Why did some British colonies pick up football and others picked up cricket?

[Slog]

Football would be Egypt, Ghana, Iraq etc

And cricket would be ofcourse Pakistan, India

 

[santos11]

Actually all countries picked some Football irrespective of whether they were British Colonies are not.

But only a few British Colonies picked Cricket. So the question should u be why only a few, who didn't all British Colonies embrace Cricket?

 

[Varun]

Actually all countries picked some Football irrespective of whether they were British Colonies are not.

But only a few British Colonies picked Cricket. So the question should u be why only a few, who didn't all British Colonies embrace Cricket?

Cricket is too high tech for most football fans. Grab the average footie fan and try explaining the concept of draw, follow-on, powerplay etc. etc. and he'll combust before you can spell C-R-I-C-K-E-T.

 

[santos11]

Egypt and Ghana would still be playing Football even if they werent ruled by a British Empire.

But India wouldn't play Cricket if not for the British.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Both football and cricket was played during the evil british rule, football was more popular in bengal (durand cup is among the oldest football cups in the world) and cricket in bombay (the parsees were the first natives to start playing cricket).

 

[Enigma_]

Cricket was an elitist sport back in the day for the British. A lot of people forget that South Asia was pretty connected with the elite of the Brits. Over time it came more and more popular.

 

[big_gamer007]

Cricket is what Indians excel at generally in life a lazy man's sport.. You have to use as more mind and skills than physical ability, stamina, strength, power etc.. So it's a perfect sport for us Indians..

 

[hafeezrocks]

Cricket is what Indians excel at generally in life a lazy man's sport.. You have to use as more mind and skills than physical ability, stamina, strength, power etc.. So it's a perfect sport for us Indians..

Football is also a sport for the Sissies, ask the Americans.

Those dives and fake injuries at slightest of tackles.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Cricket is probably the most complex outdoor game that requires high mental and physical endurance (not just in terms of running fast or regards to stamina) but as in consistently repeating a set of skills over and over again which in itself is a difficult task to boot. Couple this with 6 hours a day of the latter for a straight stretch of 5 days and cricket becomes a sport that most people would rather avoid.

Plus we need to understand that cricket has the most number of minimum equipment necessarily to have any sort of a decent game. A bat, a bowl, wickets at one end minimum, two teams of minimum of 4 players each, (helmet, gloves, pads, guard - at the very least) and adequate time to complete a short game.

The laws don't help either as they're massively confusing for the average fan. Let's be honest here, apart from PPers (who, just like me, are proper cricket geeks in every sense of the word), no sane person would even remotely know how many cricket laws are there in general and how to use then in any given situation.

For e.g. Just look at how many mode of dismissals are there

Caught Out
Bowled
LBW
Run Out
Stumped
Mankad
Obstruction of Field

Now if we break down the laws relating to each one of them, with scenario examples it'll probably fill 10,000+ word study at the very least.

Cricket can never truly be a world sport and I've accepted that reality a long time ago. It's just too complex for certain parts of the world I afraid

 

[santos11]

Cricket is too high tech for most football fans. Grab the average footie fan and try explaining the concept of draw, follow-on, powerplay etc. etc. and he'll combust before you can spell C-R-I-C-K-E-T.

I have found Football fans ( especially from Europe) to be among the dumbest and having the lowest IQ that you could ever come across. I never realized that Cricket is a complex sport before I tried explaining the rules of Cricket to Football fans.

Maybe watching a simplistic Sport like Football over so many generations has dumbed down their capacity to comprehend any Sport with some extra rules. They will ask so many dumb questions that it seems futile to even continue, it's something 5 Year Olds in India grow up with and yet some others can't understand as if it's rocket science.

Some who try to learn and give their best are in continuous process of learning forever, they always claim to have come across New rules that were unknown to them five years back.

