THE GLOBALISATION OF CRICKET

A GAME PLAYED ON THE STREETS

There is always a charm about listening to former legends of the game, maybe none so greater than the ‘Morgan Freeman’ of cricket- the great West Indian fast bowler, Michael Holding. In a recent interview Holding pointed out that he rarely watches one day cricket because he believes T20 cricket is more often a ‘circus’ than a sport. And I don’t think anyone who watches and understands the game even to a meagre extent would disagree that Test Cricket is the highest and the purest form of cricket.

But, a recent incident made me rethink the fact. I saw a group of 8 to 10 year olds playing cricket, and almost half of them trying to emulate Rashid Khan and his leg spin. Rashid Khan, being no stranger to us for his heroics with the Sunrises Hyderabad, has surely left a deep impact on IPL 2018 and its audience.

Another interesting story was once narrated by former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. He described how when he was very young his father (who was also a professional cricketer) would throw tennis balls at him and make him defend for a long time. But, towards the end of every session he would Gilly to get rid of all his inhibitions and smack the ball, because he felt that is was important for a young guy to enjoy the feeling of hitting the ball out of the ground.

So, although Test Cricket provides us with some high quality display of skills and cricketing ability, both mentally and physically, it begs the question what does cricket really need?

The era of 1950’s was a very important period for the game of football or soccer; it was around this time that a group of young men from very humble origins was threatening to dominate over world football with their Joga Bonito. Among that bunch of Brazilians was present a certain Edson Arantes do Nascimento, or just Pele. It was through their performance Brazil showed the world that the passion for the game could take a team farther than anyone. It made every child in Brazil, and all over the world dream to become the next superstar footballer.

One cannot help but believe cricket has always lacked that, it never has failed to showcase talents and brilliance but has often failed to connect it to the masses. Maybe, that feeling of hitting the ball, that fast paced high octane cliffhangers has really done to the game what Test Cricket couldn’t do for over a hundred years. It has brought the masses into the game. Women, and more importantly children have taken a renewed interest for the game. Viewership has improved manifold almost all over the world. Cricket now, is not just a game for royalty and people who understand and appreciate finesse, but for the common man, who sees it as the ultimate form of excitement, a form of theatre, a cauldron of emotions after a hard day’s work. IPL for all the criticisms it faces, has certainly excelled in this parameter. And certainly India has reaped the greater benefits. Almost every other young kid wants to hit the ball like a Russell or bowl like a Bravo. Franchise cricket has enabled the audiences to lose the sense of nationality and admire and appreciate the brilliance of foreign players adopting them as their very own.

As a point to the readers I would want to clarify this arguments showed not be seen as against Test cricket or undue importance of one day internationals. The purpose of this article is to understand the pulse of the cricket watching universe and the means to expand the game and bring in more and more people into it. One dayers and Twenty twenties provide cricket with a marketing base, which should be utilised along with upholding the importance of Test Cricket, and encouraging people to play the longer format. Because at the end of the day, Test Cricket is what separates- Men from Boys, or now, Ladies from Girls.