<P> The sport of cricket has a known history beginning in the late 16th century . Having originated in south - east England, it became the country's national sport in the 18th century and has developed globally in the 19th and 20th centuries . International matches have been played since 1844 and Test cricket began, retrospectively recognised, in 1877 . Cricket is the world's second most popular spectator sport after association football . Governance is by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which has over one hundred countries and territories in membership although only twelve play Test cricket . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Part of a series on </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Cricket </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Forms of cricket (hide) <Ul> <Li> Test cricket </Li> <Li> One Day International </Li> <Li> Twenty20 International </Li> <Li> First - class cricket </Li> <Li> Limited overs cricket </Li> <Li> List A cricket </Li> <Li> Twenty20 </Li> <Li> 100 - ball cricket </Li> <Li> Club cricket </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> History of cricket (hide) <Ul> <Li> History of cricket to 1725 </Li> <Li> History of cricket (1726--1763) </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> Part of a series on </Td> </Tr>

When was the first ever cricket match played