"Unusual" England cricket team

[Maranello]

Interesting article in the Guardian today commenting on the fact that with Mark Butcher not playing, there are no African, Asian or other 'coloured' players in the England cricket team. Such a scenario would have been quite surprising even a few years ago, and is quite unlikely to happen in any other major British or English sport...so why is cricket different? There are some suggestions as to an answer in the artcile, more thoughts welcome.

Some excrepts:

Even better was listening to them talk about their exploits. It usually is. The accents of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Surrey and Bristol form a rich mix in this particular group of cricketers, creating obvious links with generations of illustrious forbears.

We know some of the reasons behind cricket's failure to achieve similar levels of integration. One is the reluctance of one or two counties to accept the end of an informal system of apartheid. Another is the lure of football, which offers an easier route to glamour and money.

But it must also be asked if some of those who did make it into the team were given a fair shake. Devon Malcolm, for instance, was widely reviled for his inconsistency. But, had it been he who bowled those 16 wides, or performed as ineffectively as Harmison in the present series, would he have been shown the same degree of indulgence?

Vaughan and his team have given England something of which the nation can be proud. It would be even nicer if that pride extended to all of England.

[flanflinger]

Originally Posted by Maranello

Such a scenario would have been quite surprising even a few years ago, and is quite unlikely to happen in any other major British or English sport...so why is cricket different?

Intresting article, and I had not really thought about it.

I would say that Cricket has been better at accepting minorities then some sports. (where is the British Tiger Woods?)

Look at the fringe players though Kabir Ali, Sajid Mahmood, Vikram Solanki. They are about, but just not pushing for Test match places.

Only two years ago we had an Indian born captain and Butcher is not in the side purely due to injury. I do not think there is any element of a racist policy, it just happens to be the case that this Team has no non-whites.

There are counties that have operated a less than fair selection policy, but last season, even Yorkshire fielded it's first home grown player of Asian decent.

In a few years you may see players like Monty Panesar, Bilhal Shafayat and Sajid Mahmood staking a claim for a Test spot. They just need a bit more time.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I started this thread a few weeks ago, and I'm still no nearer an answer. I'd argue more traditional sports like cricket are being replaced with sports like basketball but after that I havent a clue. There are several young asians ready to come through (kabir ali, mahmood, and a young leg spinner whose name cant remember) but black players are almost nonexistant. We could have put an all black bowling attack of lewis, malcom, headly, laurance(briefly) tudor and apart from butch and an elderly mark alleyn I cant think of any.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Another point, WI cricket is struggling to recruit players as well citing basketball as the main reason. Are the same reasons valid ?

Vaughan and his team have given England something of which the nation can be proud. It would be even nicer if that pride extended to all of England.

So his is the guardian going to blame for that then ?

[Chuck Palumbo]

Who cares?? As long as the England cricket team is winning I won't. Only the Guardian could bring something like this up to try to damper the spirit's of the nation like they usually "try" to do without much success.

[Chuck Palumbo]

The same argument going on over the lack of Asian players playing in English football- Maybe they are just not good enough.

[flanflinger]

Vaughan and his team have given England something of which the nation can be proud. It would be even nicer if that pride extended to all of England

If the team had 7 Asians, 3 Afro Caribbeans and a China man, and still wore the Three Lions on it's shirt I would still support it!!

When Kelly Holmes won double Gold, I didn't think if only she was white, that way I can really celebrate? Or when the 4x4 won their Relay - I didn't say if only one of them was white, that way he could have represented me.. In the same way when the Rowers won Gold, how many Asians and Afro Caribeans came out to say that this all-white team did not "represent" them.

I really don't want to go into the Debate of postive discrimination. You put the best XI on the pitch, regardless of Colour, Race, or Religion...

[Chuck Palumbo]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

If the team had 7 Asians, 3 Afro Caribbeans and a China man, and still wore the Three Lions on it's shirt I would still support it!!

When Kelly Holmes won double Gold, I didn't think if only she was white, that way I can really celebrate?

I really don't want to go into the Debate of postive discrimination. You put the best XI on the pitch, regardless of Colour, Race, or Religion...

I agree Flanfinger- Look at the English football team, half of them are Afro-Carribean and it doesn't stop me or millions of others cheering them on. It seems some people won't be happy until the England football or cricket teams are full of Afro-Carribean or Asians regardless of whether they are successful.

[Ernest]

Yes when there have been Black players available, then they have got in the team.

Whites outnumber the rest of the population, and cricket being a minority sport, will reflect this.

Race has nothing to do with it, I for one thought Devon Malcolm has having a lot more potential than Steve Harmison, I don't care what race is included so long as England wins.

We have no Tiger Woods no, but we have a lot of Black athletes, and quite a few Black soccer players.

Another point, there are no Black or Aision players at the moment in the Test team, but the counties can't sign them up quick enough.and fans are keen to see them.

There is miniscule racism in English cricket, if any.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

I think maranello was making the same point I was - why arent there more black and england players challenging for england places- something which I do find surprising. But dev Malcom had plenty of chances (cant remember the guardian backing him though), and the decline of his career was as much down to Ray Illingworths coaching.To take the guardians tone of racial bias is frankly absurd. If ANY place in the current England side is filled by a white player and should really be filled by a black/asian player I'd love the guardian to name them.

BTW, how many balck players were there in South Africans team ? Or maoris in NZ ? Or aborigenies in Aus ?