Why did Cricket decline in popularity in England?

Question

England was where the Game was born. For a long time in history, Cricket was heralded as the symbol of the Empire, and English identity. The country was also associated with many legendary episodes, e.g. the Bodyline Series, an event in early 1930's, which brought Australia in a diplomatic stand-off with Great Britain, and fostered its national identity in the aftermath. It was a common ritual for cricketers to be knighted. Granted, Cricket as a game was initially, the preserve of the elite, but its popularity was unquestionable even among the masses. Well until the early 1980's, the country would be brought to a standstill whenever England played Test at home.

Isn't it interesting to ask what actually happened? While Australia still retains its love for Cricket, the game has died a slow, natural death in the original place. Today, England's team is second-rate to say the least, and its domestic circuit, once a magnet for Test cricketers, has dwindled to the level of schoolboys.

Answer 1

I don't know much, but it was mainly due to England winning World Cup in 1966 that soccer, instead of cricket, was started associating with "English" identity. Nobody had patience nor time to sit through 5 days of a Test match anymore. And in today's fast-paced world, it makes far more sense to watch a 2 hour football game than even a One Day International Cricket match.

Answer 2

The idea that English cricket is somehow traditionally "rural and elite" is total fanciful rubbish....how does that explain the huge popularity of the sport in urban Lancashire and Yorkshire and London during the the last century??! Its simply not true!

I think your conclusion is essentially quite wrong, Australia's "love" of the game is tenuous and diminishing ( in the same way that the West Indies' "love" of the game is), and survives mainly because their side are so damn good at the present. In England, the popularity of the sport is greater than it has been at any time since the 1950s, and that is partly due to the British-Asian influence.

And you are simply incorrect about the standard of England's test team and the county circuit, which of course is exactly WHERE English test cricketers come from..

Answer 3

I disagree that cricket has dwindled to the level you are suggesting, indeed, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years with initiatives such as 20/20 and centralised contracts. However, in answer to your question, the increasing urbanisation of England and reduction of population in rural villages has led to a shift in lifestyles that do not include the time or space for what is seen as a country, upperclass persuit.

Answer 4

second rate team? I seem to recall that they hold the Ashes and are the best they've been for a generation. And England was in the midst of Ashes fever last summer it has to be said - parades, sick days to watch the tests etc etc

Excellent batting line up and good bowling (with the exception of spin - diabolical it has to be said)

Football is much trendier now as Cricket has the aura of upper class snobbishhess about it...

Answer 5

in my opinion people started taking interests in other things which made them forget that Cricket was an important thing in their society for years. i also guess that the society changed and with that change came only a few elite people who are of noble families or others who are not who still appreciate it. because society's standard have diminished on the game of Cricket and emphasized it more on new games such as polo and so forth. i guess that only the couple of elite and other un-elite people appreciate Cricket. it went thru a phase of diminishing and it still is going through that but I guess that people in today;'s society in England do not appreciate the good sports taht they had and what made them keen and set them apart since they have all the technology:laptops, cell phones or mobiles, emails, you name it the society has it so people have less time appreciating thing and more time using the never-ending upgraded technology.