ROLE OF COLONIALISM IN CRICKET

A century ago cricket was an English game. IT had been invented in ENGLAND & was linked to 19th century Victorian society. The game was introduced in schools as a part of physical training & was to represent English values – fairplay, discipline, gentlemanliness. The colonial masters thought that colonized people can’t play & were worried when people living in colonies not only began to play but at times even beat English in their own game. The term CRICKET ‘derived from the middle Dutch word krickstoel, meaning a long stool used for kneeling in church & resembled the long low wicket with two stumps. THE game has a known history spanning from 16th century to present day, with international matches played since 1844, although official history of International Test Cricket began in 1877. CRICKET gave itself rules & regulations in order to be uniform & stndardised. The laws were drawn in 1744& stated presence of two umpires who shall decide all disputes, stumps must be 22 inches high & bail across them 6 inches. The ball be 5 or 6 ounces, no limit on shape& size of the bat. The world’s first club was formed in HAMBLEDON in 1760’s & Marylebone club founded in 1787. MCC’s revision of laws in 1760&1770’s brought series of changes as it became common to pitch the ball through air, rather it roll along ground. In 1774 LBW was published .In 19th century wide balls, use of equipment such as gloves, pads, all shots had runs & over arm bowling became legal.  rnSPREAD OF CRICKET:rnCricket was introduced to North America via the English colonies in the 17 the century .In 18th century it arrived in other parts of the globe. It was introduced to WEST INDIES by colonists & to INDIA by British east INDIA company. It arrived in AUSTRALIA in 1788.NEW ZEALAND & SOUTH AFRICA followed in the early years of 19th century.rnAmongst the most famous clubs HAMBLEDON in Hampshire was the focal point of the game for about thirty years until formation of MCC & opening of LORD’S CRICKET GROUND in 1787.THE growth of the game in 19 the century was due to introduction of RAILWAYS which carried people from one place to another.rnCRICKET & CRISISrnTHE game faced its real crisis in 18th century when major matches ceased during the seven years war. This was due to shortage of players & lack of investment. Another crisis cricket faced was at the beginning of 19th century due to Napoleonic wars.rnMCC was itself the center of controversy in the regency period on account of differences b/w Lord Frederick & George Qsbaldeston. Then match fixing scandal & gambling since 17th century together were reasons responsible for cricket crisis. INCREASING USE OF TECHNOLOGY:rnLimited over’s cricket increased television ratings for cricket coverage .In 1992 use of a third umpire to adjudicate run out appeals with television replays was introduced in test series b/w South Africa and India. The third umpire duties have expanded to include decisions on other aspects of the play such as catches, boundaries and stumpings. As yet the third umpire is not called upon adjudicate LBW appeals although there is a virtual reality tracking technology i.e. Hawk eye i.e. approaching perfection in predicting the course of delivery. 21st CENTURY CRICKET:rnCRICKET remains a major world sport in terms of participants, spectators & media interest. The INTERNATIONAL CRICKET has expanded its development programmed with the goal of producing more national teams capable of competing at level. Development efforts are focused on African & Asian & on USA.IN 2004 Intercontinental cup brought first class cricket to 12 nations for the first time.rnIn 2001 ICC INTRODUCED a test championship table & in October 2002 a one day international championship table. AUSTRALIA has topped both these tables in 2000s. CRICKET‘s newest innovation is TWENTY 20, an evening entertainment. It has attracted large attendances at matches as well as good TV ratings. The inaugural ICC twenty 20 world cup tournament was held in 2007 with a follow -up event in 2009. rnThe formation of T-20 leagues in INDIA - the official Indian Premier League ,starting in 2008 & the BIG BASH LEAGUE in AUSTRALIA- raised much speculation in the cricketing press about their effect on the future of cricket.