The emasculation of cricket

In the old days, cricket was hardcore and hairy. We examine how it became its current metrosexual version.




FLAT WICKETS, SHORTER BOUNDARIES

A huge share of cricket’s revenues comes from television rights. It is natural then that the broadcast right-holders would want cricket to be TV-friendly. More people would then watch it, ensuring greater revenues for the right holders, and in extension, for administrators and players. One way to make cricket TV-friendly has been to ensure lots of fours and sixes. This has been done by bringing in the boundaries and preparing batting friendly-wickets.

This week, West Indies and New Zealand played two T20s at the CBRP Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, USA, where the boundaries were about 65 metres on all sides. West Indies struck 12 sixes in the first match and 13 in the second. Even checked drives cleared the ropes easily. There was a time when sixes were a rare treat batsmen helped themselves to after getting their eye in. Now, they go for it from the first ball. The dessert is now the main course.

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