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Cricket World Cup: South Asian frenzy (and dour Scots) down under Cricket World Cup: South Asian frenzy (and dour Scots) down under
(about 11 hours later)
SYDNEY — They are two of the world’s bitter rivals. Both armed with nuclear weapons, they share a tense border and a history of religious conflict. SYDNEY — They are two of the world’s most bitter rivals. Both armed with nuclear weapons, they share a tense border and a history of religious conflict.
So when Pakistan and India meet for their first game in the 2015 World Cricket Cup in the sleepy Australian city of Adelaide on Sunday, their teams will be representing far more than cricket. National reputations are at stake. So when Pakistan and India meet for their first game in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in the sleepy Australian city of Adelaide on Sunday, their teams will be representing far more than cricket. National reputations are at stake.
That rivalry, and several others, is being played up by the organizers of the tournament, held every four years. With more international sporting events than ever before competing for sports fans’ attention, cricket authorities are relying on historical enmities to give the World Cup an outsize impact on television ratings and at cricket areas across Australia and New Zealand, which are co-hosting the event. With more international sporting events than ever vying for the attention of sports fans, cricket authorities and commercial interests are relying on historical rivalries to give the World Cup an outsize impact on television ratings and boost attendance at cricket grounds across Australia and New Zealand, which are co-hosting the event.
The strategy seems to be working. The Pakistan-India game is likely to be the most-watched cricket match in history, said James Sutherland, the head of Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body in Australia. The Pakistan-India game is likely to be the most-watched cricket match in history, said James Sutherland, the head of Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body in the country.
“There will be literally billions watching on TV for this India-Pakistan match and we understand that 80 percent of the crowd are actually going to be people from outside South Australia,” Sutherland recently told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to the state where the game will be held. “There will be literally billions watching on TV for this India-Pakistan match and we understand that 80 percent of the crowd are actually going to be people from outside South Australia,” Sutherland recently told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, referring to the state where the game will be held.
Fifteen tweets wishing good luck to each of the 15 Indian players were sent from the twitter account of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. “Play hard, lead well & make India proud,” said a tweet to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has 3.5 million of his own twitter followers. Fifteen tweets wishing good luck to each of the 15 Indian players were sent from the Twitter account of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. “Play hard, lead well & make India proud,” said a tweet to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has 3.5 million Twitter followers of his own.
Reflecting concerns that off-field behavior could tarnish the tournament’s reputation, eight members of the Pakistani team were fined $230 each after they returned home late from a dinner in Sydney Sunday night, Agence France-Presse reported, citing sources on the team. They will be sent home if there is another discipline breach, the report said. Reflecting concerns that off-field behavior could tarnish the tournament’s reputation, eight members of the Pakistan team were fined $230 each after they returned late to their accommodations from a dinner in Sydney on Sunday night, Agence France-Presse reported, citing sources on the team. They will be sent home if there is another breach of discipline, the report said.
Other grudge matches will include Scotland versus England, Australia versus England and New Zealand versus Australia (at least from the perspective of the New Zealanders, whose relationship with Australia is similar to Canada’s with the United States.) Other grudge matches will include Scotland vs. England, Australia vs. England and New Zealand vs. Australia (at least from the perspective of the New Zealanders, whose relationship with Australia is similar to Canada’s with the United States.)
The tournament’s opening ceremony, held in Melbourne Thursday night, was regarded by some Australians as embarrassing. A 1980s pop star sang his cricket-themed hit, “Howzat,” at an open-air concert attended by some 10,000 people. The final will be held on March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is regarded as one of the sport’s great stadiums because it can seat 90,000. The tournament’s opening ceremony, held in Melbourne on Thursday night, was regarded by some Australians as embarrassing. A 1980s pop star sang his cricket-themed hit “Howzat” at an open-air concert attended by some 10,000 people. The final will be held March 29 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, regarded as one of the sport’s great stadiums because it has a capacity that the club’s Web site puts at “approximately 100,000.”
