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A look at Sports and outside interference. Can anyone of us truly imagine the Caribbean region without cricket? Already we are losing the very African culture that gives us our identity; well just imagine losing the very sport that we are known by. It is my belief and probably that of many others that in spite of the music and the unique culture shared across the region; there would have been a struggle for international recognition without the glorious game of cricket.
Can anyone of us truly imagine the Caribbean region without cricket? Already we are losing the very African culture that gives us our identity; well just imagine losing the very sport that we are known by. It is my belief and probably that of many others that in spite of the music and the unique culture shared across the region; there would have been a struggle for international recognition without the glorious game of cricket. No one is certain as to when and where cricket began but there is a body of evidence, much of it circumstantial, that strongly suggests the game was devised during Saxon or Norman times by children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England that lies across Kent and Sussex. It is generally believed that cricket survived as a children’s game for many centuries before adults around the beginning of the 17th century increasingly took it up. There is also a theory that originated from ancient bat-and-ball games played in the Indian subcontinent, which were then transported to Europe via Persia and the near east by merchants, and eventually developed into the game of cricket in England (Wikipedia).
Cricket became the corridor or the platform for many of the Caribbean region’s young males. Many have enjoyed good financial earnings from the sport and there are still opportunities for young males to do the same. Cricket today, do not enjoy and share the same passion and excitement among the peoples of the Caribbean as before, but we still owe it to the many young men in the region to do all in our powers to offer the chances of playing the game. Even though some of my people throughout the region do not hold warm feelings for our imperial head, Great Britain, a lot must still be attributed to the colonial ruler, especially along the avenues of sport. The Caribbean’s binding glue is the glorious and uncertain game called cricket, and the British brought this game to the region. The term West Indies as given to the name of the region’s cricket team is almost exclusively used for just that purpose as in most other cases the region is simply known as the Caribbean. The game for years has been enjoyed by a cross-section of the population regardless of their social and political differences.
During the earlier times on the islands, wealthy British plantation worker’s sons played the game. Their schools organized tournaments and by the early twentieth century an inter-colonial tournament was organized. With the emergence of George Headley from Jamaica, regarded as the greatest at his position, cricket was no longer accepted as a game reserved for the white elites. This opportunity to play meant that the Caribbean was about to cement its place in sports, which would become its main cultural identity. With the likes of Michael Holding from Jamaica, Clive Lloyd from Guyana, Viv Richards from Antigua, Malcolm Marshall from Barbados, Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose from Jamaica and Antigua respectively, the Caribbean region was finally on the world stage.
The region was able to enjoy over a decade of world dominance on the cricket stage. Other players emerged and made their mark as well. World record holder Brian Lara from Trinidad & Tobago, a present day hero, is as much a household name in cricket as Michael Jordan is to basketball. His dominance is astonishing and breathtaking having scored 375, 400 and 501 runs as a bats man. The sport crafted the careers of some of the greatest names ever seeing any where in the world. According to Clive Lloyd, “cricket is the glue which keeps the Caribbean together”. He further stated, “For over 75 years, we’ve done extremely well for just five million people”.
There is much to celebrate and to be proud of across the region but that is not the case in recent times. Calypso songs and dance have become the main cultural appreciation for these superstars. The famous song, ‘Here Comes the West Indies’, performed by David Rudder from Trinidad became the anthem that gave a voice to a region that was only known for farming. Viv Richards is represented in a song titled ‘The Master Blaster’ for his hard-hitting power with the cricket ‘bat’ or willow as it is commonly called in England. Sports is sometimes a game off odds, and when the odds are against the West Indies, there was always a “go-to-song”. That would be the battle cry that signaled that the team and the culture are in distress as is the case in recent times. Lately, this cry is familiar across the region, as outside influences have interrupted the once available talent. I will effort to highlight the elements that are causing this cultural shift.
Excitement, fun and victories were synonymous with West Indies cricket and these expectations were reinforced when the region celebrated two consecutive world cup victories. World Cup of Cricket is held every four years and in my mind, is the most prestigious title sort after by cricketing nations. It is the world’s third largest sporting event. The region played host to the ninth ICC world cup tournament. Cricket in the Caribbean is not just a game; it is a way of life. Drum beats, constant reveling and an assortment of flags signals that it’s cricket time.
It was necessary to delve into the game of cricket to such length so as to establish the correlation between the global reach, the historical and cultural context of the game and to also underscore the significance of such unifying force to the region. Cricket is undoubtedly engraved in the cultural conscience of Caribbean people, it is what we are known for and it is what we are known by. It is the one common language that adds geographical identity to the Caribbean. A rich culture is worth saving and should span many generations, but cracks have suddenly appeared in the Caribbean’s way of life. Even though there is much to celebrate, like the world cup victories, the number one rankings and revered players, this is probably not enough to ward off outside pressures and other elements.
