Category: Cricket

Sociology has been defined by many pioneer thinkers, in the words of Max Weber, “Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretive understanding of social action.” This definition briefly sums up what the following essay will be focusing on. The following essay will be focusing on the changes brought to cricket and how it revolutionized the sport, as well as Indian society. It will be focusing on what aspects helped IPL gain so much popularity in the Indian society. As a result it will help us in the “understanding of social action” of the contemporary Indian society.

There is a strong link between human society and sports. Sports can provide us a frame through which we can study certain aspects of social actions, conducted by the individuals of that particular society. The article written by Vidya S (2015) focuses on India’s most adored sport, cricket. It focuses on the Indian Premier League, which has changed the definition of cricket in society altogether. The sport used to initially help spread nationalism and patriotism towards one’s country, however, with the introduction of IPL, the Indian audience divided themselves into supporting different teams. This particularly modified version of the sport has created various debates and many are against this change in the sport. Many sociologists see it as, “Mass Deception” (Pathak, 2018). Avijit Pathak, who is a Sociology professor at JNU, New Delhi, is of the view that IPL is not cricket, but pure business. This goes in accordance with many other articles and opinions on the internet as well. But, many are also of the belief that IPL has helped India’s economy globally, which can help bring more changes in society (Pike and Coakley, 2009)

Since IPL’s “birth” in 2008, the cricketing industry saw a huge change in its culture. Lalit Modi managed to transform cricket from a sport to a business. He branded cricket, by bringing in a platform for TV channels, advertisements, fantasy leagues, publicity on social media etc (Subramanian, 2015). This as a result has helped cricket become a booming business and has attracted the Indian and global audience. Sociology of sports tends to focus on social conditions under which sports are organised and it also studies cultural contexts which influence the society’s level of interest in a particular sport and their level of participation (Pike and Coakley, 2009). Lalit Modi, the creator of IPL was very well aware of India’s social conditions and cultural context, thus he very smartly framed this franchise, which is today a business worth billions. Lalit Modi was aware of the fact that Indians live and breathe cricket. But he decided to make the sport more interesting by introducing a shorter format of the sport, as a result, people of all age groups were engaged in the tournament. Moreover, Modi was also aware that India has always been interested in drama, suspense and fast paced events. Thus he almost scripted the IPL to be exactly that. He admitted that he was pitching IPL against entertainment channels, which would show a Bollywood movie for 2-3 hours (Subramanian, 2015).

Leahy, (2010) stated that, “Cricket is a national passion. Bollywood is a religion. If you can bring both of them together, it can’t get any bigger than that” (as cited in Raj and Sreekumar, 2016). Modi did exactly that. The modern society is majorly attracted by celebrities. We can see how individuals are hooked on page 3 articles, instagram, facebook, gossip shows etc. The society aspires to live a life similar to theirs. When it comes to the Indian society, the craze is a level higher. Indians are crazy over actors, actresses and business tycoons. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan are worshipped and receive a tsunami of love and attention. Thus, the entry of celebrities into the sport, made the sport glamorous and entertaining, as a result attracting majority of the Indian and global audience. In contemporary society, people are searching for any way to seek entertainment (Raj and Sreekumar, 2016). There are many aspects of the game along with its star power and gossip that has attracted more and more eyeballs. For example, instances such as Shahrukh’s argument and fight with the Wankhade security guard, which resulted in him getting banned from the ground for a period of 5 years. Cricket players are also no short of these stars, even their quarrels on the field add drama and excitement to the sport. For example, the quarrel between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli on the field. All these arguments, fights, controversies etc, on and off the field, add to the excitement and drama IPL has to offer for its global audience.With IPL, focus shifted from nationalism to regionalism (to a certain extent). However, not always did people support teams according to their regions to which they belonged. Many Indians supported teams according to their favorite cricketers, for example, people supporting Chennai Super Kings, due to the inclusion of Dhoni. People also support teams due to their owner, for example, people supporting Kolkata Knight Riders or Kings XI Punjab, due to their owners, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta. This particular situation brings in both pros and cons. Positive aspects of the league include, learning other region’s culture, values, beliefs, language etc. Due to the fact that the games of each team takes place in their home grounds, true fans travel all the way to places like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Rajasthan, etc. As a result, they interact with the people there, they eat the local food and assimilate a bit into their cultures. This can help lessen regional disparities and differences in a diverse country like India. But sometimes, due to the overaffection for a certain team/region can also lead to quarrels among individuals. Some sociologists and thinkers, like Avjit Pathak of JNU, believes that the IPL has “no community in it”, “no group nostalgia”, “no collective aspiration” and “no fragrance of soil” (Pathak, 2018). He believes that the league just uses the names of these places to “arouse a sense of collective identity”, however this is “false consciousness” according to Pathak (2018). As the cricketers have no loyalty or emotional attachment to the community, they are only worried about their price tags (Pathak, 2018).

