What Came First Baseball or Cricket? (Full Comparison)

Baseball is becoming more popular and famous because it supports American culture. The game reflects various aspects of American culture, economy, and technological developments. As if not enough baseball game boasts of instilling pride, healing cities in the process. In contrast, cricket teaches social skills, such as interactions, communication, and cooperation. Not forgetting their physical health benefits, which one of the two came earlier than the other?

Cricket predates baseball because cricket origins date back to the 1500s when the British still ruled the United States. Thus, it spread on most of the continents where the British landed. In the late 1700s, the Americans missed their own authentic game once the British left, so baseball was born.

Whenever the debate on which of the two games came before the other, you might stay an all-night-long debating on the same. But make sure you read on for a detailed outlook on both baseball and cricket.

Which Is Harder: Baseball or Cricket?

Baseball is harder than cricket because of the piles of rules that a baseball batter has to match on the game. Cricket, however, is quite tough on technicalities. Baseball, however, doubles it up with technical and mental rules that batters must follow.

Baseball and cricket are both high-level, intense, and ball deliveries typically roll at about 160 mph. However, not all baseball pitchers always match that speed because of several factors with air, resistance topping them all.

But look at this:

• The most crucial and cerebral role in cricket is bowling because the cricket bowlers rely on their speed to make the ball turn lightly as if off the pitch. The finger and wrist spinners’ balls turning unexpectedly off the pitch can get you off-guard anytime repeatedly. More so if you relied on the bowlers and spinners’ positioning for a clue about their deliveries.
• Pitchers at baseball games, on the other hand, have a tough time as well because they have several pitches at their disposal but can only use specific pitches. And don’t you forget the fact that, as much as a baseball batter is likely to have several misses. Their perfection and outstanding success need hard work, mental strength, and discipline.

Come to think about this, while baseball needs more discipline, your captain in a cricket game likes no time wasters. So if you are a fielder, the opposing batsman’s head is the least of your worries in the game.

 A cricketer must judge what is worth fending off and what should be cast to the winds. While at the same time, a baseball batter can have their misses now and then. Should you try that in cricket, you’ll have the worst stares looking like the most out-of-place person.

As if not enough, every ball you strike in baseball has to be within some limited bounds, while in cricket, you are all free with a 360°range. However, cricket fielders should first master match steering the ball accurately before taking over the role.

So despite the close similarity between cricket and baseball, you need more of everything to play a baseball match. This will help make sure you win the physical challenge, as well as the discipline and mental tests.

So baseball is quite hard, not forgetting the fact that its balls only travel through the air, while a cricket ball can bounce, as well as roll off, depending on the bowler’s game plan. 

But at the very end, cricket batters have no easy time either because they have to catch the unexpected balls that come their way.

Read also: Is Cricket Harder than Football? (In-Depth Comparison)

Did Baseball Evolve From Cricket?

Baseball evolved from cricket. Baseball began as a rounder in the UK in the 18^th century. Cricket, on the other hand, became popular several centuries before baseball during the 1500s.

So the fact about baseball’s popularization in the late 1700s, coinciding with significant changes in cricket, could have a thing or two about baseball’s evolution from cricket. 

The changes were:

• Cricket took over as a national sport in England and topped with it becoming an enterprise aimed at serious individuals.
• The cricket game also had several shifts in its overall playing rules and the game’s general structure.

These changes do not seem coincidental or as a result of fear of losing fame. So baseball must indeed have heard something to do with an influence from cricket. However, it’s unclear about any present pieces of evidence to support the same.

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Why Is Baseball More Popular Than Cricket In the Us?

Baseball is more popular than cricket in the US because of cricket’s game requirements, from the specialized playing field to the wickets. The complexity of cricket, however, led to the decline of its popularity after the British left.

Cricket was introduced to the United States by British colonial forces before baseball became popular. So after the last troop of the British left, the Americans felt the need for their very own game; that’s when baseball became an American sport.

However, these cricket stats are in the US alone. Outside of their borders, cricket games maintain their top status with over 2.5 billion fans. This fan count compared with approximately 500 million baseball fans shows the extent of the game all over the globe. 

So cricket games, aside from being low in the US, it has taken over countries such as the UK, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. However, baseball, too, is gradually growing its fan base. According to the world’s most popular sports, the game has spread to East Asia and Latin America.

Learn more: Which Countries Do Not Play Cricket?

Which Game Is More Compelling: Baseball or Cricket?

The cricket game is more compelling from its skills necessary for the batters, fielders, and bowlers. The game is also more intellectual and engaging, not forgetting its entertainment fact.

Isn’t it amazing that someone can catch a cricket ball (outside the boundary) barehanded after a hard hit from a batter? The ball’s hardness is just but one of the most interesting things in the game compared to a baseball. It is somewhat humorous that you must wear gloves to catch a baseball despite its softness.   

