Cricket in England
Cricket in England is one of the most popular sports in the country and is known to have been played in England since the 16th century. The Marylebone Cricket Club, based at Lords, developed the modern rules of play and conduct.There are eighteen professional county clubs, seventeen of them in England and one in Wales. All eighteen counties are named after, and were originally representative of, historic counties. These clubs are heavily dependent on subsidies from the England and Wales Cricket Board, which makes its money from television and endorsement contracts and attendances at international matches. The English cricket season traditionally starts at the beginning of April and runs though to the second half of September although in recent years counties have played pre season friendly matches at the very end of March.
2019 English cricket season
The season will see the 2019 Cricket World Cup played in the country between 30 May and 14 July as well as an Ashes tour by Australia following the competition. Pakistan will take part in a one-day tour before the World Cup and the England men's team will play a One Day International in Ireland and a Test match against Ireland at Lord's in the first Test between the two teams. The West Indies and Australian women's sides will both tour during the season.