The Indian Premier League is a league which is subject to various social problems and solving certain problems as well. The IPL has been subject to various controversies of match fixing etc, so this essay won’t focus on those basic social problems. In 2008, Kings XI Punjab’s cheerleaders, were asked to leave the Mohali Stadium by Wizcraft International Entertainment, due to their dark skin (Raj and Sreekumar, 2016). This racist approach was condemned by the media and the audience. Moreover, it is also important to highlight the fact that there is a gender inequity in India in cricket. Women’s cricket came under BCCI in 2007, until then, women had no role to play in IPL, apart from that of cheerleaders, to provide to people’s sexual interests. Women were included in the IPL only in 2018 (only a single match) and in 2019, the women’s IPL was between three teams rather than two teams. But the audience for these matches are tremendously low in numbers. The teams do not have sponsors, any celebrities backing teams, few media channels report it and thus it doesn’t even stand close to IPL. However IPL is a platform which has attracted so many viewers through its branding, that it is a proper platform to promote social causes (Raj and Sreekumar, 2016). For example, Farhan Akhtar promoted MARD, a campaign against gender inequality, during KKR vs Kings XI Punjab (Raj and Sreekumar, 2016). Moreover teams like Mumbai Indians support “Education and Sports for all”, via which it has managed to change the lives of over 18 million children in India.

In conclusion, The Indian Premier League was a league that revolutionized the definition of cricket. It turned the so called “Gentleman’s Game” to pure business, by involving famous celebrities, international players, big industries etc. The game helped Indian sports reach a global stage. It globalized Indian sports and Indian economy as well. The league has helped India earn a name in the sporting industry and has helped promote sports in the country. Due to its massive name and platform individuals have been able to use the platform to address social issues in society. Yes, the league is filled with controversies, match fixings, gender inequity and various other issues. Yet no one can take away the fact that the IPL is a global phenomenon, it has attracted everyone’s attention. The fans have associated with a team and always cheer with full spirit for their favorite teams, while sporting the team’s jerseys. We can see how individuals have associated with teams either because of the region they belong to or by their favorite players or just because of the celebrities. People ending up having a stronger connection to their teams, due to materialistic aspects such as jerseys, caps, team songs etc. People have started to assimilate into different cultures and as a result regional disparities are reducing in India. The Indian Premier League is a frame through which individuals can study aspects which result in understanding the society’s “social actions.”

T20 Cricket is the newest format of the sport launched in 2003 by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to bring back fans that cricket lost to lack of innovation and fixing saga during that era. Since then this format has captivated the audiences around the world with its thrilling style, fast-paced action, the unpredictability of the outcome, and new match winners. Before the advent of the T20 format, the sport was all about the rivalries of country vs country with Tests and ODIs in focus. But now there are so many cricket franchise leagues going around, the fans enjoy cricket as a sport and not like the national pride as it always has been.

Cricket has contrasting dynamics in terms of T20s while compared to the other formats. The value of batsman wickets and batting partnerships is quite lower in T20 Cricket as there are lesser no. of overs in a match in comparison to Tests and ODIs. The batsman tends to attack the bowlers irrespective of what lines and lengths they bowl in this format. First and foremost purpose of the batsman in T20s is to see the ball and hit the ball. The prime focus of any fan when they watch this format is the strike-rate of the batsman. Bhaiji provides the expansive stats of a batsman in T20 format including the strike rate under the free cricket betting tips to allow the bettors to formulate their strategy for betting.

Higher the strike rate of the batsman, more chance of team success is a famous saying for T20 Cricket. Bettors have to think about the strike rate of the batsman to decide if they want to put the bet on them or not.

Some of the other important things that they have to consider before placing a bet on a T20 match are related to the team combination, all types of player stats, ground dynamics, weather involvement to name a few. All these factors impact the match in terms of team tactics, player performances and thereafter decides the outcome of it too. A bettor has to analyze all these factors on their own to succeed in betting without any tips. With that being said, putting professional bets on T20s is not the most viable option as it can induce lots of mistakes due to a variety of factors involved. So a bettor must avail the cricket betting tips from Bhaiji to get all the information of cricket in comprehensive to avoid any mistake in betting.

As cricketers of different nationalities play in the T20 leagues, the fans get to see their favorite player of one country sharing the dressing room with the player of another country i.e. Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Also, a top batsman of one country plays against the top bowler of the same country as Rohit Sharma from Mumbai Indians bats against Kuldeep Yadav of Kolkata Knight Riders, both players from India in the IPL. That’s why T20 Cricket has become the favorite format for the fans worldwide. Bettors tend to make a lot of cash on these rivalries with the use of CBTF from Bhaiji as there is a great amount of money involved in the betting for these players. In all, we can say that the T20s are rightly the most loved and cherished format of cricket among the fans right now.

WHAT IS CRICKET?

Cricket is a game in which there are two teams which includes 11 players on the either sides. Before the match starts the captain of each team will do a toss and whichever team wins the toss have to decide whether they will ‘Bat’ or ‘Ball’. If they choose bat so they have to score an amount of runs which the other team could achieve and if they choose ball so they have to stop the other team to score many runs. Runs can be achieved by running between the wickets or by hitting boundaries and a boundary scores the batsmen 4 runs or 6 runs. The cricket match could consist of different overs for example 20 overs, 50 overs and so on. Cricket is a game which could be divided into two parts overs and innings. Overs consists of 6 ball and an inning consists of multiple overs.

HISTORY OF CRICKET

Cricket starts from somewhere around the dark ages. Cricket originally belongs to England because cricket was first played in the south-east England. Cricket is now the national game of England and now is spreading all over the world and mostly in Australia, India, Pakistan, and the West indies. Cricket is known to be possibly start in the 13th century. At that time when cricket was invented there were no ‘Bat’ so the cricket at that time was played with hockey sticks and the ball was known as a rock or a stone. There was a place in England known as The Kent and the first official match was against The Kent and the All England in 1744. Then by the time cricket moved to the Lords Cricket Ground and in 1814 Lords became the main headquarters of the international cricket. The first English touring teams overseas went in 1859. Cricket developed over years as ball was used except stone and bat was used except hockey sticks.

