How the Game of the British Elite Became the Game of Commoners - Part 1

The first definite reference to cricket being played anywhere in the sub-continent is a report of English sailors of the East India Company written in 1737. It refers to cricket being played at Cambay near Baroda in 1721. A match between Madras and Calcutta in 1864 was definitely the 1st First Class match in India. The British played the match to build relationships with the Indians, the reasoning being that if the Indian elite had more connections with the British, the British could have more control over India.

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