Question

How was the Eton public school linked to the cricket by the English?

Answer 1

It trained English boys about
1. Discipline
2. Unity
3. Honour
4. Leadership skills
Which were necessary for cricket playing.
In Eton Public School was linked to cricket because English soldiers were trained there for the Battle of Waterloo and these soldiers used to play cricket there.

Answer 2

Eton is a famous public school in England. There is an extensive network of playing fields in the school campus, which is fully residential. The annual feature of a match against Harrow, another famous English public school, at Lord's Cricket Ground, is the oldest fixture of the cricketing calendar, being played since 1805. The match is so well-renowned that in 1900 it made national newspaper headlines and in 1914 attracted 38,000 spectators for the two-day event. Nowadays, it is a limited overs' fixture. 
In view of the above, cricket is linked to Eton and famous later day personalities in the fields of politics, diplomacy and sport, among others, have participated in the game in their student days at the school.