 

[Slog]

probably only NFL is comparable to cricket in terms of complexity of rules

 

[santos11]

The thing is if you somehow learn Cricket rules at an early age, then every other Sport is a cakewalk.

If you are only accustomed to Simple Football Rules having two goals posts, passes and only one offside rule, then you remain dumb forever and learning anything else becomes too complex.

Could be the reason why Cricket fans are more likely to be enjoying other sports than dumb Football fans ( from Europe).

 

[hafeezrocks]

probably only NFL is comparable to cricket in terms of complexity of rules

I don't understand NFL, never tried because I don't know the rules. But have come across fans claiming that it's many times more action packed than Boring Soccer and is a tougher sport to play. Is it true?

I have only seen NFL players in them Helmets and Bigpads ramming into each others like Bulls so would always prefer to stay away from it.

 

[Slog]

I don't understand NFL, never tried because I don't know the rules. But have come across fans claiming that it's many times more action packed than Boring Soccer and is a tougher sport to play. Is it true?

.

it depends

its very tactical for sure.

but theres too many breaks and stop-starts so its not nonstop intense like soccer can be at time

certainly more physical.

tbh i dont understand it fully as well (like i do cricket)

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

I don't understand NFL, never tried because I don't know the rules. But have come across fans claiming that it's many times more action packed than Boring Soccer and is a tougher sport to play. Is it true?

I have only seen NFL players in them Helmets and Bigpads ramming into each others like Bulls so would always prefer to stay away from it.

I used to follow NFL a few years back around 2007-2009 and I can assure you that it's pretty intense when it comes to how things pan out over the course of a game. Every successful play, every unsuccessful play, interception, even the smallest amount of yards gained is consequential to the final result, much like how ever delivery in cricket makes up the smaller part of the entire sum of a game so naturally people who follow cricket would actually enjoy a Football game as well.

The rules aren't that complex as how they're in cricket but they aren't ridiculously simple as well - It's somewhere in the middle. It's actually quite entertaining once you get the hang of it tbh...

 

[Slog]

Actually all countries picked some Football irrespective of whether they were British Colonies are not.

But only a few British Colonies picked Cricket. So the question should u be why only a few, why didn't all British Colonies embrace Cricket?

Fair question along similar lines

 

[SandyB]

My 2 cents :

Cricekt was an elitist sport which trickled down from :

British babus > Local Royals > Local bureaucrats > Influential communities (parsees, rich Upper class hindus and Muslims) > and finally the commoners.

Whereas Football was always seen as a sport for the "common man" and in many ways a symbol of rebellion. The popularity of football in South America too helped foster this notion. Even in the UK, football was more of a "working class" sport compared to the elitist cricket.

If you look at India , football is most popular in states which had huge socialist leanings (West Bengal, Kerala, North East) .

Compared to cricket where it trickled down to the commoners from areas with significant British/Aristocratic presence like Mumbai, Delhi, Saurashtra, Patiala, Lahore etc.

 

[Slog]

My 2 cents :

Cricekt was an elitist sport which trickled down from :

British babus > Local Royals > Local bureaucrats > Influential communities (parsees, rich Upper class hindus and Muslims) > and finally the commoners.

Whereas Football was always seen as a sport for the "common man" and in many ways a symbol of rebellion. The popularity of football in South America too helped foster this notion. Even in the UK, football was more of a "working class" sport compared to the elitist cricket.

If you look at India , football is most popular in states which had huge socialist leanings (West Bengal, Kerala, North East) .

Compared to cricket where it trickled down to the commoners from areas with significant British/Aristocratic presence like Mumbai, Delhi, Saurashtra, Patiala, Lahore etc.

perhaps the indian weather didnt encourage playing of football by the British folks (the non-elite one who would notmally played) )for it to trickle down to the masses eventually

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I have found Football fans ( especially from Europe) to be among the dumbest and having the lowest IQ that you could ever come across. I never realized that Cricket is a complex sport before I tried explaining the rules of Cricket to Football fans.

