When was the last time cricket played in olympics and participation

The only time cricket was played at the Olympics was in 1900, at the Summer Olympics in Paris, where Great Britain defeated France by a score of 158 runs. Since then, cricket has been absent from the Olympic stage due to several factors. One major obstacle is the sport’s long format, which makes fitting it into the tightly scheduled Olympic program difficult. Moreover, the popularity of cricket is not as high as it is in its traditional strongholds, such as England. After being rejected in the past, there is still a chance that cricket will make an Olympic comeback, despite these challenges.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has indicated that it is open to investigating the possibility, and increasing numbers of Olympic decision-makers are beginning to endorse cricket’s inclusion. The world’s most cherished sporting event is still seeing obstacles, but supporters and officials of cricket keep pushing for its return.

Cricket at the 1990 Summer Olympics in Paris 

Originally intended to be the only team sport at the Games, cricket was meant to be a part of the first Summer Olympics in 1896 in Athens. Unfortunately, there was no cricket event at that time due to a lack of entries. The chance finally came to pass in 1900 during the Summer Olympics in Paris, though there were only two competing nations: France, the host country, and Great Britain. The British side was represented by the Devon & Somerset Wanderers Cricket Club instead of a national selection, and the French team was notable for being primarily composed of English expatriates, which led to its official classification as a mixed team. With 12 players on each side, the two-day match did not reach first-class status. By a massive margin of 158 runs, England defeated France to win the gold medal, and a draw would have resulted from the French holding on for five more minutes. Luckily, the winning team’s John Symes kept the scorecard in his handwriting, guaranteeing the game’s historical record. There was also supposed to be a cricket competition at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, but it was eventually canceled.

1900 Paris Olympics Cricket: Participating Countries 

An unusual cricket match was held during the 1900 Paris Olympics. Originally, teams from Belgium, France, Great Britain, and the Netherlands were supposed to compete. Regretfully, Belgium and the Netherlands withdrew from the competition after their hopes of co-hosting the Games were not fulfilled. This turn of events led to a one-match championship in the cricket competition. France, the host country, took on Great Britain in the lone match. With a commanding 158-run advantage, Great Britain proved to be the overwhelming force. Each side, consisting of twelve players, participated in two innings of play over two days. Noteworthy is the fact that this specific cricket match did not qualify as a first-class match. The game would have ended in a draw if the French team had persisted for a few more minutes. However, the historical documentation of this exceptional Olympic event has been maintained, owing to the diligent work of all those associated.

Team	Matches	Wins	Losses	Ties	NR	Points
Great Britain	1	1	0	0	0	2
France	1	0	1	0	0	0

Conclusion:

There is still controversy surrounding the 1900 Olympics’ inclusion of cricket. Its supporters applaud its ability to draw large crowds and its effective organization. Opponents, however, drew attention to its shortcomings: the competition was limited to just two teams, and it was over in two days. In any case, cricket was very popular in France at the time. Enthusiastic fans flocked to see Great Britain versus France, with some even scaling trees to get a better view. The International Olympic Committee’s cooperation with the French Cricket Council guaranteed smooth operations. However, the two-team competition highlights cricket’s narrow international appeal outside of Europe. Concerns concerning the tournament’s standing as a significant athletic event are also raised by its short duration. In conclusion, the success of cricket’s 1900 Olympic debut is still a subject of debate, with reasonable arguments.