Basic facts: In the beginning, cricket tournament excluded royalty (5,10)

'basic facts' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'beginning cricket tournament excluded royalty' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'beginning' could be 'first' (synonyms) and 'first' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'principles' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?