One of the beguiling aspects of modern day cricket is the ability of its stakeholders- be it the administrators, the officials and even the cricketers to suspend reality. Despite evidence to the contrary, they still believe that cricket is a gentlemen’s game and breeds excellent qualities in the players like truthfulness and good manners.
Surprisingly the researchers at the Loughborough University have found this quaint notion true. According to them, “teaching cricket in state schools improves children's behaviour, spreading chivalrous and "gentlemanly" behaviour over one and all, raises possibilities. Deprived state schools, after all, are not the only arenas in which problematic behaviour – the type the researchers link to football – rears its ugly head.
What the report implies is that children who are taught cricket grow up to be gentlemen in the true sense of the word. Even though one whole-heartedly welcomes the reaffirmation that cricket is a gentleman’s game, one wonders whether the research was comprehensive. The findings would have more relevance if they had conducted it in Australia.
Do you believe similar research would reflect the same result if conducted in Australia?
(Image by bhaanu1)
12 comments:
What nonsense!
Why only Australia Ott? I dont think this holds true for any country - Not India, not Pakistan, not anyone.
Why do you say "The findings would have more relevance if they had conducted it in Australia". I do not fully understand your implications.
Q,
That is a genuine research conducted in English schools.
Knowing the present Australian cricketers proclivity for 'fair play' , I was just wondering whether there would be a different result.:)
Anon,
I was pulling my Australian readers legs.
Ott - the research will fail anywhere outside England ;-)
Q,
I thought as much.:)
On a serious note, it may hold true until the school level but that's about it.. after that they read 'muhammed ali's poems' and get inspired to disintegrate da opposition.
You have a point. I failed to consider it.
Loughborough have delt a low blow to cricketers everywhere.
NC,
Indeed.:)
One thing is certain. It is perhaps the only game where a bowler gets mauled by a batsman and the bowler says after the game that the concerned batsman played beautifully and is one of my favourite batsmen. Mostly animosity on the field is made up just to add spice.
R,
True most animosity on the field is made up, but what about appealing for bump catches etc., ?
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