A recent Lord’s Test match sparked a lively debate, revealing sharply contrasting American views on cricket, from “a wonderful cure for insomnia” to “one of her favourite sporting occasions.”
Cricket’s “Cure for Insomnia”
The intensity of the England vs. India Test at Lord’s brought back memories of the thrilling 2005 Ashes. Yet, an editorial in The Guardian offered a rather blunt American perspective on the sport.
It argued that Americans generally value quick action, drama, and guaranteed resolutions in sports, finding draws “anathema.” The piece even quoted Groucho Marx, who supposedly called an MCC game at Lord’s “a wonderful cure for insomnia.”
Further adding to the critique, George Bernard Shaw was cited, suggesting that “The English are not a very spiritual people, so they invented cricket to give them some idea of eternity.” Ouch!
An American Guest’s Unexpected Delight
However, the Guardian’s mailbag quickly filled with responses challenging this generalization. Edward Collier from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, shared a heartwarming counter-story.
He took an American friend to Lord’s for her first cricket match. While the day lacked the explosive action of T20, she declared it “one of her favourite sporting occasions” by the end. Despite leaving England the very next day, she practically begged to be taken again next year.
Collier then playfully chided the editorial, stating that “generalising about a country or its people isn’t quite the slam dunk (to borrow a phrase from one of her favourite sports) that your editorial seems to think it is.”
Yeast Rising vs. Wickets Falling
Adding another layer to the discussion, David Farrelly, an American living in Oregon but originally from Lancashire, offered a more nuanced take. His American wife, surprisingly, has become quite a cricket fan, even understanding the rules better than him.
Yet, even she had her limits. Farrelly recounted that during the last couple of sessions at Lord’s, his wife simply couldn’t understand the fascination. She retreated to the kitchen, declaring that “watching yeast rise is more exciting” than the cricket unfolding on screen.
Despite his wife’s culinary distraction, Farrelly himself remained captivated. He admitted to being “enthralled” and nearly in tears when the match concluded, highlighting the deep emotional connection the sport can forge for its long-time followers.
- American views on cricket range from finding it slow and boring to deeply engaging and captivating.
- Cricket’s unique pace can be a barrier for some used to faster-paced sports.
- For others, the nuances and strategic depth of Test cricket offer a unique and highly enjoyable sporting experience.
It seems that when it comes to cricket, like many things, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder, regardless of nationality.
