Cricket was just beginning to take off in the mid-19th century.

Cricket now, and the new county championship season began today.

Soon a cricket began to sing near my fire, so I made care to leave him be.

First-class cricket in the other Test nations began much later.

Also at this time, football and cricket began to emerge as popular sports.

Then lovely, far off, a dark cricket begins In the maple trees.

Crickets were beginning to chirp and night birds to call.

He nodded, and the crickets began to sing again, down the hill at first, then up around the clearing.

Football and cricket began to be played on an organised basis in the 1890s.

Then it was quiet again in the night woods, and soon the crickets began to chirp.