RULES OF CRICKET

There are many rules of cricket:

• There should always be 2 teams which should have 11 players each.
• No ball (when baller steps over the line)
• Wide ball (when the ball is not in reach of the batsmen)
• Leg before wicket (LBW is given when the ball is missed by the batsmen and hits the pads of the batsmen)
• Stumping (when the batsmen is out of the crease and the wicketkeeper hits the ball on the stumps)
• Run out (when the batsmen could not reach the either ends and ball hits the stumps)
• Hit wicket (when the batsmen accidently or purposely hits the wicket with his bat)
• Ball handling (when the batsmen is caught touching the ball with his hands)
• 9Catch (when the ball is caught by fielder at the boundary, inside the circle or behind the wicket)
• If the ball hits the boundary it will be given as a 4 runs
• If the ball is hits over the boundary it will be given as 6 runs
• If the ball is caught by a fielder and the fielder accidently or purposely steps out of the boundary it would be given as 6 runs

TECHNIQUES USED FOR BOWLING

FOR LEG SPINNER

• Leg break
• Googly
• Topspinner
• Flicker ball
• Slider
• Flipper

FOR OFF SPINNER

• Off break
• Doosra
• Topspinner
• Carom ball
• Arm ball
• Teesra

LEFT/RIGHT ARM FAST BOWLING

• Bouncer
• Inswinger
• Reverse swing
• Leg cutter
• Off cutter
• Outswinger
• Yorker
• Slow ball

TECHNIQUES OF BATTING

• Late cut shot
• Leg glance shot
• Hook shot
• Pull shot
• On drive
• Straight drive
• Off drive
• Cover drive
• Square drive
• Square cut
• Cut shot

FORMATS OF CRICKET

There are 3 international formats of cricket:

• Test Cricket: In Test cricket there are 5 days in total and both teams have 2 innings each. One day in test cricket consists of 90 overs. Any one team has to chase the target given by the other team before the last (5th) day finishes.
• One Day International Cricket (ODI): One day international cricket also known as the ODI. In this there is 1 innings for each team which consists of 50 overs. In this the either team has to chase the target at the end of the day.
• Twenty20 International: It is also known as the shortest and fastest way of cricket. In this there is 1 innings for each team which consists of 20 overs. In this the either team has to chase the target at the end of the day.

TOURNAMENTS IN CRICKET

• ICC Cricket World Cup
• ICC Champions Trophy
• T20 World Cup
• Ashes Series
• Champions League Twenty20
• NatWest series
• Asia cup

LEAGUES IN CRICKET

• ICC world cricket league
• Indian Premier League (IPL)
• Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
• Pakistan Super League (PSL)
• Big Bash league (BBL)
• Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)

COMMON INJURIES IN CRICKET

• Rotator cuff injuries: this occurs when any of the rotator cuff muscle in the shoulder is damaged.
• Ankle sprain: it occurs when the ligament and the soft tissue are damaged during sprinting or jumping.
• Contusions: it is on the muscles and it occurs when any of the muscle is struck by the ball.
• Thrower’s elbow: it is also known as golfer’s elbow and it is felt on the inside of the elbow.
• Lower back pain: it occurs when there is pains in the sacroiliac joints which is in bottom side of the back.

TECHNOLOGIES USED IN CRICKET

• Snickometer: it is used to note the video and noise frequency to find that did the ball hit the bat.
• Hot spot: it is used to see that where ball struck at the batsmen with infra-red image.
• Hawk eye: it is used to record the statistical path of the ball
• Stump camera: it is used to see the action replays and it is a small camera installed in the wicket.
• Ball spin: it is used to see where the ball spins.
• Speed gun: it is used to measure the speed of the ball.
• Led bails: it is used to see whether the ball struck the stumps or not.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. (n.d.). Cricket : A Gentlemen’s Game! Retrieved from https://www.topendsports.com/sport/cricket/basics.html
2. (n.d.). Different batting styles and techniques and shots in cricket Sports with webindia123.com. Retrieved from https://www.webindia123.com/sports/cricket/batting.html
3. Gough, P. (n.d.). 5 Common Cricket Injuries That Keep You On The Sidelines. Retrieved from https://www.paulgoughphysio.com/5-common-cricket-injuries-that-keep-you-on-the-sidelines/
4. Longmore, A., Williams, M. K., & Alston, R. (2019, August 22). Cricket. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/sports/cricket-sport
5. Roy, A. (2015, February 22). Top 10 Technological Advancements that Changed Cricket Forever. Retrieved from https://www.ibtimes.co.in/top-10-technological-advancements-that-changed-cricket-forever-624174
6. Show, R. S. (2019, August 23). Top 10 Most Popular Cricket Tournaments in the world. Retrieved from https://sportsshow.net/top-10-most-popular-cricket-tournaments-in-the-world/
7. (n.d.). The Three Formats of Cricket. Retrieved from https://www.icc-cricket.com/about/cricket/game-formats/the-three-formats

Cricket world followed in the footsteps of BCCI, and they started to have their own T20 Cricket franchise leagues apart from their domestic tournaments. In 2011, Cricket Australia (CA) established the Big Bash League (BBL). In 2012, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) incorporated the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and similarly, Sri Lanka began their Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) now defunct. In 2013, Cricket West Indies (CWI) started Caribbean Premier League (CPL). In 2016, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched the Pakistan Super League (PSL). In 2018, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) introduced the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) and similarly South Africa established the Mzansi Super League (MSL). Other nations not mentioned in this list have their domestic tournament and they are in process of launching their stand-alone T20 Cricket franchise league.

