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Articles -
Musings
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Friday, 18 May 2012 22:43 |
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Contributed by Ameya Tilak
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(1200 views) |
Blue skies, blue eyes; blue clothes, blue mornings, blue movies and now a blue playing surface/turf. The blue rage has got hold of sports fraternity now. While for few it is not that a holy cow, few believe that it is here to stay. Well, the Olympic Practice Games (for Hockey) and Madrid Open (Tennis) have initiated this blue fascination and very soon it has become a whole new ground to debate about. The players’ angry outbursts, threats to pull out of the tournament are some of the initial reactions. At the same time, there also exist few who are backing this blue-rage and infact are using it to take pot-shots at the others. The administrative head honchos are in favour of this blue-ism and tipping it to be the future of the games.
So, where does cricket stand in all this? Few might say that there have not been many incidents where cricket has been a part of Olympics like Tennis and Hockey is. But well, although it has not been practiced as the Olympic sports that often if not almost ever, Olympics does involve cricket in its list of Olympic sport. Hence, the blueness of cricket pitch and/or ground shall be an interesting idea if conceived. The question is, as a cricket fraternity how comfortable will we be with the idea of going blue with our pitches or grounds. And on a larger context, where do we stand when it comes to change the 'ground' realities of the game? And on this blue background, this article will attempt to discuss our equation with the changes the game goes through or averse to go through. Will our averseness to changes effectively be reducing our scope to cater to maximum audiences? Is it the case where merely an idea of bringing in change makes us grow finnicky?
Well, to start with, I must highlight that the game of cricket experimented with pink balls. Infact, there have been proposals to officiate a day-night test matches to know how feasible it will be to conduct matches of these sort on a regular basis. If that’s not enough, we have read or seen the cricket match being played in the hilly icy mountains and we have also witnessed cricket matches where the pitches are imported and plugged in. So, by no means our game has lacked the courage to bring in innovations. Neither has it failed to successfully implement few. The question is have we backed our tryst with innovation and cricket to the point from where the success or the failure was the only road ahead? And on many accounts, the answer is not in affirmative. By no means, we need to compromise on the values of the game but why not a change in the exteriors of the game? A change in the colour of the pitch may be. Will that be that harmful an experiment? If we readily agree to the fact that barring few nations, a certain format of the cricket is not being taken care of. Then why not add few new features to make cricket more curious, eye-catching and if not a different and exciting viewing experience for the spectators?
I do agree that the needs, degrees and also the significance of changes might vary from format to format. For the test cricket, the change might be a mean to keep intact the charm and allure of the game in the eyes of the budding or a professional cricketer. For T-20, the change or innovation might well be a mean to sustain t-20s appeal and popularity. Whereas, for 50 overs format, the induction of something new might help the format to stand out on its own and not being viewed as a mere extension or as lengthier version of t-20. For me, the each format has blessed with a certain sphere of beauty. Hence, the survival of each form is crucial. Although this is the truth, there also exists an argument that says, by changing or tweaking the traditions (may be of rules and/or of the match equipment) of the game, we will be endangering the status of the sport. By no means, every innovation will succeed and change the face of the game like never before, but the administrator and the cricket nations have to work in tandem to experiment with the changes till the time they fail.
There have been cases of affiliates and/or associates that have not been on the top-level cricketing radar for quite a long. The likes of Greece, Germany, France, Spain and many more have been in the ICC’s list of Affiliate or Associates countries for quite some time. However, the progress they have made has been very modest. In my view, if cricket has to spread its wings beyond the top 10-12 International teams then the International cricketing bodies along with the affiliates and associates shall be embracing themselves with the innovations. And these innovations shall be tested over a longer period of time before defining it to be a success or failure. For example- if cricket has to be popularised, why not use this newly invented blue-ism in the countries like Spain. For one, Spain now has the experience, the machinery and the people that can actually led out the blue surface. It will not only help cricket gain something new but it eventually help us to add on one more member in the list of cricketing fraternity. On the other hand, it will benefit the financially hit countries like Spain and infact encourage them to indulge in cricket. For Cricket to survive and grow, we need an active participation of the cricket playing nations at the global level. And as much as a certain region will like to have one-upmanship over the other, for cricket to survive, we need stronger cricket boards across the cricket order. The acceptability to the fact that the game can be played no matter what colour the surface (pitch or ground) might hold will encourage various countries across the continents to follow the game. Just like the players who play the game, the game of cricket in itself needs to have an ability to adapt. This will not only encourage and groom the countries that will play cricket but it will also make the game of cricket more appealing and far-reaching.
But will it happen? Well, at first, cricket, the game we love so much has a history to be a bit evasive while accepting changes that occur to our game. Most of us tend to belong to a category that feels the game is so holy and moral that innovations are a strict no-no. Hence, any innovations that are brought in the format of the game may be that of introduction of technologies, may be of changes in rules and few more, is often met with criticism; even more so, when one decides to add some innovations to the 5 day format of the game. So, are those lumps in throat and the loud cries that test cricket is going down are for real? And by not doing anything, are not we as spectators, ICC- as a cricket governing body and cricketing boards across the world doing any disservice to the game? For the success of any innovation, we need to let any innovations run over a significant time instead of instantaneously analysing its successes and failures. It is not merely about going blue or any colour for that matter. On a larger context it is about how open are we to effectively execute the changes and keen enough to hear out those who are the beholders of the idea that will better the game and effectively make the game grow, both in stature and also in its geographical reach. For the game to grow, in addition to cricketing excellence and umpiring standards of highest quality we also need ever improving cricketing facilities and technologies. For once, it is important to understand that the success of the game on a larger parameter lies strongly in the successful working of all these factors in tandem.
‘The blue’ at Madrid and at the Olympic Hockey Practice games have thrown open the window of opportunity. Are we as a cricket loving fraternity and ICC as a cricket loving administrative body ready to take plunge to embrace innovations to make our game more interesting (in all right means)?
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 October 2012 02:46 |
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