The Cricket World Cup was held in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. For more information, visit https://cricket-cup.com/. It was the fifth time the World Cup was played in these territories, and the 12th tournament of this level.
When the semifinal pairs were determined, many were sure that in the end Australia (the most titled team – five times they were world champions) and India (two world titles) would fight for the cup. But there was a sensation, and the teams that had never won the World Cup before reached the final. The hosts of the tournament – the England team – defeated the team from New Zealand in the main match and became the world champion for the first time in history.
Moreover, the number of points scored after the main and extra overs was equal. The English got the victory on additional indicators – more points for repelling the opponent’s ball out of the field. Women’s and men’s soccer failed, but cricket’s coming home.
From History
Cricket was indeed invented in England back in the 16th century. Great Britain quickly “sprayed” this sport throughout the empire, where it took root very well. Yes, so much so that nowadays teams from Great Britain and its former colonies participate in the World Cup.
Rarely did any outside teams (for example, from the Netherlands) enter the tournament, and even then – when the number of participants was 12 or 14 teams, and not as it is now – ten. There are not so many teams at the World Cup, first of all, cricket is played for a very long time. Sometimes very, very long. Under the full rules, one match can last up to five days. For the World Cup and the convenience of television broadcasts introduced, of course, a new format of the game – a one-day game, but it is for the most diligent.
The second reason for the small number – the International Cricket Council (ICC) has only 12 so-called full members. That is, these are the strongest countries in the sport, which have a strong federation and domestic cricket championship at a high level. The representatives of these countries have the right to vote and make serious decisions on the change and development of cricket.
There are also another 92 countries that are on the International Cricket Council more as observers. And then there are federations where cricket is not even recognized by that country’s sports ministry. The International Olympic Committee recognized cricket as a sport in 2009.
Cricket? No!
Just the other day the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation did not recognize cricket as a sport because of the insufficient number of regional branches. For a long time, only a few people in Russia understood about cricket: at best, the average person knew where to put the accent in this word. But slowly cricket is becoming popular in higher educational institutions of the country. True, only in those where students from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh come to study. And students from Russia are magically joining cricket. The most cricketing city at the moment is Tver. There are 13 teams playing there now.
Cricket? Yes!
But in countries whose national teams are participating in the World Cup, the interest in cricket is incredible. Here’s an example. In mid-June, a group stage match between India and Pakistan was held at the Old Trafford cricket stadium in Manchester. The arena seats 26,000 people, and over 700,000 people applied for tickets. I was in Manchester that day, and at one point it seemed to me that everyone who didn’t get tickets came to the city anyway. I have never seen so many people on the streets of that city! The television audience in India broke all records. About 350 million people watched the match in the country, and more than one billion viewers in the world. And it is already obvious that all these records will be broken many times over, because in four years, in 2023, the Cricket World Cup will be held in India.
The End
The recently concluded Cricket World Cup in England and Wales marked a historic turn of events as the host team, England, claimed its first-ever title by defeating New Zealand in a thrilling final. The tournament showcased the unpredictability and excitement that cricket can offer, deviating from expectations of a showdown between traditional powerhouses Australia and India. Despite cricket’s historical roots in England, its global appeal was evident, with millions of viewers tuning in from around the world. The article also sheds light on the evolving popularity of cricket, with efforts to promote the sport in countries like Russia, while highlighting the immense enthusiasm and record-breaking viewership witnessed in cricket-loving nations during key matchups. As the cricketing world eagerly awaits the next World Cup in India, the sport seems poised for continued growth and success on the global stage.
