Although cricket was played in Argentina as early as 1806, by English troops during the Napoleonic Wars, the game was not established locally until 1831, when members of the British community in Bueno Aires established a cricket club. The sport spread within the large British expatriate community, but never really took root among Spanish speakers. It was sufficiently organised, however, for a regular three-day match between North and South to be arranged from 1891 and for a national championship to be contested by 1897-98, and for matches between the national side and touring teams like the MCC to be regarded as first-class until the outbreak of World War II. There were also exchanges of tours between Argentina and South American neighbours Chile and Brazil.

The Depression and World War II led to a significant decline in the game, which has since largely been confined to a handful of clubs in Buenos Aires. Argentina did not join the ICC until 1979, but then took part in several ICC Trophy tournaments. A relatively successful campaign in Canada in 2001 led to the side entering the World Cricket League in Division 2, but despite hosting a Division 3 tournament in 2009 they finished last, heralding a sequence of relegations which saw them sink to Division 6.

Women’s cricket began round the turn of the 21st century, and the national women’s side, as well as playing in the men’s Second Division, take part in regional championships and play bilateral series against Brazil.