AboutContact UsRegister
Clearinghouse for Sport
The information and knowledge sharing platform for Australian sport

Cricket

A sport played on a circular field where teams bat and bowl against each other, scoring runs for their team by running between two sets of wickets.

Cricket was created in England. The first reference to it as a sport for adult was made in 1611. The sport arrived in Australia in 1788 during colonisation. 1

The first national governing body for cricket, the Australasian Cricket Council, was formed in 1892 as a partnership between New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria. 2

Discover more about cricket through the Clearinghouse evidence base:

Evolution:

  • Australasian Cricket Council [1892-1899]
  • Australian Board of Control for International Cricket [1905-1973]
  • Australian Cricket Board [1973-2003]
  • Cricket Australia [2003-]

Participation

Icon of a cricket bat and ball

An estimated 564,000 Australians [aged 15+] participated in cricket at least once in 2025. 3

Icon of cricket stumps and a ball

An estimated 163,000 Australian children [aged 0-14] participated in cricket at least once in 2025. 3

Icon of a cricket helmet

An estimated 91,000 Australian women and 471,000 Australian men [aged 15+] participated in cricket at least once in 2025. 3

Explore further participation statistics for cricket through the AusPlay online portal., opens in a new tab

Governing body

Cricket Australia, opens in a new tab is the organisation recognised by government at all levels as the National controlling body for the sport of cricket in Australia.

The first Australasian Cricket Council was established in 1892 and disbanded in 1899. In 1905, a new governing body, the Australia Board of Control for International Cricket, was established. In 1973, the organisation changed its name to the Australia Cricket Board before renaming to Cricket Australia in 2003.2  

REFERENCES
  1. History of Cricket, opens in a new tab, International Cricket Council, (accessed 10 December 2025)
  2. Organisation History, opens in a new tab, Cricket Australia, (accessed 10 December 2025)
  3. AusPlay Data Portal: Participation by activity, opens in a new tab, Australian Sports Commission, (accessed 6 May 2026)

Documents

The Clearinghouse for Sport has sought permission from relevant organisations for the inclusion of their documents in this archive. Copyright ownership remains vested with the organisation and as such permission from the copyright owner should be sought if you wish to communicate, adapt or reproduce these documents.

Back to top

Working together for Australian sport

C4S-Footer-Sport Integrity Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Sport Integrity Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Australian Sports Foundation logo
C4S-Footer-Australian Sports Foundation logo
C4S-Footer-Australian Olympic Committee
C4S-Footer-Australian Olympic Committee
C4S-Footer-Paralympics Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Paralympics Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Commonwealth Games Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Commonwealth Games Australia logo
C4S-Footer-SAHOF
C4S-Footer-SAHOF
C4S-Footer-Invictus Australia logo
C4S-Footer-Invictus Australia logo
C4S-Footer-PLA
C4S-Footer-PLA
C4S-Footer-ACT Gov
C4S-Footer-ACT Gov
C4S-Footer-NSW Gov
C4S-Footer-NSW Gov
C4S-Footer-NT Gov
C4S-Footer-NT Gov
C4S-Footer-QLD Gov
C4S-Footer-QLD Gov
C4S-Footer-SA Gov
C4S-Footer-SA Gov
C4S-Footer-Tas Gov
C4S-Footer-Tas Gov
C4S-Footer-Vic Gov
C4S-Footer-Vic Gov
C4S-Footer-WA Gov
C4S-Footer-WA Gov
C4S-Footer-ACTAS
C4S-Footer-ACTAS
C4S-Footer-NSWIS
C4S-Footer-NSWIS
C4S-Footer-NT
C4S-Footer-NT
C4S-Footer-QAS
C4S-Footer-QAS
C4S-Footer-SASI
C4S-Footer-SASI
C4S-Footer-TIS
C4S-Footer-TIS
C4S-Footer-VIS
C4S-Footer-VIS
C4S-Footer-WAIS
C4S-Footer-WAIS
First Nations Flags, the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag.
The Clearinghouse for Sport pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge the valuable contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to Australian society and sport.