Cricket and Football are the most popular sports, followed by one after the other. Football secures first place for being the most popular sport with around 5 billion fans, whereas cricket's fans have no less than 2.5 billion followers. There is always a debate among the fans about the game's popularity, which persists. We Indians debate over cricket due to the obvious reasons for its popularity in the country, whereas the rest of the world considers Football as a ruler. Well, why not let's clear it up here through the blog, where I have started a deep comparison study on popularity, fans, history and more?
History of Cricket vs Football
When we talk about the history of cricket, it is quite interesting. To your surprise, the history of cricket is older than that of Football. The game's origin is centralised in England, where it was just randomly played to measure who could hit the ball to the farthest. But this competition evolved into a bat and ball game with standard rules and regulations. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)at Lord's Stadium plays a crucial role in standardising the game, which was formed in 1787. After this, the game became famous and gained popularity in all the areas where the British colonised, such as the sub-continent, down under and various parts of the Caribbean.
Now let's talk about the history of Football, whose history can be traced back a century. Just like cricket was the test of hitting the ball farthest with the stick, Football aimed to strike a specified point with your leg. But this kicking game evolved into a dynamic and standardised game with modern rules and regulations. The first record reveals that the game was first played in the villages in England, after which the craze grew and spread to all of Europe and eventually to the other European colonies. Since then, the game has continuously grown and become extremely popular worldwide. However, the game modernised in the 19th century with the establishment of the English FA (Football Association), which laid the foundation of football rules and regulations.
The Popularity of Cricket vs Football
Because of its simplicity, Football grew faster in the European colonies, like in Latin America and the French of the African colonies. Football is a simple game that does not require any investments. It is a very physically demanding sport which keeps your mind and body fresh. The South Americans and African regions easily adopted the game, and it became a part of their daily chores.
On the other hand, cricket has developed in British colonies in countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Other parts of the world include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Caribbean region. Overall, an estimated more than 5 billion people are huge fans of Football and a total of 2.5 billion people for cricket. Cricket is also appreciated because of its unique dimensions, which stimulate even several younger players to join the rally.
Though the sports are different, they have a regional impact on the players, and their interests vary based on the people they belong to. For example, Indians are more concerned with cricket than Football, whereas Americans love Football over cricket.
Equipment Required for Cricket vs Football
When we talk about the equipment, there are many differences between the two sports. Whereas Football requires just a football to play the game, in the case of cricket, you have to spend plenty of money on the equipment itself. This could be one of the reasons why many fans love Football more than cricket. In Football, you just need one Football to start your game. But in cricket, you might need a variety of equipment like the bat, either Kashmiri or English willow, based on your preference, a ball, gloves, pads, helmets, and other balls and bats.
Cricket vs Football's Players
Both famous Football and cricket players have created history. Some renowned figures like Vivian Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers have been household names for decades in cricket, and many among them have also received the honour of being the richest player in cricket.
The same is the case of Football, where several players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar Jr are some of the famous football players in the world who have created history in the football game. However, one and all worshiped Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, and more.
ICC vs FIFA
The world governing body of cricket is also known as the ICC (International Cricket Council), while Football is governed by the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA).
Establishing these boards mainly aims to develop and expand the game to the existing new territories. Both have an integral role in generating massive revenue from the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cricket vs Football
Which Game Has More Viewers?
Both cricket and Football are the most popular sports in the world. However, the football World Cup is watched more than the cricket World Cup worldwide. In India and Pakistan, the scenario is contradictory, as there are more cricket fans than football fans.
Why Isn't Cricket in the Olympic Games?
Cricket isn't included in the Olympic games because of several factors, such as its limited global reach, the complexity of the game, the length of the matches, and many more factors that don't align with the Olympic schedule.
Which Is Older, Football or Cricket?
Cricket is considered an older sport than Football. Cricket has a history dating back to the 16th century in England.
Both Cricket and Football are best in their own way. Both have significant fame spread worldwide, and the players love and are engaged in watching both games. The legends of cricket and Football have so many contributions worthy of applause. Hence, it is necessary to understand and appreciate both.
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