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Loading ...Ah Will… England looked pretty good to win it in 1992, even if the rain helped them. Perhaps that was the “lucky break” that everyone seems to be talking about.
England pay price for West Indies’ decline
By Will last year, mid-April Leave a comment on this post
I don’t necessarily agree with that headline, but I am interested by the observation which Mihir Bose makes at the BBC:
England have been humiliated in the tournament and what is more the English team has no Afro-Caribbean cricketers, as they did in the 1980s. Their place in the main has been taken by Asian cricketers. There are complex reasons for this but interestingly one is the decline of West Indian cricket. This is certainly the view of David Morgan, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.
He told me: “When immigration was peaking in the 60s and early 70s, we had 20 or 25 Afro-Caribbean cricketers playing in our county championship. It was also at a time when West Indian cricket was right at the top of the tree. But since then there has been a decline in the fortunes of the West Indian cricket team.”
Bose goes on to say, in a roundabout way, that England are paying the price for West Indies’ decline. Is this strictly accurate? Isn’t he underestimating the Afro-Caribbean population of Britain, the vast majority of whom would count themselves as British, regardless of where their grandparents hailed from? Or do people whose families once came from a different cricketing country look to the land of their forefathers as their primary inspiration?
Either way, the ever decreasing number of Afro-Caribbean players in the UK is certainly a shame when you look back at those who have represented England and what they offered. Gladstone Small, Norman Cowans and Devon Malcolm all had varying degrees of success (and pace) but I don’t believe that a sudden surge of Caribbean flair (a misleading statement in the current climate, anyway) into the Championship would benefit the national side in the short term.
It’s a fascinating concept: a player whose family originate from another country who wishes to emulate his heroes playing for England. While West Indians have been lacking from English cricket, the rapid rise in dominance of the subcontinental teams has seen a vast surge in Asians playing county cricket and for England.
Some interesting thoughts from Bose though, whether you agree with them or not. Of particular note is the realisation that, on Saturday, England and West Indies face off in an utterly meaningless encounter. The hosts, who dominated the first two World Cups in England 30 years ago, against England who have never looked like winning it. Ever.
Tags: asians, caribbean, england, nationality, west-indies |
8 Responses to “England pay price for West Indies’ decline”
April 19th, 2007 at 12.38 am
April 19th, 2007 at 10.06 am
Don’t be daft Will - England could and arguably should have won in both 1987 and 1992.
April 19th, 2007 at 10.44 am
Being a white Englishman it’s difficult for me to comment on the inspirations of my cricketing colleagues from the Afro-Caribbean. But I think it is fair to say (and only natural) that the majority, if not all, of ethnic minority groups initially look to their countries of origin for (particularly) sporting icons. Go to any Man U home game and you’ll see a number of South Koreans there just to see Park. So I think Mr Bose does have a valid point.
I think you’re final comment on England’s performances in previous WCs is tainted too much by our recent efforts. In 1987 we lost by 7 runs I think and in 1992 we were beaten by a team that hasn’t played that well since! Don’t let this current malaise blacken a time when England really did have a world class 1-day team (rather than thinks it does, like at present).
April 19th, 2007 at 12.12 pm
The World Cup 2007 is not looking the same without India and Pakistan. It is a great shock that the two neighbouring asian countries, known for their fierce rivalry and for the passion of their cricket fans, is not taking part in the tournament.They have been moved out from group stage matches. They have only themselves to blame as they played poor cricket and deserved to be knocked out. I think the players let their teams down when the whole world was watching carefully.
I am just hoping that the World Cup will get the rhythm again and become a lot more interesting in the coming days but the 2007 edition will always be remembered for Bob Woolmer’s murder rather than for the results during the event.
April 19th, 2007 at 12.46 pm
I don’t think that Mihir Bose is right. During the 60’s and 70’s the West Indian immigrants coming over would have been more interested in cricket due to the success of the West Indies. This interest would have transferred to their children who played county cricket and then for England.
Now though more of the second generation probably prefer football as its the national sport.
April 19th, 2007 at 1.25 pm
Does anyone know why there are no longer any West Indians in English county cricket?
April 19th, 2007 at 2.41 pm
I think it’s a bit more complicated than that…the England team needs homegrown talent as well!
I’ve heard that if you walk around Australia, kids are playing cricket in the parks, on the pavement, anywhere there’s a little room. Ditto on the subcontinent. If there’s no passion and joy for the game, then your best athletes won’t play it, and you will never have the best talent to hand. Cricket academies are all very well and good, but you need to love the game and *have fun* to play it brilliantly and with zest. When was the last time you saw real joy in the England team? Or cheeky 20/20 shirts with their nicknames on them? (Good ol’ Gilchurch…;))
It wouldn’t hurt to make games in schools fun and less of a chore. And stop cutting back on sports if you want to have good national teams!
So let’s make cricket fun again, and I think we’ll see an upturn in the national team’s fortunes, though it may take time.
Hasta la vista, Duncan, and thanks for the memories.
April 19th, 2007 at 4.03 pm
Yo, apparently Duncan has gone.
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