“The White Man’s Game”: Unravelling Cricket’s Colonial History

Cricket, the “gentleman’s game”. Linseed oil and whites. Balmy summer days. The sound of leather on willow, the ripple of applause from the pavilion and calls of “Catch It!” as the red ball sails unhindered to the boundary rope. A game, steeped in literature. One so civilized that it stops for lunch and tea. From the village green to Lords, the Caribbean to the sub-continent, the spirit of cricket and fairplay reigns. “Owzat!”, and the player tucks his bat under his arm and “walks” without waiting for the umpire to raise his finger skywards in dismissal. Anything else, as the expression goes, “is just not cricket”.

Cricket has been in the news as England battle Australia for the coveted Ashes urn. Ironically, it was Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members who harangued and jostled the Australian team over an issue of fair play as they walked through the fabled Long Room in the Lords pavilion. The MCC is supposed to hold the rules of cricket and Lords is seen by many as its spiritual home. Only days before, the long running story surrounding the allegations of racism within the Yorkshire County Cricket Team once again brought discrimination in cricket to the forefront of sport news. Surely, this is not cricket? 

Developments in England surrounding the Yorkshire County Cricket Club brought to light a severe deep-rooted issue of racism and bigotry within the cricketing community. Azeem Rafiq, a club member, came forward and reported that he had been subjected to racist comments at the hands of multiple current and former players. These allegations resulted in a trial which eventually found six players, including former England international players Gary Ballance, Matthew Hoggard, and Tim Bresnan, guilty of using racist language towards Azeem Rafiq. Reports suggest that these three players have refused to pay any fines, citing concerns over flawed process. This refusal to take accountability is deeply concerning and undermines efforts to address racism within cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has requested fines totalling £37,000 and recommended an eight-week playing ban for Ballance – he then retired. Hoggard and Bresnan have received recommended fines of £7,500 and £5,000, respectively. Additionally, three former Yorkshire players – Andrew Gale, John Blain, and Richard Pyrah – face fines ranging from £4,000 to £7,500. The ECB has proposed reprimands and mandatory racism and discrimination courses for all six players if they wish to return to cricket.

What is the historical context of discrimination within the sport and the intricate dynamics that have shaped cricket’s historical involvement with prejudice over the course of its history? To understand the root of such issues within the sport, one must delve deeper into cricket’s long-standing historical association with colonialism. Cricket, introduced to the world during the era of British colonialism, brought with it the hierarchical concept that the sport was meant for the privileged upper class and the “civilized”. This elitist perception excluded individuals from marginalized communities and laid the foundation for discrimination within the sport. One of the most glaring examples of how colonialism shaped cricket and perpetuated racial discrimination was found in South Africa.

Cricket in South Africa shares a common history with other Commonwealth nations and was introduced by the British in the early 19th century. By the 1880s, the sport had become firmly established in the country. Cricket South Africa governs both professional and amateur cricket, maintaining a high standard of domestic cricket. South Africa has achieved prominence as one of the world’s leading cricket-playing nations and has held the top spot in all three formats of the game, according to International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. 

The sport’s history in South Africa, however, reflects a period of disruption and racial segregation. In the 1920s, South African cricket began to spread beyond the British settler diaspora, reaching the Afrikaner and Indian communities. However, racial segregation persisted, with separate governing bodies for different racial groups, limiting opportunities for non-white players. While only white teams were involved in first-class domestic and international cricket until India and the West Indies joined the ICC in 1926, the apartheid era, which officially began in 1948, further institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa, including within cricket. 

The apartheid regime imposed strict policies that separated people based on race and denied non-white individuals equal opportunities in all aspects of life. Non-white players faced immense challenges and were excluded from participating in mainstream cricket events. This racial discrimination persisted for several decades, tarnishing the sport’s image and hindering its potential for inclusivity and progress. With the end of apartheid in the early 1990s, South African cricket embarked on a transformative journey towards inclusivity and equality. Efforts were made to dismantle the barriers that once hindered the participation of black players. Through proactive measures such as affirmative action and the implementation of selection quotas, Cricket South Africa is aiming to ensure fairer representation and equal opportunities for players from all backgrounds.

These measures have borne some fruit, as cricket in South Africa today thrives as a more multicultural and diverse sport. Players from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds have emerged as cricketing heroes, representing the nation on the international stage. The sport’s popularity has surged across all racial groups, uniting individuals from different backgrounds and celebrating the spirit of unity.

Addressing racial discrimination in cricket is crucial. It is also essential to recognize that racism is not the only form of discrimination within the cricket community. In India, for example, the sport has been marred by issues related to the deeply entrenched caste system, which remains a significant social issue in the country. The Indian cricket community has been complicit in perpetuating caste-based discrimination, and despite showing support for the global #BlackLivesMatter movement, players have remained largely silent on caste-based atrocities within India. This silence reflects the privilege many players enjoy due to their caste status and highlights a performative engagement with social justice movements in the West. The failure of the Indian cricket community to address this hypocrisy and acknowledge the “Dalit Lives Matter” movement is deeply disheartening. Caste is a social hierarchy deeply embedded in Indian society, and the lack of open discussions about it perpetuates the belief that if caste is not spoken about, it does not exist.

The reluctance to recognize caste privilege is further reinforced by insensitive gestures and remarks and a denial of bias in team selection despite the limited representation of Dalit cricketers. Access to cricketing opportunities is hindered by caste dynamics, with limited resources, a lack of infrastructure in rural areas, and financial constraints preventing talented individuals from marginalized backgrounds from pursuing the sport. The concentration of resources in urban areas and corporate patronage primarily benefit upper-caste individuals, exacerbating inequities.

In conclusion, the events in Yorkshire have highlighted that cricket is, sadly, “just not cricket” and, indeed, it never has been. From Wisden to Wodehouse the literature is that of the colonists and issues of discrimination have been swept under the carpet. As illustrated by the Indian cricketing community’s silence on caste-based discrimination, for example, there is still a need to address the discrimination that has scarred the sport’s history. Having said that, positive progress is possible with proactive measures, as those seen in South Africa. By promoting fair representation and equal opportunities and implementing measures like selection quotas, cricket can become a sport that truly champions inclusivity and social justice. It is only through collective efforts that cricket can truly embody the values of fairness, respect, and equality for all participants.