The Thing About Cricket

So cricket, what’s all that about then? It’s the new rugby in Ireland, of that there lies no doubt. But where did this sudden interest come from?

Success…well, a victory anyway.

Ireland isn’t notorious for cricket, it’s frowned upon in some counties. People excommunicated from their villages for playing it.

But all of a sudden, the nation is gripped by it! True, the soccer team are abysmal at the moment, the Rugby Six Nations is over after we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, but now in our first ICC World Cup, Ireland has qualified for the Super Eights Stage (Whatever that is – presume they wear capes).

The thing is, everyone loves a winner, and there is nothing more satisfying than following a winner and especially if it is your own country.

That’s why it is the new rugby. Let me explain, when the Irish Rugby team started to become more and more threatening as a force in the world, it also coincided with the soccer team getting worse and worse.

People need a success story. The Irish Rugby Team was perfect. And so more and more people tuned in and watched them, cheered for them. Cursed them when they didn’t take the three points against Italy. Problem was, most didn’t have a notion what was happening, or how this Rugby Thing (you say?) was supposed to be played.