Johnny Come Latelys and Bandwagon Jumpers

mike65

So will Irelands part in the World Cup result in a rush of people (esp in the media) who suddenly let it be known that "actually I used to play down the park in the summer' and 'that John Arnott was such a fine commentator not to mentions dear old Jonny er Johners' etc. Ah the Bowler's Holding, the Batsmans Willey. How we laughed!" etc

Mike.

dereko1969

i'm sure there will probably be a few but the more people that talk about cricket the better, hopefully the clubs will use the extra publicity to get people to join, given the way sky are only showing two of the games through the interactive service those clubs with sky digital should be showing the games and publicising that fact, it's just a pity that 2 of the games are midweek.

TrueDub

Well, we can't have it both ways - if we want the profile of the game to grow, we need people, especially those in the media, to get interested and involved.

Marshy

Frustrating as it is, the truth is the only way a sport is gonna grow is thru bandwagonry. I mean if you want cricket to become more popular in Ireland the only way it'll happen is thru people who have no knowledge of the game showing an interest.

super_furry

Marshy wrote:

Frustrating as it is, the truth is the only way a sport is gonna grow is thru bandwagonry. I mean if you want cricket to become more popular in Ireland the only way it'll happen is thru people who have no knowledge of the game showing an interest.

Why is that frustrating? I agree it's the only way the sport will grow here, but I fail to see the frustrating part about new people taking an interest in the game.

r3nu4l

I agree with most of what's been said so far. Of course you'll get some knobends talking through their hats pretending to kow it all and sounding like plonkers because they actually know nothing but the more people talk about cricket, the more genuine interest will be raised, snowball effect.

Look at the Irish soccer team, an international joke (great players but a joke nonetheless) until Jack Charlton got his hands on them and all of a sudden the whole country was behind them and still are depsite the fact that the Irish squad haven't done anything decent in years. The bandwagon brigade helped to fuel that growing fanbase.

dr.bollocko

I think that it is a little bit snobbish to insult newcomers to the game. I mean what is the problem with it? That they arent "real" fans, because they haven't watched some godawful 3rd class cricket for 40 years in the rain? Why is it bad that people find a new interest in the game because the profile of the sport has grown here in Ireland? Is it just preferable that its a small boys club full of stat nerds and johnny commentators?

r3nu4l

God knows, I'd love if there was a sudden rush of tenpin bowling fans. Two new posters on the bowling forum yesterday but I'd love more

kmick

Yeah its like and me a my mate set up a Pooh Sticks club when we were kids. Now look at all the fairweather fans coming out of the woodwork now that Ireland are in the Pooh Sticks World Series in Milton Keynes. Well ye can all piss off. We have enough members thanks. Milicent Carney you are still banned by the way. And dont bother thinking of starting your own club. It will never be as cool as TISOPSARTOI (The Irish Society of Pooh Sticks and Rock Throwing of Ireland)

Marshy

super_furry wrote:

Why is that frustrating? I agree it's the only way the sport will grow here, but I fail to see the frustrating part about new people taking an interest in the game.

Well perhaps I phrased that badly. Its absolutely fine having newcomers to the game. Just as long as it doesnt turn out like leinster rugby. I mean most of their fans wouldnt know much about the game at all. Yet they are the people who get tickets for the matches depriving those who are more in tune with the game. That can be a frustrating element to bandwagonry.

mike65

But many of them are rather blonde and pretty!

Mike.

DMC

I think Ireland in the CWC will bring out the closet cricket fans. The one who couldn't bear to say, "I don't like cricket, I LOVE IT". Those who watch it only on telly. This tournament will be great exposure. Liking cricket is still a taboo if your family is rabid GAA or soccer supporters.

mike65 wrote:

But many of them are rather blonde and pretty!

Is Mike envious of the strapping Kolpak blokes coming over from SA and Oz to play in this part of the world? Nudge, nudge!

Marshy

DMC wrote:

I think Ireland in the CWC will bring out the closet cricket fans. The one who couldn't bear to say, "I don't like cricket, I LOVE IT". Those who watch it only on telly. This tournament will be great exposure. Liking cricket is still a taboo if your family is rabid GAA or soccer supporters.

Yeah thats true. Most people(Irish) associate it with the english upper class and having cucumber sandwiches and afternoon tea. Lets hope the WC brings about a bit of an image change anyway.

county

Marshy wrote:

Yeah thats true. Most people(Irish) associate it with the english upper class and having cucumber sandwiches and afternoon tea. Lets hope the WC brings about a bit of an image change anyway.

yes,barbies all the way and ice cold beer,god i wish i was going:(

mike65

Ryan Tubridy was having a chat with someone on Monday about the ICC World Cup and his guest said that the game here was huge until the GAA was founded and how it basicly went into a tailspin when the politics got bad.
Places like Nenagh had several clubs apparently.

