How popular is cricket in usa
Cricket, a sport that has its roots spread deep and wide in countries such as India, Australia, England, and South Africa, is viewed with lesser enthusiasm in the United States of America. The land known for sports like baseball, American football, and basketball doesn’t quite have cricket topping its list of popular sports, but it’s certainly not unnoticed.
The Origin and Growth of Cricket in USA
It may come as a surprise to many, but cricket was played in America before baseball. It was introduced by British immigrants in the 17th century. Initially referred to as “wickets,” the game gained its arcade over time. Despite having been part of the American sporting landscape for centuries now, cricket hasn’t quite enjoyed mainstream appeal or extensive media coverage like other prominent sports.
One key reason cited often is that Americans already had their hands full with established team sports which closely resembled cricket; i.e., Baseball. That being said, recent years have seen an upsurge in the popularity of this bat-and-ball game due to the influx of immigrants from South Asian nations where cricket sits at the pinnacle of popularity.
American Cricket Scene Today
The reality today is far more delightful for any global fan who wished to see cricket thriving on U.S soils. According to ESPN reports based on data from Nielsen Media Research’s annual Year in Sports report released in 2017, there were estimated 30 million cricket fans residing in the US which ranked sixth among all countries surveyed.
Crickets Leagues
Apart from spectating cricket matches held abroad, local leagues are grabbing more attention now. The primary one being Major League Cricket (MLC) that marked itself as America’s professional Twenty20 league. This development signifies an important milestone promoting domestic talent as well ensuring international-level competitions locally.
Infrastructure
The US has also shown signs to ramp up the infrastructural necessities required for a sport of this kind. As part of its commitment to making America a mainstream cricketing nation, MLCllc announced plans in February 2021 to develop a world-class T20 tournament and construct eight new stadiums across the USA.
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Challenges Faced
Despite promising numbers and efforts, some significant hurdles remain prominent. Perhaps the biggest struggle that cricket will face in trying to gain popularity in America is competition with existing sports like Basketball, Football and Baseball which already attract large audiences.
Besides, cricket’s complex rules are another hurdle. Americans who tend to favor high-adrenaline, fast-paced games may find it difficult understanding and following cricket matches which can sometimes extend into days. Additionally, limited media coverage makes it tough for potential American fans to get exposed to the game.
Sustaining Cricket’s Growth In The USA
In order to sustain this growth momentum and successfully penetrate into the hearts of the American sporting fraternity, targeted promotions aimed towards educating individuals about the game would be key. Already several initiatives have taken place including streaming partnerships with big TV networks as well as grassroots level programs organized by MLC aimed at promoting awareness among young populations.
The recent partnership between USA Cricket and Willow TV is one such move aiming at delivering live broadcast and digital streaming of all Team USA matches on leading platforms thus ensuring accessibility of cricket content for enthusiasts located within U.S shores.
A Bright Future?
The increasing interest in cricket seen today combined with intensive promotional activities done by various stakeholders ushers a sense of optimism towards envisioning America as a major hub for global cricket events. For now, it remains an exciting watch whether or not “America’s Pastime” can once again become a thriving platform for Cricket in the future.
So while cricket hasn’t topped charts or broken records quite yet, it seems the attitude towards this genteel sport is slowly but surely changing in the USA. The aforementioned surveys and statistics signal that even though there is still much work to be done, cricket in America may be making more than just strides soon.
