Cricket’s on and off field developments threaten potential long-term consequences
There is so much happening in cricket at the moment, both on and off the pitch, that it is difficult to determine which aspect has the most long-term relevance.
England’s men’s five match Test series against India resumed at Old Trafford, Manchester, on July 23 with the fourth Test. Tensions and tempers ran high in the previous match at Lords, where issues of quality with the Dukes-manufactured cricket balls loomed large. It remains to be seen whether these issues spill over to Manchester and to relations between the two teams in future. Dukes have undertaken to conduct a thorough review of the offending products. Their longer-term future may be in jeopardy.
In terms of relations between teams and countries, those involving India and Pakistan show few signs of mellowing. Evidence of this emerged during the World Championship of Legends tournament being played in England between July 18 and Aug. 4. India and Pakistan were scheduled to face each other at Edgbaston on July 20. A combination of player withdrawals, sponsor disengagement and unfavorable public views expressed on social media led to organizers cancelling the match — the announcement of which came only the day before it was due to be played. Last year, the corresponding match attracted 20,000 spectators; a year on, recent hostilities have percolated so far down the chain to involve retired players.
