You have to be a sport to play cricket
Cricket has been a passion among Indians, but very few know that the national game of the country is hockey. Cricket is the national game of England, although the Australians are acclaimed to be the best at it. Sports and games evolved as one of the best ways to bring a group of people in favour of a team or even against a team of players. Every sports and games brings out the competitive spirit latent within us, it brings out the feelings of sportsmanship we have hidden inside ourselves.
Sportsmanship involves adherence to the rules of the game laid out for the game regardless of whether the end result would be a victory or a defeat. Sports are intended to teach us the basic message of life----we must put in our best efforts regardless of the outcome and final results. As humans, we are supposed to put in our concerted efforts to win all the games of life. This is the only way we could bring out whatever each of us is capable of doing.
Most of us are capable of doing a lot more than what is apparent to us. An active sport is another way of ensuring that we do put in our best. Sports and games instill a feeling of healthy competition in individuals. They are an excellent way to show that all of us have an equal opportunity to participate in the game; differences of race and colour do not matter as long as there is a healthy sportsmanship between the participants. Games like soccer, tennis; swimming, horse-riding or even athletics are headed towards the same end. At the face value, sports and games are merely another way of keeping the individual healthy and fit, but like with all forms of healthy activities, it aims at collecting different mindsets at a point where they can exert relative pressure on the players to make the most of the opportunities present in the field.
This is similar to what life tries to teach us. Life tries to teach us to make the best of each moment we live even as conditions go against us. It teaches us to work in a group for groups have more power and dominance than individuals. Almost all games involve some amount of cooperation on the part of the individual players. They reinforce the adage that unity is strength. The game of cricket, for example, could be played only if all the players unite and pool in their efforts for a common goal. Each team of cricket has 11 players, and unless each player puts in his effort, whatever might be its potency; the game can not be played, let alone won.
The history of cricket dates back to a documented game played in southern England in the 16th century. The game gained in popularity, the game came to be played both by men and women, it became synonymous with the British Empire, and it attained the status of the national game of England. With the conquests made by the Britishers, the game spread all over the world, and the 19th century saw the first ever international matches organised. It is the world's second most popular game, rivaled only by Association football.
The popularity of the game saw the inclusion of several new formats and rules into the game. While the original form with the match extending over five days remains consistent and the same, one-day matches have come to the rescue of those who want to see quick results. Its popularity has grown with the introduction of the T20, the latest addition in the list for those who want instant results. An independent body has been formed to set rules for the game, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The huge membership of the ICC is a mark of the popularity of the game; it has 105 countries as its members. Inclusion of the game in the Olympics is being contemplated; the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France has been the only one to record a game of cricket being played.
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