Maybe watching a simplistic Sport like Football over so many generations has dumbed down their capacity to comprehend any Sport with some extra rules. They will ask so many dumb questions that it seems futile to even continue, it's something 5 Year Olds in India grow up with and yet some others can't understand as if it's rocket science.

Some who try to learn and give their best are in continuous process of learning forever, they always claim to have come across New rules that were unknown to them five years back.

Most sports aren't meant to be intellectual pursuits. Football does have a lot of dumb fans, but it's also a great sport to play and watch from a spectator viewpoint. There are lots of more mentally challenging pastimes I'm sure, but no one really wants t watch an Indian spelling contest or a maths challenge. Well maybe the parents.

 

[big_gamer007]

Football is also a sport for the Sissies, ask the Americans.

Those dives and fake injuries at slightest of tackles.

And they would consider cricket as a game not even a sport..

 

[big_gamer007]

perhaps the indian weather didnt encourage playing of football by the British folks (the non-elite one who would notmally played) )for it to trickle down to the masses eventually

Africa has worse weather than us they got onto football quite well..

 

[big_gamer007]

Most sports aren't meant to be intellectual pursuits. Football does have a lot of dumb fans, but it's also a great sport to play and watch from a spectator viewpoint. There are lots of more mentally challenging pastimes I'm sure, but no one really wants t watch an Indian spelling contest or a maths challenge. Well maybe the parents.

Football is a great sport from spectator point of view.. Even if it's a boring match it gets over in 90 minutes can't say the same about cricket.. It's more of an extreme sport from spectator POV if you go to watch a match and it turns out to be boring you waste your whole day..

 

[Syed1]

Everybody should play football. It is the best sport in the world. Specially when the QB makes an excellent play and the running back carries the ball several yards.



Jokes aside.


Football (soccer) should be the go to sport for all nations. Glory in that sport is a sure-shot way of improving your national image and prestige. Meanwhile in Pakistan we have had the same head of the PFF since Mush times. He is just sitting there and earning a fat paycheque.


Listen to this Baluchi song. (there are subtitles)

 

[SandyB]

perhaps the indian weather didnt encourage playing of football by the British folks (the non-elite one who would notmally played) )for it to trickle down to the masses eventually

Naah. Cricket is far more weather dependent than football.

The football crazy states of India (Kerala, North eastern states, part of WB) have some of the least sports friendly climate(torrential rain) and terrain (Himalayas and western Ghats).

 

[Specialisttailender]

Football is cheaper and everyone can play. India and subcontinent should also play football since we have a huge population and we can actually find a bigger pool. Believe it or not Indian cricket pool is very small for a 1 billion population. We live of hype, since cricket is hyped more and we are good we are playing cricket.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Football is a poverty sport, two stones on both sides and a ball is all what is needed. No wonder why it's affordable and so popular in Africa.

 

[Slog]

Football is a poverty sport, two stones on both sides and a ball is all what is needed. No wonder why it's affordable and so popular in Africa.

Yes India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are too rich to play football

 

[KingKhanWC]

Interesting topic.

Cricket is a sport of the elite esp in those days and weather did play a part. Cricket is also a social sport, where people meet up to play , watch and conduct business or socialise, very similar to Polo which also become popular to some extent in the sub continent. If anyone is ever in England they should to to a Polo match, it's the poshest sporting event I've ever been too.

I wouldn't put too much importance on the complexity of cricket as only proffesionals or organised leagues really play with all the rules. Most people playing for fun dont even bother with the LBW. Both sports are easy to play for fun.

It took nearly 150 after cricket arrived in India for Indians to set up their own team, so it took a long time before Indians started playing properly. A lot of Britsh high class families used to travel to India for business or even holidays unlike the African nations so cricket was played regularly which is the main reason for Indians picking it up.