Mike.

gerire

There has been over 200 clubs in kilkenny. A colleague of mine in work was reading a book on the history of cricket in the county and that was one of the amazing facts he pulled from it

mike65

Bump!

Mike.

is_that_so

I'd be in the "watch it on telly" brigade and yes I played it as a kid on the street, hell the whole neighbourhood did and even if we hadn't cracked the bowling or some of the other mysteries of the game it was a lot of fun. I'd have a good enough understanding of the rules apart from that D/L stuff which I learnt all about yesterday. Who cares if it's bandwagon jumpers - it does raise the profile and some of them may become players.

On the Tubridy show I think the chap also said that the counties who historically had the most cricket teams are now the main hurling powers. So if the GAA players can play soccer and rugby why not hurlers and camogie players swinging a cricket bat?

connundrum

r3nu4l wrote:

Look at the Irish soccer team, an international joke (great players but a joke nonetheless) until Jack Charlton got his hands on them and all of a sudden the whole country was behind them and still are depsite the fact that the Irish squad haven't done anything decent in years. The bandwagon brigade helped to fuel that growing fanbase.

QFT! People like to get involved in the hype of success. Watching the rugby in the pub yesterday brought it home when I was asked by 4 people - 3 girls and 1 guy - how many goals we need to win by to win a trophy. :rolleyes:

Either way, I'd rather have a pub full of ignorant people supporting an Irish team than one or two hardcore fans at the bar by themselves.

Tis all about awareness.

RuggieBear

Marshy wrote:

Well perhaps I phrased that badly. Its absolutely fine having newcomers to the game. Just as long as it doesnt turn out like Munster rugby. I mean most of their fans wouldnt know much about the game at all. Yet they are the people who get tickets for the matches depriving those who are more in tune with the game. That can be a frustrating element to bandwagonry.

I've corrected that for you!!!!

RuggieBear

oh and bandwagoning is a personal gripe of mine.

You defo see it in rugby now that the provinces have had some success. I hate being told by some munster ****ers (who only started watching the game when Munster statred to win) that as I'm a leinster fan i know nothing about passion or rugby (despite playing and supporting my club/province/country since i can remember).

So i welcome all you new followers of cricket but please don't be know it alls just yet.:D

mike65

I'm amazed no-one has picked me up on "John Arnott" you are a bunch of Johnnys!

Mike.

christophicus

RuggieBear wrote:

So i welcome all you new followers of cricket but please don't be know it alls just yet.:D

Thats the right attitudes to have. I hate all of these elitests that begin bitching when a sport becomes popular(same goes for music) . You should all be happy that the sport is getting more coverage and so there will be more peopel interrested in playing it and more money comming to each club. That fact that cricket in Ireland is being highlighted now should be celebrated.

i'd have to agree with you again though. People that have only come along recently and are all of a sudden the fountain of knowledge can be quite annoying.

Royale with Cheese

What's happening now for cricket is fantastic. I was in town last night, like I'm sure many other people. St. Patricks night, Dublin city centre. Fairly large pub which is totally packed at about 10.30 and they're showing cricket on a big screen and several other tv's around the pub.

Not only that but there was a huge roar everytime Ireland got one run, not to mention when they actually won the game. Nothing pisses me off more than people who have no idea about the game just saying its 'gay' and then they just say spiffing in an upper class English accent over and over. Ireland's run in the world cup will go a long way to changing the image of the game in this country, which imo is the main reason the sport is as lowly regarded by many as it is.

Warney

gerire wrote:

There has been over 200 clubs in kilkenny. A colleague of mine in work was reading a book on the history of cricket in the county and that was one of the amazing facts he pulled from it

True, there were about 4(?) clubs in my parish going back 100 years, now there is only one in the whole county.
As far as bandwaggoning is concerned I think that it is still going to take a dedicated effort from the people who have always been fans to ensure cricket takes off here, I don't think its going to be as easy as winning a few matches and suddenly its the new rugby, if only

Big Ears

mike65 wrote:

Ryan Tubridy was having a chat with someone on Monday about the ICC World Cup and his guest said that the game here was huge until the GAA was founded and how it basicly went into a tailspin when the politics got bad.
Places like Nenagh had several clubs apparently.

Mike.