There are a lot of things that make the IPL different from all the other leagues in the cricketing world. The first and foremost thing is the number of fans and their passion for cricket in India and the world. IPL has the biggest number of fans for a T20 Cricket franchise league at 2 billion, and they ardently support the tournament, the teams, the players, rivalries, and friendships. As far as the financial part is concerned, IPL is valued at 6.7 billion dollars in 2019 which makes it the richest T20 Cricket franchise league in the world.

This phenomenon has happened for the IPL due to the title sponsorship, TV broadcasting, the ad-revenue, online streaming, and ticket proceedings. The more that money flows in the IPL, the better it is for the bettors in terms of earning lots of cash in betting. For that reason, IPL betting tips from Bhaiji for the bettors ensures that they can bet on the IPL matches with the thorough information about the team line-ups, player injuries, match records, style of play, schedules, and weather conditions. This cricket information is a must for the bettors to make sure that they can avoid the mistakes while betting on the IPL to have no losses incurred on a bet.

One of the technical things that make IPL different from other leagues is the IPL auction. In no other T20, Cricket franchise league do the players get selected in a team with the IPL team owners bidding for the players. This is one of the most unique parts of the IPL as a cricket tournament. A couple of strategic time-outs in each of the two innings of the match is brought in the IPL so that the coaches and team players can make plans to improve the performances of the team.

The concept of orange and purple cap was also introduced in the IPL for the first time in the cricketing world. Orange cap is given to the player for scoring most runs at any stage of the IPL, and similarly, the purple cap is given to the player for taking most wickets in the IPL since the first match of the tournament. In all, the IPL is quite a different and the most lucrative tournament in the world in comparison to the other T20 Cricket franchise league in so many ways. A bettor has to keep all these things into consideration while putting the wager on the IPL match. With the use of free IPL betting tips, bettors have the best chance of being successful in putting the wager on the IPL match while getting consistent rewards for it.

England is the birthplace of cricket, but the game has gained immense popularity around the world for its pure excitement and fascinating sight. In fact, in many countries, such as India and Australia, cricket is synonymous with religion. People of all ages strive to get the latest cricket news related to popular cricket stars, matches, and tournaments.

When a mega tournament called the Cricket World Cup takes place, the excitement level reaches the top. Once every four years, most prominent cricket teams from different countries compete in the World Cup. According to the latest cricket news, there are also many small world-class tournaments running to meet the growing expectations of the audience. This includes the Tea Tee 20 World Cup and Twenty Twenty World Cup tournaments.

Cricket County is another spectacular event that many cricket enthusiasts await throughout the year. The latest cricket news on England County Cricket is above the sports news chart. Many of the popular players jump off to join different teams competing against each other to win the league. News updates are also featured on television and on the web.

In fact, the internet is considered the best resource for the latest cricket news. Many people log in to numerous sports websites that feature news about games, matches, and personal details of cricket players that make up a significant part of the latest cricket news.

People who feel that cricket is only a game for men are pretty wrong. Women’s cricket has also recently become famous for being well played and featuring many great shots and movements. Real cricket enthusiasts look closely at women’s cricket matches and show off their amazing tricks. There will be another World Cup series for women.

Which cricket players have signed up for a new deal and dropped out of the team is important information for news channels and sports websites, as people consider the latest cricket news attractive. Expectations and expectations for cricket games have been much higher recently as more people are interested in the game. There are numerous contests and contests that are announced daily on the web where interested people can participate and win valuable prizes.

Cricket is not only a game but also a best-selling sport in the world market. Cricket fans are present all over the world and the popularity of the game is not likely to decline for a period of time. While every aspect of cricket may sound interesting, such as cricket personal life and cricket expertise, the latest cricket news covers them all.

In the year 2008 we came as the bank for each and every Indian who love cricket when the announcement was made for the first Indian Premier Cricket League. From the end the journey started and even after 10 years craziness about is single match of IPL has not gone down a bit on the contrary it is increasing day by day. The reason behind this is every year IPL comes up with new surprises and also with new talents comedy season is even more interesting and enticing than the previous one. In this article we are going to talk about how IPL has changed the way that cricket is played throughout these years.

Breaking the stereotypes

As it is popularly said that leadership me some proper experience, IPL in its first few Seasons followed the same track. However after some disastrous results the Governing Council realise that it was not a wise decision to do so. Choosing a player based upon their past leadership records was definitely not a good idea for many teams.

So after those few seasons, the audience of IPL saw a real change in the captaincy scenario. The teams experience the leadership of some of the brilliant players who are really young like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rohit Sharma and many others. This help Breaking the myth that younger players are not able to handle the pressure regarding the leadership of a team and we saw some of the fantastic captains in cricket. Doing this role reversal help IPL making India one of the most prominent country in the history of international cricket where one of the most youngest captain has led the team towards the victory.

