The game was invented in England in 1611 and became the UK’s national sport in the 18th century. It became so popular that international matches were played in 1844. Many countries have formed their national teams to compete against each other. The game quickly spread across the British colonies.
Cricket was introduced to the territories and their subjects by the British military officers and men who fervently played the game in foreign places where they were posted. It was brought to the West Indies and India via the same route. The British East India Company mariners and servicemen played the game in the colony and the natives got enamored with it. India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the other countries in the region are now among the leading exponents of the sport.
Cricket crossed the Atlantic in the 17th Century where it is still popular in Canada and in South America. However, it did not gain a strong following in the United States where football, baseball and basketball are the prime sports. Several South American countries like Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Peru have adopted the sports.
Practically, the game acquired adherents in countries under the British Dominion regardless of geography. Up to now, cricket is passionately played in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Cricket grounds still abound in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, which still regard the game as a favorite pastime. Together with Australian football, cricket is considered as Australia’s national sport.
Cricket was originally known as a “boys’ game” until the English women embraced the game as their sport as well. The first women’s cricket match was played in Surrey in 1745 and the game has not looked back after that. The rules or laws of the game are complicated.
To the uninitiated, the rules of the game are difficult to comprehend. The International Cricket Council is the governing body of the game. It currently has 105 member-nations representing five regions of the world, and is responsible for the staging and conduct of all ICC-sanctioned events. It counts among its members three countries in Southeast Asia—Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Despite its popularity in many countries, only 15 countries are actively taking part in international competitions. It is not even an Olympic sport due to lack of participants. It was only played once at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris where only Britain and France took part.
It is regarded among the richest sports in the world since it is expensive to maintain the sports. It cannot be self-sustaining and independent like other sports since the game is not well patronized. Cricket is recognized as an elitist sport. It belongs to the upper class. It was a sport played by the aristocrats in England and in the colonies. It is not generally accessible to so many people. There are stiff requirements to play the sport.
Yet, surprisingly, Pinay domestic workers in Hong Kong have taken a strong liking for the game.
In a report published by the AFP News, a sturdy group of Pinay domestic helpers have formed a cricket team called the SSC Divas. Most Pinays are familiar with the sport of baseball or softball, which is popular in Philippine schools, that somehow requires the same set of skills as in cricket.
While they have no actual background of cricket, the Pinays have been following the game in local TV sports where the game has a regular programming while tending to their household chores. They become well versed in the intricacies and rules of the sport and accustomed to the acumen of the players. With very little professional coaching and training time, the SSC Divas won the championship in the HK Development League two times in a row and has remained unbeaten in the ongoing main division tournament this year.
For the team members, playing cricket provides an escape from the dreary and weary life as a domestic helper in HK, away from their family. The AFP wire quoted one Filipina player saying that playing the game “is very relaxing, it makes my day worthwhile. It’s good to be active and you forget all stress and troubles and everything.”
The team gets moral support from their kababayans who crowd the game outside the sports field in Happy Valley where the matches are held. The die-hard followers picnicked in the area to cheer their compatriots as they walloped their opponents.
As reported by a director of the HK Cricket Club, “They get one day off a week, and what do they do? They come and sit and watch, cheer along, train whenever they can. It’s pretty impressive.”
I recall when I was working as an expat in a multinational company in HK more than three decades ago. We were the only Filipino family residing in a well-appointed flat located high up in a residential condominium building overlooking the harbor. There were, more or less, 50 Pinay domestic helpers working in the building.
Every Christmas when my family and I spent the holidays in Manila, our Filipina compatriots would borrow my flat so that they would have a place to celebrate Christmas and New Year. We would gladly leave them the key and when we got back we always found our place spotlessly clean with some Filipino preserved delicacies and sweets placed around our Christmas tree.
Giving them the space where they could gather during the most important date in Christian calendar is the closest thing they could celebrate Christmas with their family.
Maybe the Philippine Olympic Committee should take their cue from the Pinay domestic workers. Our professional sports leaders should unite instead of engaging in political wrangling, which only fosters disunity as we had witnessed during their recently concluded election.
Image credits: SCC Divas HK Facebook page