Geneva XI Stars Cricket Club
Located in Geneva , XI stars cricket Club is the perfect place to play and enjoy cricket to the
utmost. Founded in the year 2005, the main goal of our club is to promote cricket in the region and
also bring together people who love this game. We provide the perfect environment to play cricket
and have lots of fun in doing so. We welcome people of all age groups, all nationalities who are interested in
cricket to become part of club and enjoy the game.
The Club Constitution is available on request by sending an email to geneva11starscric@yahoo.com
 
History of Cricket....
The origins of cricket are obscure, and there are several theories on how it started. One is that
shepherds used to play it - one would stand in front of the wicket gate to the sheep fold, and
another would bowl a stone or something at him, and he would have to hit it with his crook, which
was known as a cricce.
Other theories are that it derives from a game called club-ball, or a game played in churchyards...
The first reference to cricket being played is thought to be in 1300, between Prince Edward and his
friend Piers Gaveston and the first recorded match took place at Coxheath in Kent in 1646. The
first match between counties on 29th June 1709, when Surrey played Kent at Dartford Brent.
The earliest known cricket photographs were taken in 1857, by Roger Fenton at the Artillery
Ground, when the Royal Artillery played Hunsdonbury.
As well as shepherds' crooks, early bats were clubs and sticks. These gave way to long, thin
battes, which looked a bit like straightened-out hockey sticks, because the ball was bowled underarm,
and the batters swung their bats like clubs!!
By the 18th century, the batte had developed into a longer, heavier, curved version of the one we
know now, carved out of a single piece of wood.
Today's bat was invented around 1853, with the blade made of willow, and a cane handle, which is
layered with strips of rubber, tied with twine, and covered with rubber to make a grip. The 'V'
shaped extension of the handle into the blade is the splice. The early balls were stones and other
missiles. Rather dangerous really, and not surprising that someone came up with an alternative!
They're now made of cork, and covered with hand-stitched leather quarters dyed red.
The wicket - the stumps are the three posts. Originally there were two, and at one point, four. The
size has varied too - in the 17th century, were up to two metres wide!! The bails are the two bits of
wood on the top, and if they fall off, it's all over!!
Well it changed a lot now isnt it!!!!!

Womens Cricket

Women's cricket has a rich and varied history which stretches back at least 250 years and

probably considerably longer. Because it has evolved over that period of time separately from the

men's game so it has developed its own characteristics. Unfortunately there are only a couple of

books which record this history, strange when you think how comprehensive the literature of the

men`s game is.

First Matches

The first recorded Women`s Cricket Match held in England took place in 1745 between Bramley

and Hambleton at Godsden Common, near Guildford, Surrey.

"The greatest cricket match that was played in this part of England was on Friday, the 26th of last

month,on Gosden Common, near Guildford, between eleven maids of Bramley and eleven maids

of Hambledon, all dressed in white.The Bramley maids had blue ribbons and the Hambledon

maids red ribbons on their heads. The Bramley girls got 119 notches and the Hambledon girls 127.

There was of bothe sexes the greatest number that ever was seen on such an occasion. The girls

bowled, batted, ran and catches as well as most men could do in that game."

The Reading Mercury 26 July 1745

The next game of which records exist took place on 13 July 1747 at the renowned Artillery Ground

between the women of Charlton and those of Westdean and Chilgrove Sussex. It was apparently a

pretty rowdy affair which had to be finished on the following day because of crowd trouble!

From the middle 18th century there are constant press references to women's matches, most of

them played, like their male equivalents, in Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey villages. Records also

exist for several matches held in Sussex around this time. These were often between rival villages,

or teams of married and single women. The winner's prize for such a match might be a barrel of

ale or eleven pairs of lace gloves. Such games could lure crowds of 2,000 plus and betting on the

result was rife.

The first county match - between Surrey and Hampshire - was held at Ball's Pond, Middlesex in

1811. It was sponsored by two noblemen to the tune of 1,000 guineas and the age of players

ranged from 14 to 60.

The White Heather Club

The first club for women, the White Heather Club at Nun Appleton, Yorkshire, was formed in 1887

by eight noblewomen. Its scorebook survives and can be seen at the MCC library at Lord's. The

copper plate inscription inside the front cover explains the decision to start the club owing to the

'large amount of cricket being played at Normanhurst and Eridge', the country seats of the Brassey

and Neville families. Interestingly within four years the club`s membership had risen from 8 to 50.

However this genteel Country House cricket had a professional rival.

The Original English Lady Cricketers

In 1890 two teams called 'The Original English Lady Cricketers', toured the country playing

exhibition matches, and effectively put women's cricket on the national map. The teams were

raised by a Mr. Matthews who put an advertisement in the press and are the only recorded

professional women players to date. The teams were accompanied by a chaperone, and a

manager. The players were not permitted to play under their real names; each was given sixpence

a day expense money and provided with uniforms, red for one team, blue for the other. Their first

game, held in Liverpool, drew 15,000 spectators. While they lasted, they were successful but the

teams folded after two years when their manager absconded with the profits.

The Women's Cricket Association (WCA)

In the decades following the 1st World War women became increasingly emancipated and many

girl's public schools started playing cricket. The Women's Cricket Association (WCA) was

established in 1926 by a group of enthusiasts after a cricket holiday in Malvern. The WCA adopted

MCC laws and ran matches throughout the country. In their first season the WCA staged 49 games

and established the popular cricket festival which still runs today at Colwall Cricket Club.

By 1927 the WCA had 10 affiliated clubs. Within seven years this had risen to 80 and by 1938, 123

clubs had been formed. By I931 the first county associations had emerged and a match was

played between Durham and a combined Cheshire and Lancashire XI. In 1935 he country was

divided into five territorial associations: East, Midlands, North, South and West, each with its own

administration. At its peak, the WCA had 208 affiliated clubs and 94 school and junior teams.

International Cricket

Women's cricket had been played since the turn of the 20th century in Australia. The Victoria

Women's Cricket Association was founded in 1905 and the Australian Women's Cricket