 

[PakLFC]

There is a lot of Footballing talent in Pakistan and probably potentially great Cricketers in places like Egypt and Ghana as well. After independence it's the politicians and administration that chose what Sport will be given priority. Cricket won in the subcontinent because the Brits were already playing it before independence making a continuation of that to be natural after they left. Same applies to Football in Africa and the Middle East.

 

[KingKhanWC]

There is a lot of Footballing talent in Pakistan and probably potentially great Cricketers in places like Egypt and Ghana as well. After independence it's the politicians and administration that chose what Sport will be given priority. Cricket won in the subcontinent because the Brits were already playing it before independence making a continuation of that to be natural after they left. Same applies to Football in Africa and the Middle East.

Im sure there is but I think the Pak football team should scout British Pakistani players who are good enough to possibly help Pakistan close to qualifying for the World Cup. This alone would do so much for the sport in Pakistan.

 

[MMHS]

Lots of good points, which most are valid actually. But, I don't think complexity is an issue because Aussies & Kiwis took Cricket & Rugby, but not football, while South Asia is remarkably good in Chess. I think, being a global game, it was bound to happen that football will flourish everywhere, it's probably in South Asia that didn't develop in football, rather regressed. I think IND was a major Asian football power in 1950s & 60s (qualified for 1948 Olympics & 1950 WC), but they just lost their way from 1970s. Still, interest in football is massive in South Asia, but probably the physical demand for the game is too tough for our people. I can tell about Bangladesh - if our football team could match what Cricket team does in Asian level, that's making a SF regularly in Asia Cup & few stars playing in European League (which is synonymous to County, IPL, BBL, CPL or PSL), one would have required to search for our cricketers in social media among footballers ..... imagine BD playing SF of 2022 W!!!!!!

Having said that, one major reason I found is the impact of seasonality. Most pro sports started to flourish in Victorian age Britain - County, League football, FA Cup, Wimbledon, Open Championship (Golf), Rugby, Snooker ...... more or less in between 1860 to 1880, which created the first professional class of players. In UK, cricket is played in summer, while Football & Rugby in winter (gradually it extended to 10 months by as early as 1900s). Most English pro/elite cricketers actually used to play in Counties from April to September & they used to travel to AUS, NZ, SAF, Subcontinent during British winter; which eventually helped the expansion of cricket in those colonies. To pamper British royalty, native Kings & Nawabs started to sponsor cricket as it was considered a status symbol, while Football was a sports for middle & lower class. If we look at USA & Canada - it also had British cultural influence, but not much in sports, particularly Cricket, because English cricketers hardly toured North America during their cricket season, while it's not possible to play cricket in (common) winter.

Also, British took football to wet parts of South Asia (East & South West), while Cricket & Hockey in drier part (North & North West). There were few football clubs established in eastern part 19th Century (I believe Mohanbaghan in 1888, Calcutta Mohammedan in 1890 & Dacca Mohammedan in 1905, Dacca Wonders in 1908 or some times, few in Goa, Kerala ...), but entire local Royal interest was behind Cricket. Had the likes of Ranji, Majraj of Porbandar, Mahraj of Bijayangram, Nawab of Pataudi, Majraj of Patiala, Nawab of Dacca or DB Deodhar been interested in Football (more than that, had it been their esteemed sports), I am sure by now South Asia would have been good in soccer as well.

Besides, cricket is played by handful of countries, in many of those it's dying - hence we are good at it, which keeps the public interest intact & encourage next generation to stick to it .... eventually that brings money from business houses, which is the key for every sports to survive. If USA, Germany, Soviet blocks, Canada, Eastern block, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Scandinavian countries, Mediterranean countries or gulf countries .... takes cricket seriously - by 2035 .............. we can look at the impact in a much, much smaller scale in Field Hockey.

 

[PakLFC]

Im sure there is but I think the Pak football team should scout British Pakistani players who are good enough to possibly help Pakistan close to qualifying for the World Cup. This alone would do so much for the sport in Pakistan.

