A medieval "club ball" game involving an underhand bowl towards a batter. Ball catchers are shown positioning themselves to catch a ball. Detail from the Canticles of Holy Mary, 13th century.

History of cricket

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Cricket is one of many games in the "club ball" sphere that basically involve hitting a ball with a hand-held implement; others include 

 with cricket, both belonging in the more specific 

 In cricket's case, a key difference is the existence of a solid target structure, the wicket (originally, it is thought, a "wicket gate" through which sheep were herded), that the batter must defend.

 identified three "groups" of "club ball" games: the "hockey group", in which the ball is driven to and fro between two targets (the goals); the "golf group", in which the ball is driven towards an undefended target (the hole); and the "cricket group", in which "the ball is aimed at a mark (the wicket) and driven away from it".

It is generally believed that cricket originated as a 

 in the south-eastern counties of England, sometime during the 

 Although there are claims for prior dates, the earliest definite reference to cricket being played comes from evidence given at a court case in 

), equating to January 1598 in the modern calendar. The case concerned ownership of a certain plot of land and the court heard the testimony of a 59-year-old 

, which is organised and played separately, has also achieved international standard. The most successful side playing 

, more than any other country and has been the 

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