Speculations, shame, protest and retirements can be found across a region whose spirit was admired by all. Humiliation and pain has caused many of the region’s leaders to initiate investigations and studies aimed at finding a solution to this dying culture. Cable Television was ushered into the region in the 1980’s. This format of entertainment crept into the psyche of the youths and began a wide scale altering of attitudes that has since threatened the future of cricket. Introducing cable television presented a different worldview, different cultures and new challenges for a region unified by beliefs. One such challenge is the game of basketball. This game continues to thrive across the region and has since being experiencing a proliferation of ball-courts throughout the Caribbean. ‘To be like Mike’ is the new trend for young men in the region rather than to emulate one of those many cricket greats. The interest in cricket among young men is down considerably across the many territories.
In his book, Cricket Explained, Robert Eastway notes “if someone does not understand the rules of cricket by the age of 15, he or she probably never will” (10). Taken as a guide, West Indies cricket is facing severe distress. West Indies cricket without its future prospects has a culture hanging in the balance and the hope of a region in great need of resurgence. Millions of cricket lovers are deeply saddened by the state of affairs of the region. This debacle has initiated fears of financial backlash since stadiums are no longer sold out and sponsorship and leadership are sometimes suspect.
“I hope to motivate the players by making them realize the pride of representing the West Indies at cricket” said Mr. Clive Lloyd, one of the region’s cricketing icons, when questioned about the situation (Hashmi). The lackluster performance by the host team in the 2007 version of the world cup, does nothing to heal or help in this cascading effect. The teenagers’ interest is viewed as that of having an appetite for television. “No house will be torched, no buses stoned and, to be sure, no resignations tendered. But the lamentable cricket that has left the West Indies all but out of their own world cup at the halfway point demands urgent investigation and attention” (Cozier). These cries signal the condition of a culture deeply entrenched in the system. Karthik Narayanan of India who wrote special features for the ICC World Cup 2007 says, ”cricket for the West Indies is more than just a game, it’s a way of life that one’s meant to enjoy thoroughly” (ICC). The nuances of the game may not be understood by all but the future of the sport is visibly in danger as less young men are taking up the mantle but are rather heading toward the American game of basketball.
In concluding this particular segment of my writings, it is imperative that I outline some of the evidence that points to such shift. At present, Grenada, or the spice isle as that island is called, has 4 nationals playing basketball at East Central University in Oklahoma, namely; Orson Thomas, Gary James, Ian Adams and Lyndon Daniels. By comparison, there are two players from that same island representing the West Indies cricket team. Meanwhile, the center for the NBA’s Washington Wizards, Etan Thomas, whose roots extend back to Grenada, offered US$40,000 to fund basketball courts on the island. The hegemonic nature of the United States is all persuasive and young men and women in the region are buying into the quick money idea. Young West Indians are growing up on a steady diet of the NFL and the NBA and so instead of aspiring to be like Gary Sobers, Viv Richards or Brian Lara, they gravitate toward new ventures. Adonal Foyle from the island of St. Vincent played for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and presently that island has no representative on the cricket team and in addition, finding ready and available cricket pitches on that island is a task but basketball courts are everywhere.
To round out the list of young men who have undergone the cultural shift, it is important to highlight Arnold Henry from the island of St. Lucia. Arnold is currently playing at the University of North Florida and he claims that he got converted to basketball by watching Michael Jordan. The island was host to the 2007 world cup games and has one representative on the cricket team. West Indies great Viv Richards remains optimistic and in an interview with BBC Sports he claims that he is not convinced that all Caribbean talent will end up in the United States of America. “We always had basketball and other American sports and so not even people like Michael Jordan could have convinced us to all change to basketball. It is just for us to try and get certain things in place, our preparation, and our development program. If we can give that avenue to young individuals, then we could be back again” said Richards (qtd. on BBC). The pride, the passion and the inspiration that cricket gave to the Caribbean people is now in dire need of an antidote to stave off the American influence.
Public Relations is not an exact science, but it sure has played a very significant role in every aspect of our daily lives. For decades the art of positioning has pushed the boundaries of man’s imagination further and further into new dimensions. Cricket and the Caribbean already has a strong alliance but was suffering from the reach that the cable television station has. What keeps these young minds glued to the television is the fact that American sports offer an almost immediate outcome and a constant thrill. Injecting the same thrill and excitement into the game can lure participants back into the stadiums and on the field of play. The platform of television is present and must be utilized. Television with its attention grabbing powers should help to revive the sport and better serve the needs of our young minds. The the correct Public Relations strategy will have to be applied in order to yield any positive results. STAY TUNED...POSTINGS WILL CONTINUE.