Recognising new talents

IPL has become the talent hunt in the ground of cricket for many future superstars in the game. The entirely is League is structured in such a form that every debutant goes through most of the pressure points and emerges out as a proper cricket player. Even in the international history it is hard to find such a platform where young talents have been given chance to showcase their talents international level.

If you are a regular audience of IPL, you must be knowing that IPL is not about the living legends playing over and over again their masterstrokes but also getting a chance to watch phenomenal new strokes which are here to create history. These newfound talents eventually get their place in the National Cricket Team where they represent our country and make us proud.

Change in the gaming strategy

For a person who is used to watch ODI matches or test matches the format of IPL is very different. As the span is really shorter, the thrill of the game increases with each and every over passing. As the time management and over count has changed, the batsmen no need to find other better ways to score higher. Show all these years as the teams are getting more and more comfortable with the whole structure, the scores achieved by the teams are increasing slowly. In fact some teams have manage to score over 300 runs which is also a handsome score for 50 over matches. Show 20 over matches or something from which you can expect thriller and suspense every moment.

It was a time when we used to cake names of legendary battery icons who made history within those yards, but today is a scenery you have changed and we get to see a new form of talents emerging out from the lot. This new generation of cricket is able to handle all the challenges in the field and yet perform their best to make the team win.

Bowlers and wickets

It is not really that there has been a drastic change in the batting line up but also in the techniques of bowlers. To cope up with the newly evolved strategy why most of the batsman, bowlers also made many changes in their delivery techniques. It is not something like watching some legendary bowlers about whom the audience would have been sure about them getting a wicket whenever they start rolling the ball in the hands. What to match with the everything new technique coma IPL gifted Indian cricket team some of the fabulous bowlers who can even perform within a span of 20overs and give the opponent batsman really hard time to score.

Some of the signature strokes that IPL has helped to witness are carrot ball, knuckle ball, slower ball, white yorker and there are many more.

If you go through there history of IPL you will see some of the teams who have achieved their victory mostly depending upon their fantastic bowlers comp are the most brilliant example is Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Going viral in the world

Thanks to the rapidly growing technology each and every famous IPL clips have been watch over and over again why people from all over the world. The craze went up so high that many countries decided and also started their own Premier League following the structure of IPL. Some of them are Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan super league, Afghanistan Premier League etc. Just like in India these leaves have helped in showcasing those unrecognised hidden talents which were there in every corner of the country.

A prominent example to describe this is the Afghanistan Premier League which became I use success and also helps in finding many talented players from the country.

So in this article we have discussed how IPL affected and changed the followed ways of cricket. It is true that IPL not only changed the structure of the game but also changed the monogamous perspective of the audience who are used to watching cricket matches in a particular form. For many it was a proven fact that only famous players can meet the team win, which has been proven wrong by many players in the IPL for these 10 years. The next season of IPL is approaching so book your tickets and make your plans because excitement is on its way!

Canada confederated in 1867 after four provinces joined together. There were major social, economic, and cultural differences that were observed before and after the confederation. There was a rapid change seen in Canadian society during the second half of the 19th century. The changes seen in the society are highlighted through the type of sports played in these different times. The time period at which any sport is played in history reveals a lot about the social and political conditions of that society. This paper investigates the underlying factors that led towards the growth of cricket and hockey in Canada, before and after the confederation. This paper also explains the reasons behind the decline of cricket in Canada around the 20th century. The collapse of cricket in Canada can be related to its British background, as well as the rise of sports like hockey which overtook Canada during the post-confederation period.

In 1867, four North American British colonies joined together to form the Dominion of Canada. The Dominion consisted of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. From that time to 1999, there have been six provinces and several territories which have joined the confederation. Before the union of British North American colonies, the Englishmen displayed their dominance in the present day ‘Canada’. One of the ways British exhibited their control over the Canadian land was by playing sports that had originated from Britain. One such sport that became popular in Canada during pre-confederation period was cricket. Cricket emerged as an English sport in Canada in the early 1830’s. According to Alan Metcalfe, the culture of cricket in Canada spread all throughout the nation by 1867. The game evolved, and the sport started to grow in Victoria, Montreal, the Eastern Township, Quebec, and villages in Ontario (Metcalfe, 2000). In Canada, the sport was played by garrisons, soldiers, and members of upper English class; thus, excluding all other cultures (Metcalfe, 2000). However, cricket suddenly started to decline in the early 20th century. The influence of American sports on Canadian people started taking place. For instance, around 1860’s, cricket was replaced by baseball in Hamilton, Ontario (Metcalfe 2000). Baseball was played among the working class. It resembled cricket when it came to the style of the game. Moreover, the working class played baseball, whereas the upper English class was bound to cricket. During the pre-confederation, another sport that gained popularity was lacrosse. It was a Native American sport which became widely popular in Canada. In fact, it became the official national sport of Canada due to the contributions from William George Beers. On top of that, he believed himself to be a nationalist. Delsahut mentions Beer’s statement regarding lacrosse stating that, “If the Republic of Greece was indebted to the Olympic Games; if England had cause to bless the game of cricket, so may Canada be proud of Lacrosse” (Delsahut, 2015). Therefore, due to diffusion of American sports in Canada, cricket started to see its decline after the confederation. Moreover, the interest of the civilians was very limited in cricket. They used to play against the British military teams. The game started to grow when civilians won against the military teams. In contrast, cricket started to decline, and complaints of the civilians were heard when they lost the game (Moss, 1978). Apart from that, the game was never suited for Canada’s harsh winter climate as it was an outdoor summer sport. One of the instances where the ground was unsuitable for playing cricket was when Colonel Wallace arrived in Halifax in 1871. After seeing the cricket ground, he said it “presented the usual ploughed field appearance,” (Reid & Reid, 2015, p. 9). Moreover, the participation of women seen playing cricket in Canada and United States was extremely low. One of the reports in Savannah Republican, which was an American newspaper, described cricket as ‘this manly game’ (Lockley, 2003). Therefore, following the years of confederation, cricket started to decline in Canada as other sports like hockey and baseball became widely popular.

