If you find yourself traveling to Pakistan, India, Australia, England or New Zealand, be prepared. Cricket is super popular in these countries and you might find yourself in a conversation about it. Learn some fun facts about the sport so when they ask you about Cricket, you would not automatically think and blurt out “Jiminy!”
It Is the Second Most Loved Sport in the World
People might think basketball is the second most popular sport in the world after football. But cricket is. Its followers are mostly Asians, Indians and Pakistanis, two of the most populous countries in the world according to Census Bureau with India taking the number 2 spot and Pakistan in the 6th spot. These fans are devout that Cricket is often considered as a religion in India as well. Not to mention the popularity of the sport as well among Australians who are a sporty bunch.
It Is a Sport That Could Span a Career of Decades for Players
The sport is a bat and ball game and is considered to be less strenuous compared to other sports making the players enjoy fame and other perks of being a professional athlete longer.
It Is a Sport That Open Doors
Since there are legions of fans everywhere, cricketers surely draw in crowds and for businesses, this means money. Most of these athletes are endorsers of famous brands while some have even managed to open their own company like one of India’s most loved player who opened his own brand selling cricket clothing and other casual and sportswear. Several venture into politics while others were lucky enough to have a stint in Bollywood.
It Is a Sport That Could Be Played By Anyone
Young ones wanting to be professional athletes when they grew up are disappointed if in case, they did not grow up to be very tall and there would be little possibility to be drafted in the NBA. Fortunately, these kids could become cricketers since height does not matter with this sport.
It Is an Unpredictable Sport
No one would be bored watching (or playing!) this sport because it is very unpredictable. A lot of rabid fans are often asked why they love the sport and a lot of them are fond of it because it’s very fickle. A strong team that won last game does not necessarily mean they will win their next even if the opponent is someone they already beat in the past. The outcome of a game could only be decided once the last ball has been bowled.
It Is a Very Competitive Sport
The longest cricket match ever played is the match between England and South Africa that happened in 1939. The match unbelievably lasted 14 days! Even after playing for two weeks, England was still persevering since they are down by 42 runs. The match was later declared as a draw since the players from England needed to return back home. If this wasn’t the case, perhaps the match would have lasted for a month or more!
The popularity of the sport is not surprising, and these are only a few of the reasons why.