The Cricket Match

Name: The Cricket Match
Author: James Matthew Barrie

The story revolves around a cricket match between two teams of boys, one from the village and the other from London. The match serves as a backdrop for exploring themes of class, social status, and the complexities of relationships between children from different backgrounds.

By James Matthew Barrie · First published 1891 · Genre: Sports Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature · 1,048 words

First lines

I think there has not been so much on a cricket match since the day when Sir Horace Mann walked about Broad Ha'penny agitatedly cutting down the daisies with his stick. And, be it remembered, the heroes of Hambledon played for money and renown only, while David was champion of a lady. A lady! May we not prettily say of two ladies? There were no spectators of our contest except now and again some loiterer in the Gardens who little thought what was the stake for which we played, but cannot we conceive Barbara standing at the ropes and agitatedly cutting down the daisies every time David missed the ball? I tell you, this was the historic match of the Gardens.

What this Textopian page supports

The Cricket Match is listed on Textopian as a short story by James Matthew Barrie, dated 1891 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: James Matthew Barrie
Date: 1891 CE
Language: English
Genres: Sports Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Drama, Historical Fiction
Length: 1,048 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Cricket Match by James Matthew Barrie
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Cricket Match?
How does this short story by James Matthew Barrie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Sports Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Sports Fiction — The narrative centers around a cricket match, detailing the gameplay, strategies, and emotions involved, which are characteristic of sports fiction.
Humor — The story contains light-hearted and amusing elements, such as the playful rivalry and the whimsical setting, contributing to a humorous tone.
Children's Literature — The story features child characters and themes of innocence and fairness, making it suitable for a younger audience.
Drama — The narrative includes dramatic tension and emotional stakes, particularly in the competitive aspects of the match and the characters' interactions.