Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Cricket, the great conqueror
Marisa de Silva and Ishani Ranasinghe discover how World Cup fever's hotting up

Yes, it's that time again, when the word 'cricket' takes on a whole new meaning. It changes from meaning just another game played by 11 members to a fanatical, nearly feverish explosion of excitement and anticipation.

Yes, it's come to the point when you can strike up a conversation with a complete stranger by just saying four simple words, "How was the match yesterday?" This question would immediately elicit a response of how brilliant or disastrous the match was and if not, what could have been done differently to see us through to victory.

Cricket fever has reached its all-time peak. Everyone eats, drinks and breathes cricket. And despite busy schedules, work and study pressures, we somehow make time to fit cricket into our day. Just take a stroll down the street (if you can bear to tear yourself away from the TV screen), on any day when the Sri Lankan team is in action, and you can be sure there'll be a sea of heads outside a TV sales outlet, all trying to catch a glimpse of the score. No doubt about it, the country virtually comes to a standstill, with everyone glued to the radio, TV or even to their phones when the Lankans take the field.

Along with all the excitement about the matches, there's much speculation in the air as to who's going to take home the World Cup. Though some remain loyal, blindly or genuinely to the Lankan team, others are more pragmatic and predict the World Cup is not likely to return to Sri Lanka this time around.

Says Keshi (20), "I think Sri Lanka has a good chance of winning. I want them to win. South Africa has not really lived up to their expectations, so despite the early hype about them being able to lift the cup, now their chances don't look too good." She went on to say that she's always loved cricket and now cricket fever has really caught up with her. "Even at work everyone's totally hyped about it. There is a television in one room and we make sure we get updates quite often."

"Australia will win," is the definite prediction made by Pasanga Abeywardena (19). He's doing his best to keep the fever at bay. "Since I am studying, I can't really think of it. But my whole house is very involved with it. So it is hard not to get caught up in all the excitement. My grandfather watches the whole match, he does not miss one single ball. My brothers also watch and their lifestyle these days revolve around the matches."

The preparation for the match is the next biggest thing. Firstly, one finds out what day of the week the Lankans are playing, then it's decided upon that if it's a weekend, the family shall stay at home at all costs and speak only during commercials and lunch breaks. If it's a working day, then all evening plans are cancelled or adjusted so that it's possible to make one beeline home.

Once home, all other coinciding TV programmes are not even taken into consideration; it's taken for granted that the minority in the household who are 'non cricket lovers' are disloyal and unpatriotic and thus, their views are insignificant.

Finally, the match begins and you start watching, the tension builds up. All of a sudden, everyone's a specialist, a Tony Greig or Ravi Shastri on the game. From team selections to the change of bowlers, to field placements, to umpiring decisions, the viewers must and will express their expert opinions on what best to do, even though all of them are fully aware that their thoughts have no impact on the actual game and the decisions made therein.

"Australia might make it. It might even be New Zealand 'cos they have come up during these past few months. It might even be Sri Lanka," says Shevanthi Perera. Cricket fever has really got to her very badly. Having exams in April, she admits not doing any studying as most of the time she is glued to the television. "I watch all the Sri Lankan matches and in the case of the other countries, only the interesting ones. Earlier, I wasn't really involved but the World Cup has really got to me. It's very addictive. In a way it's a good stress reliever because you can get so involved that you forget about everything that bothers you and stresses you out."

"I think South Africa will win the Cup," is Nali Wickramasinghe's prediction. "We are all excited about it and I always make it a point to watch the matches. It's totally taken over my office. There is a special TV for the match and there are radios all over the place with the commentaries."

Says Jehan (25), "Australia has a good chance of winning. Sri Lanka also might win but it depends on our luck. I am not really a die-hard cricket fanatic but I follow the World Cup. I actually can't afford to watch all the time because of my work. At work everyone gathers around the TV watching the match. People might say that it's unproductive but, that's not the case".

For most people, cricket has become almost a life and death issue. Bets are being made between friends, siblings and even bosses. Cricket also plays quite a role in people's temperament immediately following a match. Permission to go out, borrowing clothes from siblings or even negotiating an increase of your salary, is a possibility if our guys have performed well and thrashed an opposing team (bonus points if that other team was Australia). However, at the same time, if we have lost badly, tempers would be frayed and many would be on edge. So, the game affects a large part of our lives, in more ways than we can imagine.

Although the age-old norm in society is that boys are the tougher, more rugged bunch, this myth has long been ousted by a battalion of female cricket lovers. From housewives to grandmothers, to baby sisters, they are all cricket-crazy. Dinner is made early, clothes are ironed and washed and everything's in order in no time, if there's a match on. Talk about family time. We've never had as much family time as we now have around the TV watching the matches. Plans for the week and appointments are shared during the breaks.

"Our family's cricket-crazy," says Rowena, a housewife, who having seen her husband and two sons totally engrossed in the game, has decided to share their passion too. Heated arguments and debates rage as the matches progress and the family often ask friends over to join in the fun. "Of course, if we lose, the mood gets dampened, but then we always have the post-mortems, which are equally interesting."

"It will definitely be Sri Lanka," is the enthusiastic and definite response given to us by Rizni (23). "I always watch all our matches and if I find the time, I also watch the interesting matches as well. Everyone's really involved with the World Cup these days. It's hard not to get caught up in all the excitement."

Although we speak of the majority of the Sri Lankans in our society, there are the extraordinary few who actually wouldn't even recognise Sanath Jayasuriya if he moved in next door or asked 'What about the World Cup?'. However reluctant we are to discuss this part of our 'patriotic community', as they too are part of it, we won't leave them out.

"I don't understand what the big deal is about cricket. My whole family's glued to the TV every time we play a match and now especially, because of the World Cup, all we see on TV is cricket. I don't mind watching a little if 'we' are playing but, what's the use of watching other countries play?" says Anushka (21), with an uncomprehending sigh.

Not much of a cricket fan Mufu (23), had this to say, "I am not much of a cricket fan but from the little I know, I think either Pakistan or Australia will win. My whole office is totally hooked on it. There are so many portable radios around, everyone is listening to the match or watching it at every possible opportunity they get. I am not too involved with this but I know what's happening."

On a more serious note, cricket breaks through our so-called barriers beautifully. Especially in a country, where much ethnic strife was evident, it's amazing how cricket brings people together from all corners of the country, cutting through race, religion and even class. For that short period of time, at least while watching our team in action, we are a united Sri Lanka.

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