Cricket was not invented by a single person but rather evolved over time. The commonly accepted view is that cricket originated as a children's game during Saxon or Norman times in the dense woodlands and clearings of southeast England, particularly in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. References to rudimentary bat-and-ball games in England date back as far as the 13th century, with the first definite written reference to cricket in the late 16th century. It started as an informal game possibly played by shepherds or children using simple tools like sticks and balls. The game gradually developed with increasing formality and standardization during the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in southeast England, eventually becoming the organized sport known today. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), founded in 1787, played a key role in standardizing the rules and shaping modern cricket.