What happened to cricket in America?

[AlanJLegend]

This has been plaguing me for quite some time.


Over a hundred years ago, cricket was big in America. If I recall correctly, the first ever FC match was between the USA and Canada. Philadelphia had a great team (who beat Australia on occasions) and all was well.

Fast forward a century and it is basically non-existent. I heard there is talk of an American Premier League T20 tournament or something, but I still don't understand... for a with so many people that is so into it's sport, why aren't they at least regulars in the ODI World cup? If Bermuda can make it, why can't the USA?


Somebody please explain it to me, because I cannot understand.

 

[Inferiority]

I'm not sure whether it used to be big over a hundred years ago however if America becomes a major nation it would do wonders for the popularity of the sport.

 

[oitoitoi]

This has been plaguing me for quite some time.


Over a hundred years ago, cricket was big in America. If I recall correctly, the first ever FC match was between the USA and Canada. Philadelphia had a great team (who beat Australia on occasions) and all was well.

Fast forward a century and it is basically non-existent. I heard there is talk of an American Premier League T20 tournament or something, but I still don't understand... for a with so many people that is so into it's sport, why aren't they at least regulars in the ODI World cup? If Bermuda can make it, why can't the USA?


Somebody please explain it to me, because I cannot understand.

There isn't really interest except from expats. The four big sports in America (NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA) are very well entrenched and it's unlikely any other sport is going to seriously challenge them for interest among the youth. MLS is a making a good fist of it but seems more hype than actual results. I think the best chance of promoting cricket is a Hong Kong Sixes style competition in New York and LA.

I think the ICC has prett much given up trying, though China does look promising. Apparently the government has officially said it wants a team in the world cup by 2020. If they became a major side that would be truly awesome.

 

[brockley]

America has a better infrastructure and numbers than china,china was walloped in the asia cup,long way behind.
Whereas america bt canaa and bermuda in the america's cup recently.
Expect america to rise up in the ranks from 5 division to 2nd pretty clearly.
Wouldn't have happened if usa wasn't barred vy the icc in the first place.
America needs games to be played in that country as does china.

 

[BoyBrumby]

From what I read there's a combiantion of factors. From the time of the civil war onwards baseball (tho no less English in its origins) was marketed as "America's game" and much was made of the simplicity with which a diamond could be made when compared to a cricket pitch.

The other big reason was the ICC (then the Imerial Cricket Council) deciding, with typical foresightedness, to limit test status to countries from the British Empire (as was). Think this was around 1909 from memory. This obviously meant that there was no hope of the best US players (Bart King the obvious example) playing at the highest level, so interest waned dramatically.

 

[andruid]

America has a better infrastructure and numbers than china,china was walloped in the asia cup,long way behind.
Whereas america bt canaa and bermuda in the america's cup recently.
Expect america to rise up in the ranks from 5 division to 2nd pretty clearly.
Wouldn't have happened if usa wasn't barred vy the icc in the first place.
America needs games to be played in that country as does china.

Most teams in Div 2-5 are stagnating or drifting backwards, hence when a couple of young ambitous people come together, e.g Afghanistan, they own all.

 

[Goughy]

There are historical reasons and modern reasons. BB hit on some of the historical reasons.

The modern reasons include:

- Complete incompetence and corruption of the people running the game (people who should never be in positions of power and have no knowledge or experience of cricket or running a national organization)

- Distrust and politics betwen the 3 main factions (Indians, West Indians and Pakistanis). Also an East/West coast divide. People are more interested in furthering 'their people' than making real progress.

- Lack of facilities. Many quality players (ex-pats also) drift away from the game as the facilities are massively sub-standard. It doesnt feel like real cricket and other things in life take priority. Its also hard to get locals involved as the fields and facilities look like dumps. It doesnt exactly encourage participation or look glamerous.

- Fractured and large country. The USA is huge. It has more cricketers than some Test nations but they are spread out in pockets and it makes having a national tournament very difficult. There is no TV coverage and as such its hard to see people outside your region or know how good they are.

