| When it comes to games, Cricket is leading the way | | | | celebration after winning a game and effigies of |
| in India, the national game Hockey lagging miles | | | | players being burnt after losing a game. Thus it raises |
| behind. The passion among the people for the game | | | | a basic question that whether we Indians really love |
| is evident in the matches that are hosted in India. | | | | the game of Cricket? |
| Thus it is said more than often that cricket has | | | | If Indians really appreciate the game then there |
| achieved the status of a religion in India with millions | | | | should be ample public in the local club level matches |
| of followers to its credit. The fan base transcends all | | | | and the standard of these games would also be |
| the cultural and religious barriers of the country. The | | | | higher. Unfortunately, this is not the case in India. It's |
| people are so passionate about the game that it is | | | | true that people are crazy but they want to see |
| almost impossible for a neutral cricket viewer to | | | | India winning. They cannot appreciate the finer things |
| come and enjoy the game. The crowds begin to fill | | | | of the game even if home country is winning forget |
| the stadium 5 hours prior on match days. | | | | about when losing a game. This may not look an |
| The different versions of the game have their | | | | appropriate justification to an avid cricket lover from |
| respective followers with the One day matches and | | | | India but the picture will be crystal clear if we visit |
| Twenty 20 comprising of youth and the Test | | | | other countries and sports. |
| matches for avid lovers of the game. The game | | | | For instance the stadium is full of capacity in the club |
| which is played primarily by 8-10 nations is a rage in | | | | level matches in England and Australia with people |
| the Indian sub-continent with India leading the way. | | | | staying till the very end of the game. They |
| People follow their favorite cricketers closely and | | | | appreciate a good shot even by an opponent player's |
| even a minute incident in their lives becomes a top | | | | team which is just opposite in India as there is a pin |
| story in the News. It might be fascinating for the | | | | drop silence even if the opposition player has hit a |
| sports fraternity across the world that the boards of | | | | beautiful shot or taken a crucial wicket. This is |
| such a game are among the richest in the world. For | | | | magnifies if we get to witness other games like |
| instance, the BCCI (Board for Cricket and Control in | | | | tennis. It is a common instance there when people |
| India) is the richest in the world leaving behind top | | | | come together to appreciate a good game rather |
| Football clubs and the game which is being played by | | | | than support a particular player. There are quite a |
| almost every country in the world. | | | | number of instances when Swiss maestro ace Roger |
| Thus it is quite natural for people to know how one | | | | Federer is cheered for his shot making over Briton |
| can create a success story with a game that is | | | | Andy Murray in Wimbledon. The game of cricket, |
| played only by miniscule number of nations of which | | | | ironically, is facing a stiff competition from its various |
| some are still developing economies. But it will be an | | | | versions like One Day Cricket is Threatening Test |
| eye opener for them and for the followers of the | | | | Matches while Twenty20 is threatening them all. |
| game that there are very few spectators that come | | | | Thus if Cricket has its ambitions to become a global |
| to witness the local or club level matches and thus | | | | game then its reception has to be a bit more serious |
| turn out at only International matches. Most of them | | | | in a country like India which has the largest following |
| turn out at the matches where the home team is | | | | for the game. Otherwise, the success story of BCCI |
| playing and see the home team winning. There are | | | | will be a temporary one and about just cashing the |
| quite a number of occasions when India was losing | | | | sentiments of the masses. They will have to |
| the match and the stadium had to be evacuated as | | | | promote the game at the grass root level and then |
| there was uproar from the crowd and throwing of | | | | go the next level of introducing it to the nations that |
| bottles on the opponent team. There is maddening | | | | are completely new to the game. |