We did eh ? , [runs off to form cricket club]

Jonny Arson

I've been overhearing loads of people talking about cricket all of a sudden on buses, trains.... I never thought Ireland would be ever gripped by cricket fever, it's great!

P.S. Yes before I get bandwagoner abuse I know this only my 2nd post on this forum but I have actually been a casual cricket fan for 10 years!!

Leon11

who cares if it does, when any Irish team or person does well people get behind them. It's a given. I talked ****e in the cab last night in the cab about cricket, watch it on tv the odd time, if the irish cricket team walked by me I wouldn't recognise one of them at all. Enjoy the 15 minutes make as much use of it as possible

Marshy

RuggieBear wrote:

I've corrected that for you!!!!

Come on lets not get petty here.

Blowfish

I'm actually a part timer supporter too. I was actually started off on it by my granny, who loves it and at the age of 88 still watches it. My interest was boosted by two south african friends of mine who are big fans.

Anyway, i've watched the last two world cups, several ashes in between and bits of test matches. And no, I don't pretend to know everything

mike65

Nobody knows everything in cricket trust me. Don't even mention Duckworth/Lewis.

Mike.

county

Royale with Cheese wrote:

What's happening now for cricket is fantastic. I was in town last night, like I'm sure many other people. St. Patricks night, Dublin city centre. Fairly large pub which is totally packed at about 10.30 and they're showing cricket on a big screen and several other tv's around the pub.

Not only that but there was a huge roar everytime Ireland got one run, not to mention when they actually won the game. Nothing pisses me off more than people who have no idea about the game just saying its 'gay' and then they just say spiffing in an upper class English accent over and over. Ireland's run in the world cup will go a long way to changing the image of the game in this country, which imo is the main reason the sport is as lowly regarded by many as it is.

here here

K-9

DMC wrote:

I think Ireland in the CWC will bring out the closet cricket fans. The one who couldn't bear to say, "I don't like cricket, I LOVE IT". Those who watch it only on telly. This tournament will be great exposure. Liking cricket is still a taboo if your family is rabid GAA or soccer supporters.

Another anti-GAA post! Of course there's an element of that in the GAA, like any sport there is an elitist element, but we're not all like that. I like to see Ireland do well at any sport. I wouldn't know much about Cricket but to me it's an incredible achievement for any sport in Ireland when u beat the 4th ranked country in the world, Rugby, Hockey, Soccer even ten-pin bowling!

On hurling being strong in counties that cricket was strong. Don't blame the GAA for political and cultural events 100 years ago. Like to think every sport has moved on from that, Cricket, Rugby, Hurling, Gaelic Football etc.

There's a bandwagon element in every sport. Try to get an All-Ireland ticket when you've been to League matches through the year. Rugby was the same for the Internationals.

Anyway to every sport, **** the Begrudgers and good luck.

DMC

Kindly point out where that was an anti-GAA post? Note I mentioned soccer in the same sentence. I'm not anti-GAA, or anti-soccer. Heck, I like both. I'm merely pointing out that there are a lot of people out there who dismiss cricket because a) they don't understand it b) are unwilling to understand it and c) the element in Irish society that really see it as the epitome of Englishness and want nothing to do with it.

Look, I've been there, done that, wore the t-shirt. I've gone through that with my family. And at a time when the only cricket available to me was Peter West and Tony Lewis on BBC Television. 20 years ago, liking cricket down the country was a huge taboo. Its not anymore, or it shouldn't be. And Ireland doing so well is being cheered on, as anecdotal evidence shows on these very boards.

iemillst

Seanies32 wrote:

Another anti-GAA post! Of course there's an element of that in the GAA, like any sport there is an elitist element, but we're not all like that. I like to see Ireland do well at any sport. I wouldn't know much about Cricket but to me it's an incredible achievement for any sport in Ireland when u beat the 4th ranked country in the world, Rugby, Hockey, Soccer even ten-pin bowling!

On hurling being strong in counties that cricket was strong. Don't blame the GAA for political and cultural events 100 years ago. Like to think every sport has moved on from that, Cricket, Rugby, Hurling, Gaelic Football etc.

There's a bandwagon element in every sport. Try to get an All-Ireland ticket when you've been to League matches through the year. Rugby was the same for the Internationals.

Anyway to every sport, **** the Begrudgers and good luck.

Hang on a minute!!!

The GAA have firmly placed themselves as the sports for the those with repubulican leanings (not that I'm tarring everyone with the same brush) and anyone else thats willing to turn up to a match.

But, as far as i can see, the ICU has not placed itself anywhere politically. (It being the team for the 32 counties regardless of which 'side' you are)

I'm English and I support England no.1 followed closely by South Africa (as I am/was a permanent resident for over 3+ years) and Ireland (Living with a girl from Dublin for 5 years this August).