Even though cricket has a reputation for being slow — some games last five days without a result — it is physically demanding. And in November a top Australian player died after he was struck in the base of the skull by a hurtling cricket ball. Although to those unfamiliar with the game cricket has a reputation as being slow — some games last five days without a result — it is physically demanding. And in November a top Australian player died after he was struck at the base of the skull, just below his protective helmet, by a hurtling cricket ball.
Australia, with a population of only 23 million, is a superpower of the cricket world. It has reached four of the past five World Cup finals, prompting a former English bowler, Graeme Swann, to quip in Britain’s Sun newspaper that Australia is like the German national soccer team because “nobody really likes them but they are always in the final.” Australia is a superpower of the cricket world. It has reached four of the past five World Cup finals, prompting a former English bowler, Graeme Swann, to quip in Britain’s Sun newspaper that Australia is like the German national soccer team because “nobody really likes them but they are always in the final.”
Australian players have a reputation for on-ground trash talk. “Speak English!” an Australian player barked at an Indian player during a confrontation last month. Australian players have a reputation for trash talk during matches. “Speak English!” an Australian player barked at an Indian player during a confrontation last month.
The Scottish national team is the tournament’s rank outsider at odds of 1-2500, according to the Paddy Power betting site, putting it behind even Afghanistan, which maintained a cricket competition during part of the Taliban’s austere rule. Cricket is widely seen as an English sport in Scotland, making it hard to attract fans, media coverage and funding. The Scottish national team is the tournament’s rank outsider at odds of 2500 to 1, according to the Paddy Power betting site, putting it behind even Afghanistan, which maintained a cricket competition during part of the Taliban’s austere rule. Cricket is widely seen as an English sport in Scotland, making it hard to attract fans, media coverage and funding.
Scotland’s first game is on Feb. 17 against New Zealand in Dunedin, a New Zealand city whose name is Gaelic for Edinburgh. With a strong Scottish cultural heritage in the city, a large crowd is expected. Scotland’s first game is Feb. 17 against New Zealand in Dunedin, a New Zealand city whose name is Gaelic for Edinburgh. With a strong Scottish cultural heritage in the city, a large crowd is expected.
It will be a tough game for Scotland. One of the New Zealand players, Daniel Vettori, has appeared in more international games than the entire Scottish team combined. It will be a tough game for Scotland. One of the New Zealand players, Daniel Vettori, has appeared in more international matches than the entire Scottish team combined.
“We don’t have anywhere near the experience of any team in the competition,” Scotland coach Grant Bradburn, a former New Zealand player, said in an interview. “We’ve talked about it a lot.”“We don’t have anywhere near the experience of any team in the competition,” Scotland coach Grant Bradburn, a former New Zealand player, said in an interview. “We’ve talked about it a lot.”
Scotland defeated Ireland in an exhibition game on Tuesday in Sydney. Three Australian bagpipers, wearing kilts and sporrans, played as spectators arrived. Scotland defeated Ireland in an exhibition match Tuesday in Sydney. Three Australian bagpipers in traditional dress played as spectators arrived.
Andrew Roy, a 35-year old Scot from Falkirk who now lives in Sydney, watched from the stand with an Australian friend and a couple hundred other spectators. A few flew modest Scottish flags. Andrew Roy, a 35-year old Scot from Falkirk who now lives in Sydney, watched from the stands with an Australian friend and a couple hundred other spectators. A few flew modest Scottish flags.
Roy said his dream is for Scotland to stage one the greatest upsets in cricket history and defeat Australia. “There’s got to be a day when the light shines,” he said, his voice trailing off. “It’s about time we won.”Roy said his dream is for Scotland to stage one the greatest upsets in cricket history and defeat Australia. “There’s got to be a day when the light shines,” he said, his voice trailing off. “It’s about time we won.”