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West Indians entertaining themselves while waiting for cricket. ( picture taken from http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2004-04-26/mainpic2.jpg)
Cricket in the West Indies is more than just a sport to its fans. Their love for the game unites them to look beyond their own nationalities to share one identity-West Indian. West Indians may emigrate far and wide but can easily become enthusiastic whenever cricket is mentioned in conversation, however, infrequent. For those whose interests never dulled, they can now enjoy cricket on a grand scale in their part of the world, since World Cup Cricket is being hosted in the West Indies for the first time from March 10 to April 28, 2007.
“I think it’s great that World Cup Cricket is finally being held in the West Indies,” said Candacia Greeman, 21-year-old college student, “It gives West Indians pride in their cricket culture as well as tourism to the individual countries.”
The World Cup one-day matches will be played in the countries: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago. Cricket fans from all over the world are expected in the West Indies to support their teams. The average cost of cricket tickets is US$100.
There are 16 participating teams from 5 different continents. These teams that will vie for the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy 2007 are England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Bermuda, Kenya, Scotland and Ireland.
In New York City, a diverse Metropolis, cricket is only popular among die-hard cricket fans. One particular neighborhood in which cricket is an actual topic of conversation is Brownsville, Brooklyn. The percentage of the foreign-born population who is Caribbean and non-Hispanic is 65.6%.
West Indians in the Brownsville area have caught the cricket fever but many have to forego the instant gratification of seeing a live feed of the daily cricket matches. Rather, they have to settle for internet updates on cricket websites or reports from their fortunate friends and families who can afford the cricket packages offered by their satellite or cable providers.
“I enquired from my dish provider about adding on the cricket package,” said Courtney Hinckson, a Brownsville resident, “but $199 with tax was too expensive for me.” The only other provider of cricket packages is Verizon DirecTV which offers a regular package that costs $225 a year and includes live cricket action, but if matches in India are included the cost increases to $319 per year.
Some of the very fortunate were able to fly to their hometowns in the West Indies to view the cricket live. “I want to experience the World Cup Cricket for myself, so I’m flying home to Guyana to see the matches to be played there,” said Royston Jeffrey, Brownsville property owner.
And for the not so lucky who can neither afford to fly to the West Indies nor pay for cricket packages, they must resort to second-hand information or internet updates. Some were depending on websites like youtube.com for the free cricket match uploads; only to be disappointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) who placed a ban on youtube.com from showing any cricket matches.
I’ve been a happy lurker all semester, and kept from commenting, but I just had to add that CLR James’ Beyond A Boundary brilliantly details the relevance of cricket to West Indian life. I highly recommend it.
I think that in the United States cricket doesn’t get nearly enough credit. It’s great that the large West Indian, Indian, and Pakistani populations of New York make it a bigger deal. I love a good wicket.
In the summertime in the courtyard of my building, groups of Indian and Pakastani kids are always at a game of cricket, from 5 yr. olds to teens. I love to watch them play.
Cricket isn’t really popular in the US. When I went to India, my uncle was watching the cricket games like the men in the US watch Football or Basketball. There eyes don’t leave the TV.
I remember seeing people play this game when I was younger, but I never knew what it was. I haven’t seen people playing cricket for a long time. I think it is pretty interesting.
Cricket is a very popular game in the West Indies but it can be a very boring game. However there are people who love the game very much. I think it is an acquired taste.
Because my parents are from Jamaica, cricket is very popular. My father is a huge cricket fan and as a child, I remember having to fight him for the television when the games were on.
I think any one who was raised in a house with cricket fans, knows about not seeing television until cricket is over. I remember the entire neighborhood would be either very silent when the West Indies was losing and very noisy when they were doing well… i often wondered if people did not go to work.
Cricket is the most popular game in the West Indies and Guyana. My dad who lives in the Caribbean made a trip to Guyana just to see the cricket match. I guess you can compare cricket’s popularity in the Caribbean to baseball or football season in the U.S.