Everything DMC says is true, this tournament will garner alot of attention for the Irish Cricket Team. That can only be a good thing. Alot of those who now show interest in Irish cricket may be put off by the perceived loyalist/'upper class'/whatever leanings some of the NI cricketers/Irish cricketers/various suporters may have.

But it is for us who dont give a toss who/where you come from to show the way. Cricket is a great sport and all supporters are welcome, whether they know where silly mid-off is or don't. Cricket on the island of Ireland needs supporters, bandwagon jumpers or not.

For Gods sake can we all just put our psuedo-religous/political/class/whatever else BS behind us so we can all get behind Trent and the team for the Super 8's!!??!!

K-9

DMC wrote:

Kindly point out where that was an anti-GAA post? Note I mentioned soccer in the same sentence. I'm not anti-GAA, or anti-soccer. Heck, I like both. I'm merely pointing out that there are a lot of people out there who dismiss cricket because a) they don't understand it b) are unwilling to understand it and c) the element in Irish society that really see it as the epitome of Englishness and want nothing to do with it.

Look, I've been there, done that, wore the t-shirt. I've gone through that with my family. And at a time when the only cricket available to me was Peter West and Tony Lewis on BBC Television. 20 years ago, liking cricket down the country was a huge taboo. Its not anymore, or it shouldn't be. And Ireland doing so well is being cheered on, as anecdotal evidence shows on these very boards.

Was meant tongue in cheek! And i accept your point. And I did say what an achievement it was. You'll always have begrudgers in every sport including the GAA, which was my main point. There's plenty who will dismiss the GAA because a) they don't understand it and b) worse, not willing to understand (John Inverdale and Jarlath Burns being examples of understanding different sports but being proud of your own also) and c) people who associate it with Irishness and Republicanism when the vast majority who watch and support it aren't, especially Hurling. On TV coverage, could say the same about the GAA with BBC NI and UTV but thats for another topic and thread!

Iemillst - Could be construed that u are tarring people with the same brush but i don't believe u are. Unfortunately the GAA sometimes are victims of their own history. I admire Rugby and Cricket for the all embracing element but it seems harder for Ulster Rugby and GAA to shed the political side often thro no fault of their own.

The rest of your sentiments I fully agree with. Sport is often a result of where u are born and what sport is available there, not individual choice, more's the pity. GAA is just as innocent these days as Cricket or Rugby, ask John Inverdale.

Anyway fully behind Trent and the team and the Super Eights, Learning already! Seems like a bigger achievement than Ireland beating England or Italy in Soccer or Australia or S. Africa in Rugby considering the player base.

We all love an underdog in any sport.

DMC

Seanies32 wrote:

Was meant tongue in cheek! And i accept your point. And I did say what an achievement it was.

LOL, thats where comes in

Seanies32 wrote:

You'll always have begrudgers in every sport including the GAA, which was my main point. There's plenty who will dismiss the GAA because a) they don't understand it and b) worse, not willing to understand (John Inverdale and Jarlath Burns being examples of understanding different sports but being proud of your own also) and c) people who associate it with Irishness and Republicanism when the vast majority who watch and support it aren't, especially Hurling. On TV coverage, could say the same about the GAA with BBC NI and UTV but thats for another topic and thread!

Inverdale is a student of history as well as an accomplished broadcaster. He's fantastic. If you heard him before the English game in Croke Park on RTÉ Radio 1's "This Week", you know he has his finger on the pulse. There is a thought amongst some GAA supporters (and to a lesser extent some soccer too) that if you don't support, you are somehow less Irish. Its as if they have a hold on what it means to be Irish. What a load of junk that is.

Seanies32 wrote:

Anyway fully behind Trent and the team and the Super Eights, Learning already! Seems like a bigger achievement than Ireland beating England or Italy in Soccer or Australia or S. Africa in Rugby considering the player base.

We all love an underdog in any sport.

