Topic: Cricket is an elitist game? (Read 6043 times)

Howzat · « **on:** April 26, 2011, 08:35:22 PM »

Do you agree?

Opener · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:36:43 PM »

Completely disagree! I think cricket is a game which breaks class and even racial barriers.

thedon · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:42:01 PM »

It does, but it still goes on....

rp27 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:47:16 PM »

it is, almost all of the county age group teams consist of public school kids

Opener · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:52:12 PM »

Quote from: rp27 on April 26, 2011, 08:47:16 PM

it is, almost all of the county age group teams consist of public school kids

Did you mean private school because I don't get your point. Maybe I don't understand how the school system works there. For me public schools would mean where everyone goes and private school would be elitist.

Ciaran · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:52:39 PM »

Quote from: rp27 on April 26, 2011, 08:47:16 PM

it is, almost all of the county age group teams consist of public school kids

Couldnt agree more. I think as you get older it changes, but realistically down south its much more of an elitest sport when you are young.

justnotcricket86 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:54:14 PM »

In the UK.....

Public School - Private School/Borders IE elitist
State/Comprehensive - Free for all mate

tim2000s · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:55:50 PM »

Hmmm. At a youth level, nearly all county teams consist of kids whose parents can afford to/ are able to transport them, simply because it isn't cheap. No it isn't fair. Neither is life.

Talisman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2011, 08:56:31 PM »

We have had a young Indian turn up at our club wanting a game, he works in town and we are giving him free team kit, gloves, pads and also sorting brand new spikes for �10 and a bat for �40, making it affordable and gaining a new member. Anyone can play for us, we don't have an elitist view but we have also homed Posh Boys too, all welcome.

rp27 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:03:01 PM »

Quote from: tim2000s on April 26, 2011, 08:55:50 PM

Hmmm. At a youth level, nearly all county teams consist of kids whose parents can afford to/ are able to transport them, simply because it isn't cheap. No it isn't fair. Neither is life.

It's not so much about transporting them, more about their parents paying for their weekly coaching and therefore befriending the junior level coaches who select the county team. A fair few mates of mine went for trials and weren't even watched when playing as the coaches were talking to parents of kids who were essentially already in the team

coverpoint_pro · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:05:56 PM »

Im sorry, but the county side i play in lancashire isn't full of public school kids!
When we were in the u14's we had 1 private school lad, and we won the national championship that year!
I think up north, with a lot of the lads i know who play for durham derbyshire yorkshire etc, none of them are private school boys, though down south, i know that a lot of them are private school lads!
I don't think you can judge youth county cricket, yes it can be expensive, my side lancashire is the only county side i know in which you have to pay for your full kit! But we don't have an elitist attitude, we have a pakistani lad who came over from there when he was 12, and we have lads who come from some tough schools! None of us are snobs or elitist.

Maverick79 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:08:44 PM »

From the public/state school side of things it also comes down to the amount of time and the quality of facilities the public school has. I am head of a PE department in an inner city school and in terms of time we have 4 weeks of 3 fifty minute lessons on cricket for each year group in the summer plus whatever time I am able to give after school as a club. We have indoor nets but are unable to use them as the netting is in a state of disrepair nor do we have the matting to put down on the floor and never have in the 6 years I have been there. I took me four years to get an artificial wicket for us to play matches on!

The two public schools in the city on the other hand allocate a lot more time in lessons to sport, have much better facilities to play and practice on such as good quality grass wickets (one of which is used by a WCL premier league side) which are maintained by full time groundsmen, indoor and outdoor net bays/ bowling machines etc.

Obviously this is only my experience of what the situation is in schools here but I can imagine it is similar elsewhere. I have some excellent cricketers in my teams from very poor backgrounds and some very average but hugely enthusiastic kids who love cricket. I'm sure if I had the time and resources that some of the public schools have in my state school more of them would make county squads/play to a higher level. Of course it still doesn't solve the transport issues that many of the kids have to get to clubs in the communities.

coverpoint_pro · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:09:21 PM »

My point didn't really make much sense! All im trying to say is, don't judge from what you heard

Mr Cricket · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:10:58 PM »

as with any sport, different people play it in different ways, yes there are ignorant upper class snobs who play the game thinking it makes them better than others, and also the working class who look to include others and play for fun.

espocrespo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2011, 09:14:25 PM »

it does 100%, especially if your trying to get into age group county

Author Topic: Cricket is an elitist game? (Read 6043 times)

Howzat

Cricket is an elitist game?

Opener

Re: Cricket is an elitist game?

thedon

Re: Cricket is an elitist game?

rp27

Re: Cricket is an elitist game?

Opener

Re: Cricket is an elitist game?

Ciaran

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justnotcricket86

Re: Cricket is an elitist game?

tim2000s

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Talisman

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rp27

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coverpoint_pro

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Maverick79

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coverpoint_pro

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Mr Cricket

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espocrespo

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