The game played and followed by only a miniscule population until 19th century has spread its wings across the globe. It was a game popular amongst the English and the Australians. The exciting rules of the game enticed nations to adopt the game and the results are ubiquitous. The first mega cricket event held on a global stage – the 1975 ICC World Cup included 6 prominent teams. The number has sharply augmented to 16 in the recently organized 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. The game has witnessed the rise and fall of many cricketing teams and legends and the history have been phenomenal. The rules and nature of the game has changed manifolds since then, but the enthusiasm and verve doesn’t seem to fade away. The game has served as a platform for nations to unite and come together irrespective of their caste, creed, mutual rivalries and geographical boundaries.
Cricket in the initial era was quoted as a Gentleman’s Game. The umpire was commensurate to a Godfather whose decisions served as ultimatum for the players on field. The respect and dignity shown by the gentlemen serving the game was remarkable. The inflexion point in the showplay can be marked by the 1932-1933 Ashes series between arch rivals England and Australia wherein the English strategist Douglas Jardine, the then English captain formulated a theory of bodyline tactics to counter play Sir Don Bradman’s irrepressible run of glory. It turned overwhelmingly in favour of the English as the Aussies could muster no response against Harold Larwood’s treacherous tactics. The cricketing nations were privy of the changes afoot. Since then many evolutions of foul play have been devised and formulated in the game. The Australians have mastered the art of sledging and used it to a good effect.
It’s been almost 130 years since the first test was played at MCG. Undoubtedly the rules and nature of the game have been ferreted. The gentleman’s game has been overhauled by commercial mediations. The prize money and endorsement ventures attached to the game are mind boggling in retrospect to the early stages. The passion to win has overtaken the spirit of the game. In countries like India and Pakistan where cricket is considered a religion a single bad performance has resulted in outrages. The twists and turns including the betting controversy that once engulfed the entire cricketing world have sparked evidence in the recent times. Cricketers using drugs and performance enhancement pills have been amongst the recent controversies involved in the modern day sport. Sex scandals, ball tampering, abusing, quarreling, in fact murders are all parts of the mosaic of modern day cricket.
Notwithstanding the fame and glamour associated with the modern day game, an earnest effort should be made to resurrect the spirit and gentlemanship with which cricket was played in the days of yore. It would lead to an unbiased platform and encourage minnows of the game to enhance their reputation and come out with shining colours. The coaching manual should also include the rudimentary basics of the etiquette to be followed on-field as well as off the field and individuals disapproving of those rules should be handled with a strident attitude. But analyzing the current scenario it would take some amount of dedication and time to give the game the status of what it really deserves – Gentlemanship.
Cricket in the initial era was quoted as a Gentleman’s Game. The umpire was commensurate to a Godfather whose decisions served as ultimatum for the players on field. The respect and dignity shown by the gentlemen serving the game was remarkable. The inflexion point in the showplay can be marked by the 1932-1933 Ashes series between arch rivals England and Australia wherein the English strategist Douglas Jardine, the then English captain formulated a theory of bodyline tactics to counter play Sir Don Bradman’s irrepressible run of glory. It turned overwhelmingly in favour of the English as the Aussies could muster no response against Harold Larwood’s treacherous tactics. The cricketing nations were privy of the changes afoot. Since then many evolutions of foul play have been devised and formulated in the game. The Australians have mastered the art of sledging and used it to a good effect.
It’s been almost 130 years since the first test was played at MCG. Undoubtedly the rules and nature of the game have been ferreted. The gentleman’s game has been overhauled by commercial mediations. The prize money and endorsement ventures attached to the game are mind boggling in retrospect to the early stages. The passion to win has overtaken the spirit of the game. In countries like India and Pakistan where cricket is considered a religion a single bad performance has resulted in outrages. The twists and turns including the betting controversy that once engulfed the entire cricketing world have sparked evidence in the recent times. Cricketers using drugs and performance enhancement pills have been amongst the recent controversies involved in the modern day sport. Sex scandals, ball tampering, abusing, quarreling, in fact murders are all parts of the mosaic of modern day cricket.
Notwithstanding the fame and glamour associated with the modern day game, an earnest effort should be made to resurrect the spirit and gentlemanship with which cricket was played in the days of yore. It would lead to an unbiased platform and encourage minnows of the game to enhance their reputation and come out with shining colours. The coaching manual should also include the rudimentary basics of the etiquette to be followed on-field as well as off the field and individuals disapproving of those rules should be handled with a strident attitude. But analyzing the current scenario it would take some amount of dedication and time to give the game the status of what it really deserves – Gentlemanship.
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