After the confederation in 1867, the Dominion of Canada was at a state of political and economic unrest. There were other provinces which joined the confederation later. At that time, Canada was searching for a national identity. During the post confederation period, ice hockey became very popular in Canada, adding meaning to the Canadian national identity. The first indoor ice hockey game was played at Victoria Rink in Montreal, on March 3rd,1875 (Metcalfe, 2000). Apart from that, the first ice hockey club was formed in Montreal, known as the Victoria Hockey Club of Montreal. Ice hockey was adopted by the people very quickly (Metcalfe, 2000). An ice hockey tournament was first held at the 1883 Montreal Winter Carnival. Soon, there was the formation of Amateur Hockey association of Canada, which was an amateur ice hockey league found on 8th December,1886 (Metcalfe, 2000). The game spread to churches, schools, and other parts of Canada. Ice hockey was growing at an alarming pace at the beginning of 19th century Canada. In 1917, there was introduction of the National Hockey League (NHL), which was a men’s professional ice hockey league established in Montreal, Quebec, in 1917. Since then, NHL became one of the most popular ice hockey tournaments in the world. Over the years, hockey became widely popular in Canada. There were several reasons due to which hockey attracted so many supporters. Firstly, the violent and the aggressive nature of the sport portrayed masculinity. During the first World War, a lot of hockey players were recruited for the Canadian Expeditionary Forces (CEF). Players from various hockey leagues across Canada were chosen for preparation of the war. Hockey was a symbol of masculinity and the players were recruited in the military to help in World War 1 (Wilson, 2005). In the aftermath of the first World War, hockey kept growing as new leagues were introduced, and people became more enthusiastic about the sport. A place which represented various cultures; hockey was regarded to be the social glue of the country. During the 1950’s, the growing tension between the French and Canadian also caused various problems. Montreal had a great number of French speaking population in an English dominated state. Hockey represented a symbol of hope to the Francophiles. One of the papers written on one of French-Canadian ice hockey legend, Maurice Richard, tends to prove the tension between the English and French at that time. Richard had scored 544 regular season goals and 82 playoff goals during his career (Ramos & Gosine, 2002). On March 17th ,1955, Maurice Richard was suspended by the president of the National Hockey League (NHL), Clarence Cambell, after he injured the defenseman and the referee. His suspension led to riots which aggravated the problems between the English and the French. This highlights the importance of the game in people’s life at that time. There was an analysis done on media coverage of Richard’s death by Ramos and Gosine. They concluded that, “the Rocket’s death reflects a divide in terms of cultural myth-making between Quebec and the rest of the Canada, which in turn fuels the existence of separate identities or spheres of being” (Ramos & Gosine, 2002, p. 18). Richard, also known as ‘Rocket’ was considered as a political hero in Quebec (Ramos & Gosine, 2002). Hockey became a symbol of strength for the Francophiles. The Richard incident shows the political and social instability between the groups. This tension between the groups can be clearly seen in incidents like the Richard Riot. Also, several inter-city hockey competitions started taking place after the confederation. Holman mentions that the town’s ice hockey strength was a symbol of “civic pride and celebration” (Holman, 2004, p. 10). The players were associated to represent the town and were awarded for their good performance (Holman, 2004). The people started taking pride in the sport. Overall, hockey united the whole country as everyone had something common to cheer about. One of other reasons behind hockey’s growth in the Canadian Society can be associated with the urbanization. This led to more intra-city and inter-city competitions in hockey. Moreover, US started a new league with five communities of US and Ontario, known as the International Hockey league (IHL) in 1904. The formation of IHL led to a new era in ice hockey. Amateur players in Canada started to move to IHL where the players got paid. This led to the professionalization of the sport, which ultimately became a commercial spectator sport (Mason, 1998). Moreover, due to the increasing population, more indoor ice hockey rinks started to be built. Toronto and Hamilton had an artificial rink built by 1919. Starting from 1920, there were more sporting facilities which were created in urban centers (Metcalfe, 1983). Ultimately, hockey saw further advancement in the developments of the sport through creation of more professional leagues as well as more followers of the game. Therefore, hockey became really popular after confederation, and has continued to unify Canadians as members of one country.

To conclude, the rise of hockey and the decline of cricket in Canada can be better understood by recognizing the political climate of Canada before and after confederation. The control reflected by British over Canada can be represented by the history of cricket in Canada. In contrast, hockey united Canadians by adding meaning to the Canadian national identity. This shows the importance of sports in a greater context, and how it illustrates the social and economic conditions of a place. On the other hand, the paper successfully highlights the rise of ice hockey in Canada in the post confederation period. It shows the reasons behind hockey’s popularity in Canada. Thus, both cricket and hockey has shown to be an important part of the Canadian sport history.

