Comparing Modern Cricket to Its Origins

By Andre V

Long before the first international cricket match was played, cricket was a game fancied by the elite in England-noblemen and aristocrats who had a bit of fun with willow and leather. According to MCC History, "cricket was considered a manly sport for the elite." That is how cricket came to be known as the gentleman's game. Naturally, after a couple of centuries, one cannot expect that cricket would be the same game. In essence, it is the same battle between willow and leather but with sufficient complexity to reflect the demands of the modern era.

== Spectators ==
In the era of the nobles, cricket was as elitist as it was exclusive. The nobles played on their private turf-away from the prying eyes of the public. Marylebone Cricket Club-the most prominent and influential in world cricket-owes its creation to the noblemen's "impatience with the crowds that gathered to watch them play." Contrast this with the modern game, where spectators are not frowned upon. Far from that, spectators are like gold to cricket boards and broadcasters alike-the more spectators the better. Cricket moved from being an elitist, exclusive sport for the entertainment of nobles to one that was played for the entertainment of the public at large.

== Context of the game ==
In the era of the gentleman's game, the game was played in the beauty of the countryside and with a rather polite and subdued crowd (when they welcomed crowds) observing the proceedings. Fast forward to contemporary cricket, where massive concrete structures surround cricket pitches. The cricket stadiums are usually located in populous cities and anyone can be part of the crowds. Spectators jump in the stands when boundaries are scored, not just sit politely and clap (as they still do at Lord's Cricket Ground, which maintained many of the long-held traditions of the noble's game).

== From amateur to professional status ==
When the elite ruled cricket, they played it strictly for enjoyment or for stakes. At intervals, the gentlemen would have lunch and tea in the mid-afternoon. Gambling on cricket matches was as much a sport as the game itself. Now, cricketers come from all walks of life and several cricketers now earn a living from the game. Before the IPL and Kerry Packer, cricket was a game that one played for the love of it (even to win a bet). Now, it is a multi-billion dollar industry that is run by business magnates and cricket boards who wish to make a profit and played by professional sportsmen.

== Shift in the power base ==
For centuries, cricket was an imperial game. England was the major power in cricket and had Australia and South Africa for allies in the early 20th century, when it was still the gentleman's game. While the MCC is still a major player on the global scene, the Asian bloc-headed by India-is a major force in the game. India's rise has meant that cricket nations generally pander to the BCCI (India's cricket board) and not the usual powers-England, Australia and South Africa. This has changed the way that the game is played. For instance, the Indian Premier League accelerated the professionalization of cricket.

== Variety and skills of the game ==
Essential to cricket was patience and character. Cricketers played the game over long periods in imperial times. Test matches still exist and remain one of the ways that cricket has maintained its elitist roots. However, there are now shorter forms of the game, where different skills are required. Now you have power hitters and very agile fielders. The cricketers are fitter, faster and fulfil their roles as entertainers through sport. Twenty20 and one-day matches, with the coloured clothing, lights and action even changed the way that Test matches are played.

== Other noteworthy changes ==
Apart from the different formats and appeal to spectators, modern cricket is barely similar to the context in which the game began. Now batsmen have more protection, with helmets and pads for nearly every exposed part of their body. Cricketers no longer play the game on uncovered pitches and the laws of the game have changed as the decades passed (especially the lbw and the bouncer restrictions).

Sportsmanship in the modern era has suffered a blow, with players aiming to win at all costs, instead of playing with honour. Some teams try to gain an unfair advantage by "mental disintegration" or "sledging" and tampering with the ball-without getting caught like Shahid Afridi. The game is also using technology more now, with the authority of the umpires-which was ultimate in the era of nobility-being gradually undermined. In the old days, a gentleman could not or probably would not have disputed the decision of an umpire.

== Conclusion ==
With all told, the game is fundamentally similar to its origins, thanks to the efforts of the Marylebone Cricket Club. However, it is far from the exclusive game that the nobles used for sport and entertainment many decades ago.

And now you can read brief profiles of some of the best spinners and fast bowlers that the game of cricket has ever seen: The best spin bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1516046-best-spin-bowlers-in-cricket. The top 5 fast bowlers in cricket history: http://www.helium.com/items/1518569-top-fast-bowlers-in-cricket-history
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