The Thwack of Willow on Leather

[poliphilo]

The cricket season is underway- and England are playing New Zealand at Lords. One of our players got a century on debut- something that has only been achieved at Lords three times before in the history of the game- ain't that wonderful?

Yes- I know- most of you are raising your eyebrows. But here's something I've never understood. The whole English speaking world plays cricket- with the exception of you North Americans. You play base-ball- a related, but less complicated sport. Why? Is it because you opted out of the Empire at an early stage? Maybe. But that only explains the cricketlessness of the USA; it doesn't explain Canada. So what's going on? Does anybody out there know?

Comments

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

i think a big part of the appeal of baseball in america is that it was "invented" here, much like basketball. most countries have their own native sports.

the reason most of the english speaking world plays cricket is that most of the english speaking world was colonized by the british (which also explains why they speak english). but america was colonized much earlier and for much less time. look at countries where america has a presence today and you'll find baseball leagues to be popular: japan, korea, cuba, the dominican republic, etc.

and also, cricket is for sissies.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I considered feigning outrage at that and then I thought, hell no, I'm proud to be a sissy.