References

1. Delsahut, F. (2015). From baggataway to lacrosse: An example of the sportization of native american games. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 32(7), 923-938. doi:10.1080/09523367.2015.1038252
2. Holman, A. C. (2004). Playing in the neutral zone: Meanings and uses of ice hockey in the canada-U.S. borderlands, 1895–1915. American Review of Canadian Studies, 34(1), 33- 57. doi:10.1080/02722010409481684
3. Lockley, T. (2003). ‘The manly game’: Cricket and masculinity in savannah, georgia in 1859. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 20(3), 77-98. doi:10.1080/09523360412331305793
4. Mason, D. (1998). The International Hockey League and the Professionalization of Ice Hockey, 1904-1907. Journal of Sport History, 25(1), 1-17. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/st able/43606915
5. Metcalfe, A. (1983). The urban response to the demand for sporting facilities: A study of ten ontario Towns/Cities, 1919-1939. Urban History Review = Revue d’Histoire Urbaine, 12(2), 31. Retrieved from https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgibin/ezpauthn.cgi?u rl= http://search.proquest.com/docview/1300094935?accountid=15115
6. Metcalfe, A. (1997). Canada learns to play: The emergence of organized sport, 1807-1914. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
7. Moss, R. (1978). Cricket in Nova Scotia during the Nineteenth Century. Canadian Journal of History of Sport and Physical Education, 9(2), 58-75.
8. Ramos, H., & Gosine, K. (2002). ‘The rocket’: Newspaper coverage of the death of a quebec cultural icon, a canadian hockey player. Journal of Canadian Studies, 36(4), 9-31. Retrieved from https://www.lib.uwo.ca/cgibin/ezpauthn.cgi?url=http://search.proquest. com/docview/203519534?accountid=15115
9. Reid, J. G. & Reid, R. (2015). Diffusion and Discursive Stabilization: Sports Historiography and the Contrasting Fortunes of Cricket and Ice Hockey in Canada’s Maritime Provinces, 1869-1914. Journal of Sport History 42(1), 87-113. University of Illinois Press. Retrieved April 24, 2019, from Project MUSE database.
10. Wilson, J. (2005). Skating to armageddon: Canada, hockey and the first world war. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 22(3), 315-343. D doi:10.1080/09523360500048746

Ever since I was a child, the crack of a cricket bat hitting the ball and the roar of the crowd at a cricket stadium have ignited a fire within me. The sport of cricket isn’t just a game; it’s a passion that has shaped my dreams and aspirations. In this narrative essay, I share my journey of wanting to become a cricketer, from the first time I held a bat to the countless hours of practice and determination that have driven me forward.

Thesis Statement

My desire to become a cricketer is driven by a deep passion for the sport, a determination to overcome challenges, and an unwavering dream to represent my country on the international stage.

A Childhood Dream

I vividly remember the first time I held a cricket bat in my hands. The feeling of the smooth handle and the weight of the bat filled me with excitement. From that moment on, cricket became more than just a game; it became a part of my identity. Watching cricket matches on television, idolizing legendary players, and practicing my shots in the backyard became daily rituals that fueled my determination to excel in the sport.

Passion Ignited

As I grew older, my passion for cricket continued to intensify. The thrill of hitting a perfect cover drive or bowling a well-executed yorker became my source of joy and satisfaction. The more I played, the more I realized that cricket wasn’t just a sport—it was a way of life that demanded dedication, discipline, and resilience.

Challenges and Dedication

Becoming a cricketer is no easy feat. The journey is marked by challenges that test both physical and mental limits. The pressure to perform consistently, the setbacks of injuries, and the competition for a spot on the team are just a few of the hurdles one must overcome. However, it is precisely these challenges that have fueled my determination to become better, to work harder, and to never give up on my dream.

Endless Hours of Practice

To become a cricketer, practice isn’t just a choice—it’s a necessity. Countless hours spent in the nets, refining my technique, working on my fitness, and honing my skills have become integral to my routine. The sound of the ball hitting the middle of the bat and the feeling of a perfectly timed shot are rewards that make every sacrifice worthwhile.

Guidance and Inspiration

Throughout my journey, I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who have believed in my potential and guided me on the right path. Their words of wisdom, constructive criticism, and belief in my abilities have given me the confidence to push my boundaries and strive for excellence.

A Dream Beyond Borders

While the dream of becoming a cricketer has always burned within me, it has also expanded beyond personal achievement. Representing my country on the international stage is the ultimate goal that fuels my determination. The thought of wearing the national colors, stepping onto the field with pride, and hearing the national anthem playing in the background is a vision that drives me forward.

The Road Ahead

My journey to become a cricketer is a path of relentless pursuit, a road that demands hard work, passion, and perseverance. While the destination might be uncertain, the journey itself is a testament to the power of dreams and the strength of will. As I continue to lace up my cricket shoes and step onto the field, I am reminded that every practice session, every match, and every setback is a stepping stone towards my ultimate goal.

