Cricket, often referred to as the 'Gentleman's Game', has its origins in the 16th century, although the international matches were played only after the 1800s. It’s a popular game in most Commonwealth Nations and is widely gaining on its global appeal.
The word 'cricket' may have its origin in the word 'cric'. Crics were wooden staves carried by shepherds. All research concedes that the game derived from a very old, widespread and uncomplicated pastime by which one player served up an object, be it a small piece of wood or a ball, and another hit it with a club.
The West Indian cricket team is a confederation of many English-speaking Caribbean countries. The history of Caribbean cricket dates back to the 1890s, when the first team was created to play visiting English sides.
The West Indies team played their first official international match and was granted Test status in 1928. By the 1970s, the team became known as the unofficial world champions.
During those glorious years, the Windies were literally an unbeatable team. However, in the 90s and 2000s, the team declined mainly because the board failed to move the game from an amateur pastime to a professional sport.
Cricket has only made one appearance at the Olympic Games in Paris 1900. The lack of competing nations and the one-sided affair did not bode well for further inclusion in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, has given approval for the sport to be included in the 2020 Vancouver Olympic Games, a much anticipated event.
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) is the local body responsible for cricket. Please follow this link for more information about the TTCB: http://www.ttcricketboard.com/