You might be surprised to learn that there are no less than fourteen fields around the borough of Queens where you can see a cricket match. While you might know very little about the sport, living in Queens provides you with a perfect opportunity to expand your horizons and take in a game.

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Cricket, a product of England, spread around the world with Britain’s extensive empire and took firm hold in South Asia and the Caribbean – two cultural communities that happen to be well represented here in Queens. Cricket is the second most popular sport worldwide, behind soccer, and in the past decade participation in the sport has exploded in New York City. According to Lesly Lowe, President of the Commonwealth Cricket League, the largest league in New York City, there are about 100 teams in eight amateur leagues throughout the City. Queens has by far the most players in the country.

So how is cricket played? Cricket is a game wherein two teams of eleven players hit pitched balls with a bat to gain runs. On a cleared rectangular “pitch” measuring 22 yards, in the middle of a larger field, two batters stand opposite one another in front of three planted stumps arranged like a little fence, or “wicket.” The bowler pitches the ball to a batter, doing his best to dismiss him by knocking down his wicket  while the batter attempts to hit the ball into the field. If he can hit it and make his way to the position of the opposite batter without being dismissed, then he’s scored a run.

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That ball is hard and is thrown overhand with immense force – for that reason there are also softball leagues, an option that is safer and requires less space. The batters and bowlers are accordingly padded up, and for the hardball games, all wear the traditional white clothing.

Centuries of culture have formed around cricket and it has an extensive glossary of terminology describing its many facets. Heard the term “sticky wicket”?  When the area between the two wickets is “sticky,” it’s muddy or wet, and not particularly safe for play.  To say something “is not cricket,” describes an action that is underhanded or dishonest and is contrary to the gentlemanly spirit of the game.

cricket played in flushing meadows park queens nyc

Matches are played in parks all over Queens, there’s only a partial list on the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation website, more recent additions include Idlewild Park (GMAP), Flushing Meadows Corona Park (GMAP), Tudor Park (GMAP) and Southern Fields (NYC Parks MAP); one of the newest cricket fields in Queens is at Baisley Pond Park (GMAP) near South Jamaica. The adult leagues play on Sunday afternoons, generally from 1 to 5 pm and the season runs April through September.  If you go, depending on the venue, you may need to bring your own seating. The pace is much like baseball – expect a long, peaceful afternoon of sport, noshing, and sunshine. And who knows, perhaps one day cricket will become an Olympic sport again!


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