by John Welford

Created on: May 29, 2009

One thing to be said at the outset is that North America comprises Canada as well as the United States, and Canada, being a former British Dominion, has also been introduced to sports that are British, rather than American, in origin. Cricket IS played in Canada, to a reasonable level, such that Canada is a member of the International Cricket Conference and plays, with distinction, in the "minor league" of cricketing nations. There is a long history of cricket in Canada, and it would be wrong to say that it is not popular there. However, it has to compete, at school and college level particularly, with the sports of its neighbour to the south, the main competitor being baseball.

It is highly unlikely that cricket will ever get much of a reception in the United States. For one thing, it is a quintessentially British sport, and Americans have always taken great pride in their independence from the former colonial power. The two nations may be friendly in many ways, but in the sporting sphere we have very little in common. The United States has gone its own way, so why should it ever want to come back?

Also, there is the perception in the US that cricket is a boring game that lasts five days. This is a misperception on both counts! Granted, cricket CAN be boring, but then so can most sports. It is only test matches (international two-innings matches) that are scheduled over five days, and these do not take place all that often. On the other hand, if the match is exciting, why would you not want it to last as long as possible?

However, I take the view that the average American sports fan is looking for something different from sports fans in other countries, especially those where cricket is popular. For an American, sport is about explosive action that excites the watcher to yell, cheer and generally reach an emotional climax. It is "in your face", "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" stuff that the American sports fan demands. Allowing for the fact that peaks of action cannot be continual, the gaps are filled by other forms of entertainment such as marching bands and cheerleader displays. There is little room for subtlety in the average sporting experience enjoyed in the United States.

However, cricket is all about subtlety, patience, and building towards a result. The cricket fan appreciates this, and knows the value of, for example, a bowler teasing a batsman into making a false stroke, or a batsman biding his time in settling at the crease and seeking

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