the tenth Test playing nation.

In 1971, South Africa cricket went into turmoil due to apartheid.