Basically US cricket is a mess and will be until it either becomes an Olympic or NCAA sport and the positions of power are put in the hands of people that have the interests of the game at heart.

 

[Debris]

Baseball happened.

 

[silentstriker]

There are historical reasons and modern reasons. BB hit on some of the historical reasons.

The modern reasons include:

- Complete incompetence and corruption of the people running the game (people who should never be in positions of power and have no knowledge or experience of cricket or running a national organization)

- Distrust and politics betwen the 3 main factions (Indians, West Indians and Pakistanis). Also an East/West coast divide. People are more interested in furthering 'their people' than making real progress.

- Lack of facilities. Many quality players (ex-pats also) drift away from the game as the facilities are massively sub-standard. It doesnt feel like real cricket and other things in life take priority. Its also hard to get locals involved as the fields and facilities look like dumps. It doesnt exactly encourage participation or look glamerous.

- Fractured and large country. The USA is huge. I has more cricketers than some Test nations but they are spread out in pockets and it makes having a national tournament very difficult. There is no TV coverage and as such its hard to se people outside your region or know how good they are.

Basically US cricket is a mess and will be until it either becomes an Olympic or NCAA sport and the positions of power are put in the hands of people that have the interests of the game at heart.

Yea, I've always felt that getting NCAA recognition would be the best thing they could possibly do.

 

[HMas]

Allen Stanford

 

[Chubb]

Another reason was that the Philadelphian cricket scene was extremely elitist and hated the idea of riff-raff playing their gentleman's game- part of the reason cricket was popular there is because it was the "gentleman's" sport. The likes of George Patterson, even Bart King, didn't care about spreading the game. They were happy with it being an elite activity that only the creme de la creme of society could play.

 

[andruid]

Allen Stanford

 

[jeevan]

From what I read there's a combiantion of factors. From the time of the civil war onwards baseball (tho no less English in its origins) was marketed as "America's game" and much was made of the simplicity with which a diamond could be made when compared to a cricket pitch.

The other big reason was the ICC (then the Imerial Cricket Council) deciding, with typical foresightedness, to limit test status to countries from the British Empire (as was). Think this was around 1909 from memory. This obviously meant that there was no hope of the best US players (Bart King the obvious example) playing at the highest level, so interest waned dramatically.

It verily turned out to be that. Test cricket as we know it would not have survived American membership.

 

[deerkick]

I've been in the US for 11 years now and I don't think cricket can ever be a major sport here. American football, baseball, and basketball just dominate everything around here. The USA cricket team doesn't even have white Americans, it mostly consists of Americas descendant from some Asian country.

I mean if football (soccer here) can't even make it big here, then I highly doubt cricket can.

 

[nightprowler10]

Yea, I've always felt that getting NCAA recognition would be the best thing they could possibly do.

Need to get it in school districts first before it'll ever make it to the NCAA.

 

[Jamee999]

Yeah, no point making it NCAA if no-one wants to play it.

 

[Goughy]

Yeah, no point making it NCAA if no-one wants to play it.

There are plenty of University teams playing right now. They just play outside the NCAA.

 

[nightprowler10]

There are plenty of University teams playing right now. They just play outside the NCAA.

Almost all ex-pats though. Getting it in school districts will nearly guarantee participation by locals, after which it'll at least make sense to make a push for NCAA.

 

[Goughy]

Almost all ex-pats though. Getting it in school districts will nearly guarantee participation by locals, after which it'll at least make sense to make a push for NCAA.

Ive worked with people trying to make a difference. It has been in school districts and Ive worked with American coaches to get it into schools (kwik cricket).

Unfortunately the projects have always been sabotaged by US cricket as they were not the ideas of people high up and they wanted to protect their influence.

There could be cricket in schools tomorrow in the US (or at least 5 years ago when people were doing it) if not for the people running the game preventing it. If it isnt their idea and doesnt further them, then it must be stopped.