Cricket – ‘civilising‘ the world… Cricket has been a runaway success in India (Image via Wikipedia) After becoming estabilished in England, cricket gained in popularity throughout the colonies as a British export; it was thought to exert a ‘civilising effect’ on native peoples during the time of the Empire. The first game of cricket played in India was one between locals and British Army soldiers. The growth of the sport in the country proceeded to exceed all expectations and Indian cricket has fielded legends such as Sachin Tendulkar who as of 2011 has scored more runs than any other player. Certainly, India’s cricketing success seems indicative of a strong legacy of the sport in the country. It is often forgotten that early participation was restricted to European settlers and the first Indian cricket clubs maintained a strong ethos of European exclusivity. A comparable divide characterised English cricket until 1963, when the distinction between professional (gentlemen) players and amateurs was nullified. Prior to this, exclusivity had restricted participation in the sport and prevented universal access to some of the most well established club
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:51:06 +0000
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