I’m sure we’ve all read and heard the ICC say that it wants to bring the game to America.
In my opinion, cricket will not become a mainstream sport in the region because of the time it takes to play the game (even the ODI format). I’ve been told by friends that the only way cricket can make it in this region is by cutting short the length of the game. So, say reduce an ODI from 50 overs per team to 20 overs by team. It might be okay to bunk classes or skip work in Pakistan or India for a game. But this is simply unacceptable in America.
So, the question is would you as a cricket fan be willing to follow this shorter mini-ODI game? Do you think cricket can become a top sport in NA with or without changing the length of the game?
I would probably not be willing to watch a mutilated form the game especially since I like the sense of timing of ODIs. You know exactly what the players are going to do in one stage and you have specific players for those stages. But if you chop the game down to 20 overs, one of two things will happen:
1) You will have to reduce to the number of players.
2) If the above point is not applied, then every player will be slogging and the game will turn into a farce.
It might be amusing to watch a tournament here or there but if every match was like this, classical batsmen like Yasir Hameed or even Inzi would be not fit in this kind of game.
I agree, but remember the "true" or may be "better" cricket is in Test match, and ODI were made mainly to attract crowds because people get bored with 5 day games and then "draw". Shorter ODIs will attract crowds as well because of the "fireworks", Yasir Hameed or Inzi may not be great in that game but other guys will have a chance.
The 20 overs version was introduced at county level in England last year and was a big hit. So dont write it off yet. There were a lot of new rules as well.
Baseball has afternoon games every wednesday....and people and kids routinely skip school and work to watch those games in the US....So i dont thikn cricket would fail in north america because of poeple unwilling to spare time. And besides, they could always have night games.....that start around 4pm, and run up to midnight. Its all about getting a start.
USA Cricket Association (USACA) has a 5-year agenda to promote cricket in the USA. One of their targets is to make cricket an option sports available to youth in school. This would really help plant the seed at the right age. I am involoved with a Youth program and let me assure you, you are going to hear more and more about cricket in the near future.
ICC realizes USA importance as a huge market and is willing to dish out dough to promote the sport.
One of the biggest disappointment has been Canada. They are much more established in cricket yet they haven't done much to promote the sport to the natives. I think USACA will beat the Cannucks in this aspect too.
I was about to say the same thing that Akif said. Baseball games start in the afternoon. Cricket can be the same. Harr aira ghaira ground here has flood lights… (even the community college grounds can have night cricket). As John Kerry says… “Bring 'Em Onnnnnnnnnnnnnn” :k:
in crowd stands i hardly imagine if there will be Americans(excluding desis) - but if India and Pakistan meet in the world cup 2007 tourney - it will attract huge sub-continent crowd
oh btw - Cricket comes nowhere near Baseball in the U.S. :)
that's part of my point Captain1 - i mean you won't see a native American dude playing Cricket here - do you? the team U.S. have at the moment basically have players of the origin of Indian, Pakistani and Carribbean.
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*Originally posted by Talha: *
that's part of my point Captain1 - i mean you won't see a white American dude playing Cricket here - do you? the team U.S. have at the moment basically have players of the origin of Indian, Pakistani and Carribbean.
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that's true. cricket's support comes from immigrants. I don't even see Indian or Pakistani kids who grew up or were born in NA playing cricket. they take more interest in baseball, basketball and ice hockey.
Because Cricket was not played here 100 years ago?
I’m sure once cricket enters into college/school level, you’ll see goras coming. But for the beginning, it’ll be dominated by sub-continent and some recent goras from SA/Europe/Aus.
For all you guys who want to attract goras to play cricket, just remember that average gora is 30% bigger and stronger than us desis. Voh log hamara kachara karenge both in bowling and batting. If you seen them shoot hockey pucks, I would be scared s**tless them bowling at me or fielding their bats. Be careful guys, Allah might grant you your wishes and then India and Pakistan would be in cricket where we are in ice hockey!
What did goras of Australia, Europe do? What did kalas of Africa, West Indies do? You don't need just the power/strength, you need "brain", "timing" etc otherwise people like Afridi would have left Tendulkar behind.
American goras will be followed by American kalas. These people are unlike other kalas or goras. American kalas have dominated every sport in which they participate. Captain saab size does count. Hamaare soccer players are about 30% slower than Brazilians and other black. No way you are telling me someone of the stature of Shaq isn't going hit a cricket ball harder than anybody from subcontinent.
Size or strength is not the criteria Arvind. The best batsmen like, Richards, Tendulkar, Miandad are not very strongly built. They had timing and skill. Shaq might turn out to be another Afridi. You cant hit the ball hard and expect to clear the boundary everytime. The pinch hitting in ODI's was made fashionable by Jayasuriya and Kalu for S/L and they are neither very tall nor very powerfully built. Its all about timing.
Widespread cricket in NA will be wonderful. There are a lot of caribbean, Indian immigrants who will be thrilled I think. There are also S.Africans, Pakistanis, English, so if there is a well thought out program with some monetary support from ICC or some org atleast until the sponsors and crowds start paying.
It'd be great if it takes of in schools but why would a kid with a choice of POPULAR potentially well paying sports such as baseball basketball and football try the new game in numbers?
The motivation angle has to be worked out ...otherwise it will remain a game of the ghettos
^yaar ...the ghettos part, i remember seeing this picture in Time Magazine a while back: The picture was a team photo of some former gang member Hispanic teens in full cricket gear. I believe the picture said they were on some tour to England but i am not sure. Any of u know what I am talking about?
Sammy Sosa is the only ambassador for Cricket in the USA.
Sammy grew up playing cricket as a boy, and when he had to decide whether to play Cricket or Baseball, he chose Baseball because of the money, but he still misses Cricket.
The problem is attracting Canadians/Americans to the game. In Canada, people don't watch hockey because it's fun, they love to watch hockey because it's fast paced, lots of hitting, fighting, swearing, and it doesn't become dull.
For example, I got a call from my friend about India vs. Pakistan and he's like hey man.. I saw the game on Rogers Sportsnet, and it showed some Indian guy splitting his hand open. Then he commented that was cool, but that's nothing like hockey. Although he praised the excitement in the game, and said it wasn't boring. Infact he loved the crowd excitement and said they never shut up... wow.
Cricket does become dull (not every International game is like India vs. Pakistan!).
How does it feel for other kids to sit out on a bench for so long, watching the other guy hit the ball everywhere? How about fielding at a area, where there is no excitement?
I think ICC will have to fix the problem in England first before they can help North America.
