The first Ashes Test is underway, and to mark the occasion, it’s worth noting England’s oldest cricket rival – France. While it’s often debated who actually invented the sport, France can make a credible claim, as there is a mention of a bat and ball game called ‘criquet’ in a French fifteenth century manuscript. However, early accounts most likely refer to the game of croquet, involving bat, ball, and hoop.
French cricket history officially kicked off when the Paris Cricket Club played Nottingham Amateurs in the Bois de Boulogne, which the London Evening Standard documented in 1864. Within a year, the Paris Cricket Club published a book detailing the rules of the game, and today, France remains the silver medal Olympic cricket champions, losing to England at the 1900 Olympics in Vélodrome de Vincennes.
France’s passion for cricket took a hit during the Second World War, with many inter-war cricket clubs collapsing. The sport didn’t pick up again until the 1980s, supported by an influx of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent. ‘France Cricket’ was established in 1987, with the 1989 win against the MCC encouraging English county sides to tour France.
While Anglo-French relations have often been contentious, the enthusiasm for cricket may help bring the two countries closer. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently met with President Biden and announced Britain would steer the setting up of international norms on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Macron responded by announcing that France and the EU would set AI norms. While both countries jostle for AI dominance, Macron’s self-image of subtlety, intelligence, dexterity, courage, and elegance might benefit from learning to play cricket.
