I stood on the freshly cut grass of Sunnybrook Park, watching a scene that felt both nostalgic and startlingly new. Dozens of players in crisp white uniforms took their positions on the pitch as spectators—many who looked like they had traveled directly from office jobs—settled in with thermoses and folding chairs. The crack of leather on willow echoed across the field, followed by cheers that seemed to carry centuries of tradition.
This wasn’t England or India. This was Toronto on a Wednesday evening.
“My grandfather played cricket in Nova Scotia in the 1920s,” says Martin Chen, who travels 40 minutes from Mississauga each week to watch the Toronto Cricket Club’s matches. “For decades, I couldn’t find anyone who cared about the sport. Now my son plays in a youth league, and there’s a waiting list to join.”
Cricket, a sport that most Canadians associate with Commonwealth countries like England, India, and Australia, actually has deeper roots in Canadian soil than many realize. Long before the first official hockey game was played in Montreal in 1875, cricket was already established as Canada’s first official national sport.
“The first international cricket match in history was between Canada and the United States in 1844,” explains Dr. Emily Thornton, sports historian at the University of British Columbia. “Cricket thrived here until the early 20th century when hockey and baseball pushed it to the margins. What we’re seeing now is less a new phenomenon and more of a homecoming.”
The numbers tell a compelling story of resurgence. Cricket Canada reports a 170% increase in registered players since 2015, with over 130,000 participants across the country. Youth participation has surged even more dramatically, with enrollment in junior programs growing by nearly 250% in the same period.
This revival isn’t happening by accident. Immigration patterns have played a significant role, with newcomers from cricket-loving nations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Caribbean countries bringing their passion for the sport. According to Statistics Canada, these countries represent some of the largest sources of new Canadians over the past decade.
When Rajan Sharma arrived in Brampton from Punjab, India, in 2017, finding a cricket community was as important to him as finding employment. “Cricket connects me to home,” he says, adjusting his batting gloves at a weekend practice. “When I first came, I thought I might have to give it up. Now I play in two leagues, and my Canadian colleagues at work ask me to explain the rules.”
The sport’s growth extends beyond casual participation. The Global T20 Canada tournament, launched in 2018, has brought international stars to Canadian soil. Meanwhile, Canada qualified for the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup after a 15-year absence from major international competitions.
Infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with demand. In cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, cricket enthusiasts often book pitch time months in advance, with playing hours stretching from dawn until well after dusk during summer months.
“We’ve converted three baseball diamonds to cricket pitches in the past two years, and we still can’t meet the demand,” says William Foster, director of parks and recreation for the City of Mississauga. “Ten years ago, we had two dedicated cricket grounds. Today we have eleven, with plans for five more.”
The economic impact has been equally significant. Cricket equipment retailers report booming business, with specialized shops opening in suburban areas where they would have been unthinkable a decade ago. The Cricket Zone, a retailer in Scarborough, has expanded to four locations across the Greater Toronto Area since 2019.
“We’re selling to a much more diverse customer base now,” says owner Amir Khan. “It’s not just South Asian customers anymore—we see families of all backgrounds coming in to buy their children’s first cricket bats.”
Television viewership tells a similar story. When Rogers Sportsnet began showing Indian Premier League matches in 2016, executives were surprised by the ratings—matches consistently outperformed NHL games in certain markets. By 2023, multiple Canadian broadcasters were competing for cricket rights.
The sport’s resurgence has not been without challenges. Cricket requires significant space—a luxury in densely populated urban areas—and facilities require specialized maintenance. The traditional format of the game can also last up to five days, though shorter versions like Twenty20 have helped make the sport more accessible to newcomers.
In school systems, integration has been uneven. The Toronto District School Board now includes cricket in its physical education curriculum, but many districts across the country still treat the sport as a curiosity rather than a core offering.
“We’re working to change perceptions,” says Olivia Reynolds, director of school programs for Cricket Canada. “We developed a simplified version using soft balls and modified rules that can be played in standard gymnasiums. Last year, we trained over 300 teachers across five provinces.”
The cultural significance extends beyond sport. For many immigrant communities, cricket provides a bridge between generations and cultures. At Thorncliffe Park, a Toronto neighborhood with a large South Asian population, Sunday cricket matches have become community gathering points where traditional foods, music, and connections flourish.
“My father never really understood hockey, and I never fully appreciated cricket growing up,” says Anisha Patel, who was born in Canada to Gujarati parents. “Now we watch matches together. He explains the strategy, and I’ve learned to love the rhythm of the game. It’s created a new connection between us.”
As I watch the sun set over Sunnybrook Park, the players continue under floodlights, unwilling to let the fading daylight end their match. A father teaches his young daughter how to hold a cricket bat nearby, her delighted laughter carrying across the field when she makes contact with the ball.
In this moment, it’s easy to imagine that Canada’s first love affair with cricket never really ended—it was just waiting for the right moment to rekindle.