Conclusion: Embracing the Journey

In conclusion, my aspiration to become a cricketer isn’t just a fleeting wish; it’s a burning passion that has driven me to dedicate myself to the sport. From the early days of holding a cricket bat to the present moments of rigorous training and dedication, cricket has become an integral part of my life. The challenges and obstacles I encounter along the way only serve to fuel my determination and strengthen my resolve. As I continue on this journey, I am fueled by the hope that one day I will step onto the field, representing my country with pride and embodying the spirit of the game that has captured my heart since childhood.

How Long Does A Cricket Match Last?

I’ve tried to introduce a lot of my friends to cricket over the years, and one of the common responses I’ve gotten when I’ve suggested that they start watching it is that they don’t want to because the matches last too long! I have to admit, it’s true that cricket matches last a lot longer than other sports like football, but there’s a lot of variation! Unlike football, cricket has many different game formats, and some of those are a lot shorter than others. This means that there’s a game of cricket for everyone – from people with just a couple of hours to kill right through to people who love to sit on the sofa for days!

In this post, I’ll go through the average lengths of each type of cricket match, and I’ll also give you some more interesting facts about cricket matches and how they’ve changed over the years. The cricket that you see today is very different from the one that existed a century ago!

So, how long does a cricket match last?

The answer is, it depends on what type of cricket is being played! Here are the average lengths of several different types of cricket match:

• Test match = 5 days (8-hour days, 90 overs per day)
• First-class match = 3 – 5 days (8-hour days, 90 overs per day)
• 50 overs per side match = 8 hours
• 40 overs per side match: 5 – 6 hours
• 20 overs per side match = 3 – 4 hours
• 10 overs per side match: 1.5 hours
• 100 balls per side match: 2.5 hours

The times listed above are the average maximum length of each type of game. If one team dominates the other, matches can finish a lot quicker! For example, a test match can be won by one team in 3 days, rather than them having to play the full 5 days. Likewise, if a T20 game has one team getting bowled out for 50, and the other team knocks off those runs very quickly in their innings, that T20 game would be over much quicker than the allotted 3 – 4 hours!

What Is The Longest Cricket Match Ever Played?

Believe it or not, at one point in history test cricket didn’t have a time limit! The games were played until either side won, or the game ended in a tie. Basically, these rules almost totally ended the possibility of a game finishing as a draw. Games like this were referred to as ‘timeless tests’ and there were 99 of these games played between 1877 and 1939. If you’re not sure about the difference between a cricket match that ends in a tie and one that ends in a draw, or even if you’re not sure about how cricket matches are won, click here to read one of my other posts that will clear up any confusion!

The longest cricket match ever played was a timeless test, and it took place in 1939 in Durban. The two teams taking part in the match were South Africa and England. Incredibly, the match began on the 3rd of March and lasted until March 14th, spanning a total of 12 days! Although there were 12 days of play scheduled, only 9 of those 12 saw any cricketing action. 2 days were assigned as rest days (which was common in timeless tests) and one day saw play abandoned due to rain. Although timeless tests limited the number of draws that occurred, this game was one that did end in a draw! With England 654/5 in their second innings and needing just 42 runs to win, the game had to be ended prematurely as the England team wanted to ensure that they didn’t miss their ship home!

What Are The Session Times In Test & First Class Cricket?

If you’ve ever watched any test cricket or first-class cricket, you may have noticed that each day of play is divided into three separate segments; the morning session, the afternoon session, and the evening session. Each of the sessions lasts about 2 hours players will have lunch between the morning session and the afternoon session, and they will have a break known as ‘tea’ between the afternoon and the evening session. The lunch break is usually about 40 minutes long, and the tea break lasts for about 20 minutes!

The timings of the start and end of each session vary depending on what part of the world you’re playing cricket in, but here is a rough guide on what they are:

• Morning session – 11 am to 1 pm
• Lunch – 1 pm to 1:40 pm
• Afternoon session – 1:40 pm to 3:40 pm
• Tea – 3:40 pm to 4 pm
• Evening session – 4 pm to 6 pm

These times can change slightly depending on what part of the world the match is being played in. For example, daylight in South Africa may occur at slightly different times to daylight in England, and as a result, the hours of play may have to be adjusted slightly.

How Long Is The Break Between Innings?

When the innings of one team end, the players are allowed around 10 minutes to get back out on the field ready for the next innings to begin. The players usually use this time to exit the field, have a drink, freshen up, and change their clothes if they wish. It allows the batsmen who have just left the field to take off their equipment and get ready for fielding/bowling, and it allows the two batsmen who are about to open the batting in the next innings to get themselves mentally and physically prepared for the task.

Sometimes the break between innings can be longer if one innings ends close to a scheduled break like lunch or tea. For example, if one team is bowled out five minutes before the scheduled lunch break, the umpires may choose to take the lunch break 5 minutes early. The changeover in innings will be incorporated into the lunch break, meaning that in this case, it would be significantly longer than usual!

How Often Do Drinks Breaks Occur In Cricket?

Drinks breaks usually occur somewhere in the middle of each session, and last only around 5 minutes. Sometimes these can be called at different times for different reasons. For example, if there is a serious injury to a player, the umpires may choose to call a drinks break early while the situation is resolved!

Conclusion

I hope I’ve managed to convince you that not all cricket matches will take up huge portions of your life! It is a great sport and has something to offer for all kinds of different people. Aside from watching games on TV, I’d definitely recommend heading to a cricket ground near you and watching a game live. The atmosphere is always great – especially for limited-overs matches like T20s. Cricket is fast becoming a global game and the time to get on board is now!