That would give racist groups the perfect opportunity to attack Pakistanis in the UK saying look they were bought up and raised by us yet represent Pakistan. It would be like Amir Khan representing Pak instead of England or the UK despite being born there. Pak has to utilise the immense Footballing talent in Baluchistan, Hazara and Lyari instead of looking at expat Pakistanis. I believe one should always represent the country where they were born and raised. Kabir Ali was told to play for England many years back when he asked the PCB if they would be interested in him playing for Pakistan.

 

[CanadianG00se]

Cricket is what Indians excel at generally in life a lazy man's sport.. You have to use as more mind and skills than physical ability, stamina, strength, power etc.. So it's a perfect sport for us Indians..

It has nothing to do with 'Indian being lazy'. If i am not wrong british brought both football and cricket in India. However, football being contact sport, many elites back then didnt like lower caste folks such as 'untouchables' touching them. Which is why football didnt really made inroads in India like cricket did.

 

[big_gamer007]

It has nothing to do with 'Indian being lazy'. If i am not wrong british brought both football and cricket in India. However, football being contact sport, many elites back then didnt like lower caste folks such as 'untouchables' touching them. Which is why football didnt really made inroads in India like cricket did.

Not talking about why Indians went after cricket or the reasoning you gave but I meant cricket is the perfect sport for us Indians.. Though recently we have been doing pretty well in football as per our standards so one has hope the next generation or two can move over to football..

 

[Slog]

Im sure there is but I think the Pak football team should scout British Pakistani players who are good enough to possibly help Pakistan close to qualifying for the World Cup. This alone would do so much for the sport in Pakistan.

that was tried and the experiment miserably failed.

prolly the only British Pakistani footballer of some repute got his career derailed as a result as well.

in any case its not like the British Pakistanis are even making it in Championship teams for them to even come under consideration

 

[KingKhanWC]

that was tried and the experiment miserably failed.

prolly the only British Pakistani footballer of some repute got his career derailed as a result as well.

in any case its not like the British Pakistanis are even making it in Championship teams for them to even come under consideration

Im not sure what expirement took place.

There are plenty of excellent Brit Pak footballers in all types of leagues. Even in non-league they would potentially be good enough to get into the Pak squad. It doesn't have be all 11 but even 3/4 experienced players from the English leagues could make a big difference.

 

[Slog]

Im not sure what expirement took place.

There are plenty of excellent Brit Pak footballers in all types of leagues. Even in non-league they would potentially be good enough to get into the Pak squad. It doesn't have be all 11 but even 3/4 experienced players from the English leagues could make a big difference.

lot of english and european based footballers played for Pakistan at one point in time (Im guessing late 2000s)

There were 2 issues in my opinion:

a) They werent very good to begin with. For eg playing in 3rd or 4th tier of european leagues.
b) They were just thrown in matches out of the blue and not having trained a whole lot with each other (often playing first time in Asia)

 

[KingKhanWC]

lot of english and european based footballers played for Pakistan at one point in time (Im guessing late 2000s)

There were 2 issues in my opinion:

a) They werent very good to begin with. For eg playing in 3rd or 4th tier of european leagues.
b) They were just thrown in matches out of the blue and not having trained a whole lot with each other (often playing first time in Asia)

Oh ok.

Sure only those who are good enough should be selected and they should be training with the Pak team when it's international duty.

Having played and watched many non-league games, there are so many excellent players from Pak background, they just dont look to go further as it's very difficult to break though. Even white English players are finding it difficult to break into the Premier league these days. It was much easier before when EU players needed a work permit.

I was reading an interview by Muhammed Waseem the Pak boxer and he was complaining all the money is focused on cricket and not other sports. Pakistan should try and support other sports such as boxing and football. It would be nice to have a boxing world champion and a football team qualifying for the world cup. Im not even sure Wassem's fights are broadcast live in Pakistan.?