The spirit of cricket.
Why is cricket some sport above all others in morals?
This is the sport of bodyline, of underarms, of organised sledging, of riots, of racism, or caste systems, of class divides, of so much shit it’s a wonder it ever made it this far.
The spirit of cricket is bullshit.
Protect the integrity of the game, sure, don’t calling anyone a stupid nigger poofter, sure, but let us not hold ourselves above other sports.
We are just another sport, it happens to be my favourite, and probably yours, but if cricket really had a spirit, it would be and old pompous hairy bastard who would refuse to sit in the same change room as lowly professional cricketers.
And we would still love it.
Let us not forget that the phrase spirit of cricket is often espoused by older people who played in segregated times.
cricketwithballs
Cricket is a very ugly game. At its core it is all aggression, with one team flinging a solid projectile and the other swinging a cudgel. It’s a fine theatre for showcasing all that is unpleasant in human nature. We need the myth of the spirit of cricket to keep us in check. Without it, there’d be a bloodbath on the field and in the stands.
Let us not forget that the phrase spirit of cricket is often espoused by older people who played in segregated times.you mean the recent australian cricket team? the likes of steve waugh, gilchrist, ponting?
@ben – with words and phrases such as “projectile”, “cudgel”, “bloodbath on the streets”, are you trying to channel peter roebuck?!
I think there is definitely a spirit of cricket. Cricket is such a confrontational, traumatic sport to play in, regardless of whether a fast bowler or a spinner is operating, regardless of whether you are batting, bowling or fielding, scoring or umpiring. I would also argue that the game offers little joy to the participant who does not understand its mysteries. The game offers joy only to those who can appreciate a first ball duck as much as they appreciate an unbeaten century, for it is not the result of the game that is important, it is the way the game is played that determines the enjoyment that is derived. To the observer, the professional era has taken a lot of enjoyment out of the game, as the game has become all about results and success and media. But for the park cricketer, the spirit of cricket is alive and well. The game teaches many of life’s lessons if the cricketer is prepared to learn.
The Spirit of Cricket might be bullshit in modern times, but it still exists.Without it Captains, like Ricky, would have nothing to hide behind.Its what holds back players from really losing control like in a football match, how many times are refs abused ?How many times are players abused ? The fact that we have this unwritten law/rule that everyone tries to live by makes us better than all other sports !
cricket aint a contact sport, me sey dat dem geezers spit em like a cobra but aint do any touchin like benders like dat gotham city did on my main maan. dat geezer with dem turban did monkey chant i tell that dat aiight