CRICKET

 CRICKET

Cricket has assumed mega proportions in the sense that by 1960s there was only Test Cricket, played among member nations registered under MCC [Marylbone cricket club of England]. Actually, MCC was once the Mecca of cricket. MCC is the owner of Lords cricket ground and the guardian of Laws of cricket. Such a status of importance descended on MCC largely because cricket was used to warm up players in English summer , as otherwise the place was quite cool if not chill per se. In plain terms MCC is the HQ of cricket in concept, execution and maintenance.

Actually, in England Cricket was played in zonal level among teams named after the places, such as Derbyshire, Lancashire, Nottingam just to name some. They were called county teams and their players –county players. County was a place of pride for cricketers. Counties used to vie with one another for glory. In the process, talented players from other countries were hired on handsome package. Counties would not conduct games when England participates in test cricket; any ‘invited’ player would have to be released from county games when his home country needed his services. That way , players acquired substantial skill enough to dominate in specific domains of the game.    England with its serene atmosphere, salubrious climate and cold through the year proved itself an ideal locale for playing cricket.

UK was once a global conqueror colonizing countries, domains and provinces, popularized cricket by playing it in every venue under their political control. That way cricket was ‘imported’ and imparted to many countries like India, W. Indies, Sri Lanka and around. Countries that were British colonies took to cricket and to-day England has to fight its way with all those countries for Cup, Rubber or Ashes. Non-English teams which once needed guidance for judicious play-skills, gradually progressed into quality / nuances that, members of origin from different nations get to play as a team in circuits offered by different countries.  

As several changes came about, Test cricket slowly lost its charm by its long format lasting for 6 days including a day’s rest. With TV technology delivering live coverage into drawing rooms, spectators and viewership revenue at the venue faced a decline showing just bleak prospects. By 1970s MCC drew up a scheme for 60 overs  a-side to compress the game in time format. It proved an instant hit with all countries and thus emerged the World cup. Based on the sponsors WC was christened differently each time like ‘Corn hill’, ‘Prudential’, ‘Benson and Hedges’,  ‘Cocoa cola’, Pepsi, Hero and so on. Before these sponsors ever appeared on the horizon, the concept of Private players promoting cups for World cup format was devised by Kerry Packer- a media magnet from Australia. He sponsored several teams for international format, shaking the foundations of establishment cricket [euphemism for cricket controlled by respective cricket control boards in different countries]. Boards of CC named the rival format as ‘Packer Circus’ and were not in favour of Test players associating themselves with ‘Packer Game’. Packer’s concept was so sound that different boards of control for cricket deemed it fit to make typical ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL formats for filling their coffers.

The game pattern has undergone changes that any country imports any player for a domestic circuit such that spectators receive their money’s worth in every competition. Success rests on runs made within the specified number of overs. A sort of attacking play of the willow by batsman settles score for supremacy on a given day. So, run-thirsty batsmen and wicket-crazy bowlers rule the roost though the notion about cricket -‘gentleman’s game deserves a review of nomenclature at times.

Prof.  K. Raman