Cricket is all set to feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but in the only Olympic games that it was featured, it saw a cricket match on a cycling track between two British clubs from different countries.
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When it comes to cricket and its representation in the Olympic Games, it has been negligible. The game, which enjoys cult status in many countries, especially India, is all set to feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There may be some logistical issues that might derail cricket’s representation in the Olympics. But, if everything goes according to plan, then cricket will feature in the Olympics after a gap of 128 years.
Why 128 years? In the 1900 Paris Olympics, cricket did feature as one of the games. Imagine, of all places, Paris. Cricket was initially supposed to be played in the 1896 Athens Olympics. But, due to low registrations, cricket never took off. There were many surprising aspects to the match. The final was between Great Britain and France. Yes, you would be surprised to know that at that time, France had a cricket team. But, the team did not have many French players. In fact, it was a contest between a British 11 and another 2nd string British 11.
The British team was led by CBK Beachcroft. The French team went one step ahead and did not appoint a captain. There was no toss and there were 12 members from the team competing. It was a two-day game and it was played on a cycling track at the Exhibition Ground in Vincennes. There were two French Umpires named Delorme and Wilian. Such was the level of interest in the match that there were no reports filed on the first day.
Neither side was nationally selected, nor representative. Great Britain, or England as they were called in the advertising handbills, was represented by a touring club side, the Devon and Somerset Wanderers. The French side was officially drawn from all the member clubs of the Union des Societes Françaises de Sports Athletiques. Few of these clubs actually sported cricket teams, and so the eventual side was selected from just two clubs: the Union Club and the Standard Athletic Club. Both sides had strong English influences, and the majority of the team that competed for France in the Olympic match were British expatriates. The Standard Athletic Club had been formed ten years earlier by English workers who had moved to the country to help build the Eiffel Tower.
When Great Britain batted first, they notched up 117 with Frederick Cumming being the top-scorer with 38. W Andersen took four wickets for the French team. France was bowled out for 78 in their first innings with FW Christian taking seven wickets. The coverage is such that in the scorecard available, the number of runs overs bowled is not mentioned.
In the second innings, Great Britain declared on 145/5 declared with skipper Charles Beachcroft scoring 54 and Alfred Bowerman top-scoring 59. France was set a target of 185 runs on the final day. They did not even come close.
France was bowled out for 26, with the highest score being 8 by William Andersen. Montagu Toller took seven wickets as France was humiliated by 158 runs. If one had to look at the official record, then the score of 26 was the joint-lowest in Test cricket along with New Zealand’s tally of 26 against England. But, no national newspapers in France and England covered the game.
Initially, there would be four teams competing in cricket. But, with the withdrawal of two teams, in this case Netherlands and Belgium, only two teams remained. There was no bronze medal and only gold and silver were awarded. Initially, the prize was a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower. In 1912, the cricket teams were awarded the gold and silver medal. The Olympic match does not have official First-Class status as it was played for just two days with 12 players.
Cricket was scheduled to be played in the St Louis Olympics in 1904. The tournament was held in the USA as Europe did not want to suffer from the Russian Japanese war that was taking place. But, with so few entries and registrations, the games were cancelled and the sport was not included in the Olympics till now.
In the Commonwealth Games of 1998, cricket did feature with South Africa winning gold against Australia. The 2022 edition of the Games will see Women’s T20 in action. With cricket coming back in 2028, the expectations are high that the game leaves a bigger impression as compared to 128 years ago.
