Would Americans Ever Play Cricket if ..?

Question

lets say if they used 4.5 ounces of leather ball (made out of same leather that they use to make a baseball), rather than those 5.5 ounces of hard leather ball that they currently use.

Instead of barehanded catching , lets say allowing fielders to wear thin leather gloves (btw thats the second biggest complaint i hear from my north american colleagues)

Fast Bowlers not allowed to hit the Batters AT ALL! or even throw in their direction (btw which is Legal in the current game) that would be a decent rule.

Getting rid of any close fielding positions , i.e short leg position (where several players have died and have suffered serious injuries after getting hit by the ball) ...
i think that would be the BEST CHANGE, any Fielding position that is Placed only 2 or 3 Meters away from the Batters Box is INcredibly Dangerous and a Suicidal Position.

Now they have a shorter 2 1/2 hour version of the game so i dont think they cant make it any shorter.

any thoughts?

Answer 1

I think that like in other countries if a sport isnt played or understood well there is not much chance for it to gain popularity. In the U.S. there are so many "big" sporting events to choose from that we never get an opportunity to even see Cricket matches on T.V.. I would see no reason for rules changes (I am a hockey player and fan and rules changes have been really bad for the sport). It is a great sport on your side of the pond and it would be a shame to change it to entertain a different crowd. Personally i would probably enjoy the "challenge " of trying your sport, like when freinds of mine have tried hockey. It gives you a great chance to recognize the abilities of the good players and gives a greater respect (and a good dose of humility) of the sport. But other than the odd chance to try a new sport honestly I dont think any amount of rules changes would help Cricket in the U.S.. But some of us do respect your sports skill.

Answer 2

You seem to be trying to ridicule Americans, for not playing cricket, and that we have no respect for it. Also, I can assure you that the vast majority of Americans (99.99999%) do not complain about the difficulty or danger of cricket. It simply is not part of our culture, and is not even in our consciousness. There is no reason for you to try to make it sound as if we are afraid to play cricket, and also I can assure you that being hit by a baseball thrown near 100 miles per hour will hurt more than any leather ball "bowled" in cricket. Also there is much more to baseball the hitting and pitching. Baseball is a sport of many skills which take years to master, and you should make sure that you understand it fully before you compare it to cricket.

Americans are not afraid of cricket, which you are trying to imply. We would play it if we grew up with it. But with baseball, football, and basketball, the three major sports in the United States, cricket will never be big here.

Answer 3

Baseball is a game that has it's basis in a number of games, including cricket. It's simply evolved into something different.

Baseball pitchers aren't allowed to hit batter, either. They can be tossed from the game and can suspended for a number of games for doing so. As well, the batter is awarded first base, and a runner on base is always more of a problem for a pithcer than is no runners on.

In the early years of professinal baseball, players wore no gloves, no pads, no helmets and the acthcers wore no chest protectors, masks or shin pads. Gradually, the players came to understand that playing without any type of protection was idiotic.

Answer 4

As others have noted Americans are just not into cricket. Why change the rules, it is not the fear of the game, it is a lack of desire to play. No offense intended.
We have so many American sports that hold our attention, cricket just is not going to be added to the main stream sports schedule. Rule changes are irrelevant, and would demean your sport and Americans who participated.
We love Baseball, American Football, Basketball, NASCAR. Golf and Tennis are also popular but not a personal choice on my part.
Why don't you try setting up an exhibition game of Americans vs Brits. in Cricket. The catch is then the Americans get to chose one of our games for the British to play an exhibition game against the U.S. That sounds like fun. No rule change though, what would be the point.
Have a sparkling Day!!!

Answer 5

Cricket is played in America, there are Australians, English Indians, West Indians ect and a few Americans most of them are from oversea

Answer 6

Tell you what, if you think you are such a great cricket bowler, get a hold of a baseball. If you can bring a fast ball, curve, slider, splitter, four finger and/or knuckleball, try out. The Red Sox signed Daisuke Matsuzaka after paying his Japanese team $51.1 million just for the rights to sign him. How much can a cricketeer make?

Answer 7

I've played Cricket and I'm a American but it just not a sport that goes over well here. Look at Soccer it's the most popular sport in the world except here. We love are football and baseball and I guess Basketball.

Answer 8

In the 1850's cricket was considered forign. Baseball was thought American. The result is you don't see a lot of cricket in the Americas or Japan.

Answer 9

i like baseball...cricket sounds sorta like fun but it is made fun of usually in the U.S....we have 3 major Baseball, Football, and Basketball....all the rest get either some media attetion little media attention or next to none (ex. cricket)..i dont think that will ever change we are thick headed

Answer 10

i am sorry to say this but no baseball is a good sport plus it would be harder for batters and easiers for pitcher. that will make less hall of fame batter and more pitch just because of the ball!!!!!!!!