The game of cricket has been played on the Rock of Gibraltar since the late eighteenth century. Initially played by British Servicemen, it was not long before some of the local inhabitants took up the game. We know that by the year 1800 there was a cricket ground on the land immediately to the north of the Rock, and we also know that by 1822 there were civilians playing the game as well as Servicemen. The Gibraltar Cricket Club was established in 1883 and it was to form the backbone of civilian cricket on the Rock until well into the twentieth century. The first touring side came in 1890, when the liner "Liguria", carrying the Australian cricket team to England, collided with two other ships whilst entering Gibraltar Harbour, and whilst repairs were being carried out, the Australians played a game against a Gibraltar Garrison team numbering seventeen players. The local side was skittled out for 25, and the Aussies replied with 150/8. By the 1930's Gibraltar was producing many local-born cricketers and the game flourished. The occasional touring side came along, but this was hardly a regular feature. During the Second World War the game came to a temporary halt, and the playing fields at the North Front disappeared to make way for the construction of an airfield. After the War the Gibraltar Cricket Club was given a site adjacent to the airfield the location of the present-day Victoria Stadium.

The 1950's saw an increase of civilian cricketers and the emergence of clubs other than the Gibraltar Cricket Club. In May 1960, the Gibraltar Cricket Association was formed, to be responsible for the running of civilian cricket on the Rock. In 1969 the Association achieved full recognition as a cricketing body when elected an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council. Visits from UK sides then became a regular feature of the cricketing calendar, and this continues to this day. Gibraltar took part in the 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1997 ICC Trophy Competitions. In 1982 the team, made up largely of players past their prime, failed to win a single match, but on the 30th. June 1986, the first ever international victory was achieved at Warwick against Israel. In the Netherlands in 1990 the team surpassed all expectations, gaining victories against East & Central Africa, Singapore and Israel. Results did not quite reach these heights in Kenya in 1994, but there were some very closely fought encounters. In Malaysia in 1997, the team achieved victories against Argentina and Israel, and were frustrated by the weather when well placed against West Africa. An outstanding event during the 1992 season was the visit of Israel to the Rock, the first ever by a fellow Associate Member. Three matches were played, all resulting in close contests, Israel emerging victorious against Gibraltar and the President's XI and going down to a Rock XI. The following season an MCC side, including Mushtaq Mohammed, visited Gibraltar and played a series of matches.

In 1996, Gibraltar participated in the first ever European Cricket Championships held in Denmark, and subsequently in the second European Championships in Holland in 1998.

The years that followed saw dramatic changes to the cricketing scene on the Rock. Wider television coverage encouraged many youngsters to take up the game. The appointment of David Gelling in 1997 as Youth Development Officer brought cricket into the schools after an absence of many years, and gave a tremendous boost to local cricket. David was replaced by Philip Hudson in the year 2000 and the Youth Development Programme continued apace. Fruits of this policy were evidenced in 1999 when Gibraltar's under 19s came top of the B Group in the ECC championships staged in Belfast.

The highlight of the 1999 season in Gibraltar was the Quadrangular Tournament held on the Rock in September, when teams from Israel, France and Italy joined the Gibraltar side. The following year, the Gibraltar National side won the B Group in the ECC Championships in Scotland and later that year Gibraltar hosted the ECC Under 15 B Group Championships. The year 2001 saw a second visit by an MCC side, which lost its matches against a Gibraltar XI and thePresident's XI. The third match played was historic since it was the first ever day/night game staged on the Rock; MCC salvaged some of their pride by winning that one! That year also saw Gibraltar engaged in an expensive and fruitless expedition to Toronto, Canada, totake part in the ICC Trophy competition. The withdrawal of Italy and the non-arrival of West Africa meant that the Gibraltar side only played three matches, losing all of them to Nepal. Germany and Namibia. The under nineteens travelled to Scotland to defend their 'B' division title, but in the event they lost to Italy and Germany. but turned the tables on the latter in their final match.

In 2002, Gibraltar retained its European B Division title in Northern Ireland, and hosted the ECC U17 second division tournament in mid-August. At the end of August Gibraltar's Under 13s participated in the ECC inaugural tournament at this level staged in Italy. In 2003, the U19's took part in the WCQS in Holland. Defeats against Holland and Scotland were to be expected, but to go down to Italy and Germany was disappointing. Some pride was however restored with a final victory against France. In August the under fifteens travelled to France and lost all their matches, though it must be said that qualification regulations at this level leave much to be desired! In October, Adam Hollioake and friends arrived in Gibraltar after a gruelling trake from the North of Scotland overland through Europe. In a closely fought match a Gibraltar XI just managed to secure vistory. The year 2004 saw Philip Hudson moving on to pastures new at the Europe Office in Lords, and his place as Development Officer was taken by David Young. In March the new Development Officer ran a Level 1 ECB recognised Coaching Couse attended by ten candidates. In July, it was time for the European Championships at Senior Level once again, and the squad travelled to Belgium, where they gained vistories against Israel and France, but went down to Norway, Germany and Italy. In August, the under seventeens travelled to Italy and won all three of their matches in Group A. However, they faltered in the final stages to finish second behind Israel. In August Gibraltar hosted the ECC's Under Thirteen Tournament, won by Belgium. TJF