They say, cricket has always remained a gentleman's game. There was a time when the word 'cricket' was used in the meaning of manners and whenever there was any incident or anyone behaved unmannerly, people used to say 'This is not Cricket'. But change is the only assurance in a world destined to change forever. As Virginia Wolf famously wrote in her novel "To the Lighthouse", "Nothings stays, all changes but not words nor paint".
Same is true about this lovely game of cricket. I believe it can no longer be called a gentleman's sport in the same sense in which it was used to be. Though, there are some gentlemen still playing around when you think of Mohammad Yousuf, Inzi (if you forgive him for what he did with an Indian fan in Sahara Cup in Canada in 1998) and Stephen Fleming to name a few. But the modern day's cricket is more dominated by aggression and hostility in whatever sense you can take it. Not many would like seeing Sunil Gavaskar now stroking 36 notout in 60 overs as he did while opening the batting for his side in the first World Cup in 1975. People are now more interested in seeing fast-paced attacking cricket suited to their psyche and liking. Twenty20 is the best example. Today, the cricket world is for the likes of Dhoni's, Afridi's, Symonds' and even for those who mix sledging with their cricket. But if you are still a purist and want to remind other to behave properly whether on or off the field then better option would be to say please mind your cricket!!
Yes, I finally set up a domain with this name for my blog. I would be blogging regularly now so please update your links and save http://www.mindurcricket.com as the permanent address to all of my cricketing writings. I plan to do much more things with my site in near future depending on the time I get to make those changes.
Same is true about this lovely game of cricket. I believe it can no longer be called a gentleman's sport in the same sense in which it was used to be. Though, there are some gentlemen still playing around when you think of Mohammad Yousuf, Inzi (if you forgive him for what he did with an Indian fan in Sahara Cup in Canada in 1998) and Stephen Fleming to name a few. But the modern day's cricket is more dominated by aggression and hostility in whatever sense you can take it. Not many would like seeing Sunil Gavaskar now stroking 36 notout in 60 overs as he did while opening the batting for his side in the first World Cup in 1975. People are now more interested in seeing fast-paced attacking cricket suited to their psyche and liking. Twenty20 is the best example. Today, the cricket world is for the likes of Dhoni's, Afridi's, Symonds' and even for those who mix sledging with their cricket. But if you are still a purist and want to remind other to behave properly whether on or off the field then better option would be to say please mind your cricket!!
Yes, I finally set up a domain with this name for my blog. I would be blogging regularly now so please update your links and save http://www.mindurcricket.com as the permanent address to all of my cricketing writings. I plan to do much more things with my site in near future depending on the time I get to make those changes.
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