What sort of cricket do we want when we go to a Test stadium or switch on the television?
Are we hoping for James “The Tiger” Anderson in confrontation with Ravindra “Rocket” Jadeja or a sophisticated game full of deep strategies and delicate strokes masterminded by Duncan “Brains” Fletcher?
Judging from the sudden leap in ticket sales for the rest of the Test series this week after England won the third Test and Jadeja and Anderson were cleared of any wrong-doing it is clear a home win and a massive injection of controversy helps fill the grounds.
I don’t like the idea of a game based on a soap opera as I have been brought up on the idea of clapping when fifty came up, acknowledging the skills of both sides and thanking the opposition for its contribution to each match.
In England that still seems to be the way of the majority of supporters. They come to the ground as a couple or as a family, armed with their lunch, their teatime snack and perhaps a bottle of champagne. (It costs so much to go into one of our grounds it is worth spending a few more pounds to turn the trip into your annual holiday).
In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the tickets are cheaper and the audience is younger and their spectators have long appreciated the head-to-head rivalry of the superstars.
Complete contrastThe sub-continent provides a complete contrast. The crowds come to see their side win and why not. Surely it is what the game is all about.
I think it is the older cricketing nations who have to throw off their belief that only a better class of person plays, watches and views cricket.
It may once have been a game for the upper classes but those days are gone. Under the influence of the strident commentators of Channel Nine , and the abrasive tone of the men of Sky TV even fans in England paint their faces, dress bizarrely, wave their flags and favours and demand autographs of every fielder near the boundary.
Everywhere the aggro on the field is matched — even by some of the old dears with their luncheon baskets — among the spectators and even members in the pavilion with their exotic MCC ties, blazers and opera glasses. If we don’t like this behaviour it is up to us to stop it. We don’t have to go or view. We could try Wimbledon, or the Open golf, or the Ryder Cup, providing the golf fans do not emulate those loud-mouthed American fanatics.
The scant numbers watching the third Test at the Ageas Bowl undoubtedly threw authority into a tizzy and this week they have been very keen to give publicity to the increase in ticket sales. At what expense I wonder. I don’t expect cricket to hold the attention of the new generation unless it includes a high proportion of high jinks.
Will wickets flying, sensational catching and run-outs originating on the boundary not be enough to entertain a full house? Sixes? “Seen lots of ‘em in the T20.” Fours? “They are ten a penny in the limited overs stuff.” Run a ball? “Don’t enjoy that any longer.”
Now that England is no longer winning, there is a serious danger boredom will set in. What is needed — sadly — is eyeball-to-eyeball, fists clenched and red-faced bouts at least once a Test.
Unless we say no and force the rulers of our once-noble game to get off their backsides and get rid of the trouble makers. That could happen if we stop paying at the gate.
