A group of English merchants living in Yokohama introduced Cricket to Japan in 1868. They founded the Yokohama Cricket Club and played their matches on what eventually became the Yokohama Stadium. The club, now known as the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club, still plays cricket today.

Cricket did not become organized until the 1980s, when the Japan Cricket Association was formed. They became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1989, and the national team first played in the 1996 ACC Trophy, losing all their games including a 380 run defeat by Fiji. They continued without success in the 1998 tournament and the 2000 tournament.

After the 2000 ACC Trophy, they left the Asian Cricket Council and became part of the ICC's East Asia/Pacific region. They played in the East Asia Eights tournament in Australia in February 2002, finishing as runners up to an Australian indigenous team. Indonesia and South Korea were the other teams in the tournament. In 2004, they hosted the East Asia Pacific Cricket Challenge tournament as part of qualification for the 2007 World Cup, finishing third after beating Indonesia in a play-off.

In June 2005, Japan were promoted to associate membership of the ICC and that year they played in the 2005 ICC EAP Cricket Cup in Vanuatu, winning the tournament after beating the Cook Islands in the final. The following year they played in the 2006 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Brisbane finishing last in the three team tournament that also involved Fiji and the Cook Islands.

In December 2007 Japan took part in the 2007 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, playing against the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Japan won the tournament and qualified for Division Five of the World Cricket League where they finished in tenth place out of the twelve countries represented in Jersey.

Betting on Cricket

Cricket offers many interesting bet types. Bet on the winner of a match. You can also make "draw" bets. Bets based on the "series scores" are also widely available.

Cricket teams usually play test matches which go on for as long as three to five separate games. Making a bet based on this series scores is simply placing your bet on how many expected wins you are waiting for with regard to the team that you have put your bet on.

You can also bet on the top batsman in a match. Making this kind of bet is simply placing your money on who you think will be the top scorer for the game.

You can also bet on the total number of runs that each team can make during a game. You can either bet on "odd" or "even". If the total runs of a team come up with an odd number, then you win if you have put your bet on the "odd" and if the total is an even number, then you win that money if you have put your bet on the "even" tag.

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