🏏 Life as a Metaphor for Cricket 🌍
Contemporary life suffers from unresolved colonial conflicts, that much is true, though unpalatable to some.
Cricket is no different, and the southern summer in 1999 bore witness to an epic clash in this vein.
Sri Lanka took on England in a thrilling match at the Adelaide Oval, officiated by local Australian umpires. It is thought of as perhaps the most ill-tempered, and yet one of the most exciting, games ever played. A wonderful article on it by The Cricket Monthly from ESPN in comments below.
The encounter encapsulated the essence of how life serves as a metaphor for cricket. To fully appreciate this connection, let us delve into the basics of late-20th century history.
The British PM made "Wind of Change" speech in 1960, but decolonisation remained more-theory-than-practice for decades to come. This state continues in many ways even today. France for example maintains its troops, and controls the monetary systems, in large parts of Africa. Or look at the recent farrago in the British royal family about the skin colour of a baby.
A cricketing case-in-point was the racialist South African polity in 1960s. They did not play non-white players in their team and did not wish to play against black players. The then predominantly white cricketing nations - England, New Zealand and Australia - continued to play with apartheid South Africa until 1970, despite international protests, UN resolutions and SA even leaving the International Cricket Council!
Statements on equality proved to be hollow rhetoric, mirroring racialist preferences widespread in societies. This went on until cricketing results on the field forced through inevitable change.
The World Cup was won by the West Indies in 1975 and 1979, by India in 1983, Pakistan in 1992 and Sri Lanka in 1996. These achievements showed a better game, and catalysed change off the field.
Cricket has front-run decolonisation in economic, political and social domains since. Fast forward to today, and cricket continues to inspire the future.
The franchise league tournaments around the world and the English cricket team showcase the incredible gains from multiculturalism.
For example, England in 2019 saw an Irish-born captain leading a team with talismans of Pakistani, Kiwi and Barbadian heritage winning the World Cup, beating NZ in perhaps the greatest one day game ever played.
Much like a cricket match that ebbs and flows, the journey of equality in our lives is filled with ups and downs. Even in the face of deep-seated prejudices, we can overcome obscurantism, achieve greatness and win -- all the while playing by the rules! 🌏🏆
#Cricket #Life #Equality
International Cricket Council
Cricket Australia
Sri Lanka Cricket
England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
Head -Business Developement at Datapings Business Analytics Pvt. Ltd.
2wCongratulations for this amazing support for promoting cricket at the grassroots!!!