Is cricket dying everywhere apart from India and Australia?Is the writing on the wall for it as a global sport

Question

Empty world cup stadiums.
Empty test match stadiums in S Africa & Pakistan.
The W Indies losing interest in the sport.

In England attendance figures are still generally high but with the current series on Sky I didn't even know it was happening until the 2nd day of the 1st test.

(Sky is a British subscription channel)

Answer 1

It's being killed off by commercialism



.

Answer 2

No I don't think so. Yes, in India and Australia, the game is thriving. I heard today that India provides 65% of the ICC's income. I was also surprised, though to hear that it is not the most popular sport, by a long way, in Australia, though a much higher proportion of Australian schoolboys have access to it as a participation sport than in England. This would explain their dominance now. Yes, cricket is losing out in the WI to soccer and basketball, and the WI current plight I hope is a temporary blip. But I think and hope there is a future in the game. We need to engage the younger audience and I think that 20-20 is the way to do that. No 8-10 year old child is going to enjoy the tension of a 5-day match in the way that an adult can, but a 20-20 match might capture their imagination. I went to my first test match, on a Saturday at Old Trafford during the WI 2000 tour (Lara got a century, I remember). The place was only half full. These days I would not get a ticket.

Answer 3

No, in fact I think interest is gradually growing around the world. After this year's World Cup, which wasn't the best, newer teams such as Ireland and Bangladesh have come out and shown their skills. Especially in Ireland, I think the wins helped to generate more interest in the game from Irish people.

I wouldn't say its dying in other countries apart from India and Australia, but rather fluctuating. When your country plays well, its expected that people are going to take part and keep up with the game. When England won the Ashes, the popularity of cricket seemed to rocket...temporarily. After the World Cup, many countries were left disappointed, it's natural the fan will be put off. So I guess it depends on your team's performance. But it's definitely not a dying sport.

Australia keep on winning, so people are bound to be crazy about it there. And India...well cricket's always been a part of life over there.

This year's World Cup was too bland and didn't live up to expectations. Give it some time, more tournaments, series...things will pick up.

Answer 4

Australia/New Zealand - cricket thriving (cos of the great team probably)
Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka are all in the same boat. In this area, over a billion people support the sport.
W Indies - although this tour has not been good for them, the English conditions dont suit them with spin and swing, few windies fans could afford to follow their team here after the overpricing of tickets in the world cup.
England - the sport is at its best during the last 20 years - you wait til the twenty20 cup this June - there'll be huge crowds (including me supporting hampshire)
South Africa - They are embracing the 20/20 form of the game and so the sport will rejuvenate. The slight lull in popularity is difficult to fathom as they are a successful team

Also, with teams such as Bangladesh joining the test match rota with committed fans, i think our sport will last an age longer

Answer 5

Why is cricket dying in England.
We get sell out crowds for both Test and One day internationals.
Every country looks forward to hosting England on tour due to the amount of fans we bring to their country.

India is a big player on the scene only due to numbers in the country - have you seen an Indian stadium for a test match? - its is empty. They are only interested in the one day game on the sub continent.

As for the World Cup, the stadiums were half empty as they priced the locals out of being able to afford to go. Not many West Indians are gonna pay $50+ to see Ireland against Bangladesh. It was the greed of the West Indian organisers.

Just because you have not got Sky why could you not keep up with what was happening in the test match.
You have obviously got Internet access, or teletext, or mobile phone alerts etc.

Answer 6

While I agree that the attendance to watch cricket matches is become thinner and thinner, this is mainly due to the fact that cricket matches are being telecasted live and people can watch the matches at the comfort of their home and not because of any lack of interest in the game.

In fact the game of cricket is being spread to many more countries and as such it will not die.

Answer 7

yes,apart from india and australia cricket is dying everywhere.It is mainly due to peoples who are related to cricket.They are seeing cricket as a source of profit and in the way helping cricket die.The prices of tickets for matches should be cut down and moreover spectators should be allowed to enjoy themselves.

Answer 8

what's happening with cricket, is preatty much happening with every other popular sport,OVERKILL,far too much of it is being shown, people can now be more selective of what they watch, great at first,but slowly but surely it corrodes away at it as a spectator sport.eventually becoming boring for even the most ardent fan

Answer 9

killed by match fixing...