International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences Vol. 5(3), pp. 41 - 50
DOI: 10.13189/saj.2017.050301
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Losing the Heritage - Falling out of Love with Cricket: Why Has This Happened to the British Afro-Caribbean Community?

Russell Holden ^*
Zone Sport and Politics Consultancy, UK

ABSTRACT

Since the late 1990s, English and Welsh cricket has undergone substantial organisational and financial change, spurred on by the increase in one-day cricket, particularly the shortened Twenty 20 format, which is designed in part to introduce the game to a wider audience. In terms of playing personnel, one of the most dramatic developments has been the decline in numbers originating from the Afro-Caribbean community. One of the chief consequences of this has been the virtual lack of black cricketers representing England at a range of age levels. Chris Jordan's selection for the 2014 Test series against Sri Lanka doubled the number of Afro-Caribbean cricketers appearing for England in Test cricket this century. Whereas formerly, cricket was central to the lives of many in the Afro-Caribbean community, enthusiasm for the history and love of the game has withered. My article explores why it is that the Afro-Caribbean community no longer reveres cricket as it used to, and poses the question why, as a parent, one would make an active choice to dissuade or not expose one's children to cricket, a pastime that offers tremendous opportunity for both physical and social expression. Furthermore, in terms of evolving contemporary black identity and evidence of passive discrimination, this article considers whether cricket is being marginalised because it is deemed unappealing, insufficiently financially rewarding and just not sexy enough, or whether the lack of space in urban settings, class barriers and the cost of playing the game is simply too expensive for those outside the middle class, or those not fortunate enough to obtain an academic bursary or possess well established cricketing connections.

KEYWORDS
Diaspora, Hierarchy, Opportunity, Identity and Participation

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Russell Holden , "Losing the Heritage - Falling out of Love with Cricket: Why Has This Happened to the British Afro-Caribbean Community?," International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 41 - 50, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2017.050301.

(b). APA Format:
Russell Holden (2017). Losing the Heritage - Falling out of Love with Cricket: Why Has This Happened to the British Afro-Caribbean Community?. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 5(3), 41 - 50. DOI: 10.13189/saj.2017.050301.