The test crickets known for lasting up to five days or more might seem out of hand and probably look like a waste of time. But so that you know, not any team can play in a test cricket match:

Crickets matches have developed; it’s no longer the usual formal cricket. At the moment are T20i and T20 crickets. So here is the sweetness about the game, T20i is generally full of international teams who are also members of the International Cricket Council. And these teams have to meet several classes before making it as members of the ICC. One of these categories is being among the best teams ever.

So whenever there is a test cricket match, it is always a contest between two mighty teams. So the 5 days that may seem like a waste of time are purely full of entertainment. The competitors showing off their professionalism, stamina, strength, and patience. Who can miss that?

If the above is not reason enough to tell you how compelling the cricket game is compared to baseball, please read ahead; there is more for you. Meanwhile, if you are a die-hard cricket fan and have always wondered what to say when asked what you think about the game; read ahead too there is something for you.

• Cricket is More Skillful

Baseball batters expect their deliveries to reach them by specific zones on their bodies and then hit off the ball at a 90°. But with cricket matches, the ball does not announce its coming, as in you may dismiss its delivery mid-air seeing it headed off the court. Only for it to change course and land where you least expected.

As a batter, these balls hit anywhere on your body because they spin in 360°. 

The task is, however, hitting it back.  You need incredible reflexes to bat back a cricket ball if you’ve never handled one before. Risky of all is you are to hit a ball at your chin’s height and another at an ankle height. And, just in case you are not aware, missing a bat in a cricket game can be somewhat offsetting to the fans.

• It Is More Intellectual

As a cricket captain, you have to be smart enough since your fans expect a lot from you. So the game has to be pre-planned with factors like who to bowl, when to bowl, what field to set, not forgetting a specific strategy to use. And a tip-off is every move matters your captaincy; you never know who has thoughts of sponsoring your team

• It is More Engrossing

Delivering overs in a cricket ball is on another level of its own between a bowler determined to outdo a batman with a strategy. However, unless you have some little knowledge of the game, you may not see these batman strategies and bowlers’ game plans. It is much entertaining to watch a batman fall into a bowlers’ trap.

Read also: Difference Between T20 and T20i Cricket? (Full Explanation)

What Are The Differences In Baseball and Cricket?

The differences between baseball and cricket are mainly the field orientation, bat shapes, and ball sizes. There are also differences in innings and scoring systems. Baseball players run around the bases, whereas cricket players run between the wickets.

Although the previous section of this article stated how baseball and cricket seem to blend or have some similarities, you should know the two games have very many differences. They differ in some ways because they have each undergone several transformations since the games began.

So the differences between baseball and cricket are:

Cricket is a dominant sport in several parts of the world, including Southern Asia, Australia, Africa, and the UK. Baseball has its grounds in only a few places, including Cuba, Japan, and the United States.

In baseball, a batter who is hit by a pitch is given a free pass to first base, while in cricket, he could be out leg before wicket.

In cricket games, the wicket lies at the center of the field. That is where a batsman stands, and the bowler has to run through them. The batter stands on the apex of the diamond-shaped pitch in baseball.

Scores in cricket games occur when batters bat in pairs running between two ends of the pitch.  Once they successfully change their position, it’s a run, thus a score. While in baseball, batters run around the diamond shape field. Once they complete the four bases, it’s also a run hence a score.

There is no limit to the number of pitches (overs) a player can pitch in baseball. But in cricket games, the teams can only bowl to a certain number per inning. A bowler can only pitch 6 pitches at once, however in T20 is four overs; then, a different bowler takes over and pitches from the opposite end of the field.

In baseball, the ball rolls on air (a full toss pitch), while in cricket, the ball is bounced on the ground and can be spin-off as well.

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Can a Cricket Player Be Good In Baseball?

A cricket player can be good at baseball since the two games somehow share their earlier rules. Furthermore, they are both bat and ball games, so it wouldn’t be difficult for a cricketer to bat in baseball. Baseball has several safety rules not familiar to cricket players. A determined player can, however, try it out.

Both cricket and baseball are bat and ball games, and despite having several differences, they may have some shared rules. In addition, since batters in both games aim to score by batting, it might be fairly easy for them to go along with the same.

However, their bats do vary in a way, so baseball players might find it hard to play with cricket bats. But with any determined cricketer, playing baseball won’t be a challenge for them. But still, the safety rules in baseball can be challenging for a cricketer. Since with cricketing, a batter can hit the ball to a side he deems fit. Nevertheless, he has to be accurate always.

But generally, with a determined mindset, a cricketer can play the baseball game, similar to a baseball batter batting in cricket, but with few days prior training.

Learn more: Is Cricket an Easy Sport? (The Real Truth Revealed)