Cricket arrived in New Brunswick with British colonial influence, much like in other parts of Canada. Organized play emerged in the 1800s:

• In Saint John, the Saint John Cricket Club formed around 1855. The city has a documented history spanning over 160 years, with teams active in the 19th century.
• In Fredericton, the first recorded cricket match on Officers' Square took place in 1868. The site was originally granted as a cricket ground, and a 2018 match by the Loyalist Cricket Club commemorated its 150th anniversary.
• The University of New Brunswick (UNB) had a cricket club as early as 1870, reflecting the sport's presence in educational institutions.

During this era, cricket was primarily played by British settlers, military personnel, and local elites. It was a popular summer pastime alongside other colonial sports.

As British colonial influence waned and baseball gained popularity as a more accessible summer sport, cricket's prominence diminished in New Brunswick. Clubs faded, and the sport became less visible, though occasional matches and university-level play persisted.

Cricket experienced a resurgence in the late 1990s and accelerated in the 21st century, largely due to immigration from cricket-loving nations such as India, Pakistan, the Caribbean, and South Asia.

Today, cricket in New Brunswick is a vibrant, multicultural sport that promotes community integration, youth engagement, and athletic development. It has grown rapidly in popularity, with hundreds of registered players and ongoing efforts to expand facilities and programs.

This evolution—from a colonial-era pastime to a modern, inclusive community sport—mirrors broader trends in Canadian cricket while highlighting New Brunswick’s unique contributions through historic sites and new dedicated grounds like Riverview.