It is. Beating Pakistan was huge, seismic. We always cheer the underdog. Look at Dwayne Leverock of Bermuda. All 20 stone of him, and people are saying, "good on him, well done." And its even better when the underdog is your very own.

spanner

I have never sat down and watched a game of cricket in my life until the world cup so I am the orginal johnny come lately on the band wagon

it was just brillant watching the game however I do have some questions if somebody could help me I would be grateful

is it the case that when everybody on the batting team is out then its the turn of the bowling team?

how many players have to bat before the batting team is out?

how many players are on a cricket team

mikeruurds

spanner wrote:

I have never sat down and watched a game of cricket in my life until the world cup so I am the orginal johnny come lately on the band wagon

it was just brillant watching the game however I do have some questions if somebody could help me I would be grateful

is it the case that when everybody on the batting team is out then its the turn of the bowling team?

how many players have to bat before the batting team is out?

how many players are on a cricket team

I'll answer in reverse:
1. There are 11 players in a cricket team.
2. 11 players bat but you only need to get 10 out to end the innings as there always have to be two batsmen in at any time
3. Yes. When all ten wickets have fallen the bowling team goes in to bat - just note that regardless of how many wickets are down, after 50 overs the innings is over.

Hope that answers your questions.

stretchticles

spanner wrote:

I have never sat down and watched a game of cricket in my life until the world cup so I am the orginal johnny come lately on the band wagon

it was just brillant watching the game however I do have some questions if somebody could help me I would be grateful

is it the case that when everybody on the batting team is out then its the turn of the bowling team?

Yes, when 10 wickets have been taken that innings has closed

how many players have to bat before the batting team is out?
10

how many players are on a cricket team

11

spanner

mikeruurds wrote:

I'll answer in reverse:
1. There are 11 players in a cricket team.
2. 11 players bat but you only need to get 10 out to end the innings as there always have to be two batsmen in at any time
3. Yes. When all ten wickets have fallen the bowling team goes in to bat - just note that regardless of how many wickets are down, after 50 overs the innings is over.

Hope that answers your questions.

it does thanks

K-9

DMC wrote:

LOL, thats where comes in


Inverdale is a student of history as well as an accomplished broadcaster. He's fantastic. If you heard him before the English game in Croke Park on RTÉ Radio 1's "This Week", you know he has his finger on the pulse. There is a thought amongst some GAA supporters (and to a lesser extent some soccer too) that if you don't support, you are somehow less Irish. Its as if they have a hold on what it means to be Irish. What a load of junk that is.



It is. Beating Pakistan was huge, seismic. We always cheer the underdog. Look at Dwayne Leverock of Bermuda. All 20 stone of him, and people are saying, "good on him, well done." And its even better when the underdog is your very own.

My smilies wheren't working at the time. Firefox maybe!:mad:

I agree with what u say about some GAA supporters but they are a smaller and smaller minority.

Inverdale was brilliant as was Jarlath Burns, the TG4 Presenter. It's funny how misconceptions can affect sport. Jarlath actually invited John Inverdale over to watch Ulster GAA Club matches a few years back to get a feel for what the GAA is truely about. He has been to All-Ireland finals as well. U could have a misconception of Jarlath as well. Won an Ulster Medal for Armagh, played for Crossmaglen and is a fluent Irish speaker. However he invited Inverdale over to help him understand the GAA. As Inverdale said the GAA is not some Republican/Nationalist organisation to be feared, it is to be embraced for it's Irish culture and as an example of how successful an amateur organisation can be in this professional era. Jarlath Burns has introduced Rugby to the school where he teaches so it shows how misconceptions can effect all sports.

All schools, North and South should have more sports available. Would be a great away of breaking down the prejudices that exist. It tend to be people of a certain generation who have the prejudices.

I have brought people in Donegal of the so called "opposite persuasion" to Croke Park and other GAA grounds, including a Cricket supporter! Many have been back. I'm sure some would have had misconceptions but they where willing to go and experience it for themselves. It's more about the sport, the atmosphere and the day out with a mixed support of all counties. I'm sure the same goes for Cricket.

Anyway, my rant out there so what are the chances for Ireland on Friday and if they do qualify as seems likely who are the teams they are going to meet in the Super 8? is the Super 8 run on a knock out basis or is there groups?

DMC

The Super 8 is another league, save for you don't play the team thats in the Super 8's from your Group. So, in Ireland's case, IF they qualify for the Super 8's they won't play the West Indies. The points gained from the match West Indies go forward to the Super 8's, so you will see at the start of the Super 8's 4 teams with 2 points, and 4 with 0.

The top 4 then play in the semis, straight knockout then.

They play the other 6 teams from the other 3 groups who qualified. Its not certain who will qualify for the Super 8's but Australia and the West Indies are definitely through.

The chances of Ireland qualifying are, firstly, in the hands of Pakistan and Zimbabwe on Wednesday. Its their final groups games. If Zimbabwe beat Pakistan, we must beat the West Indies on Friday. We will be in the position to know what is required to qualify on Wednesday, after that game.

K-9

DMC wrote:

The Super 8 is another league, save for you don't play the team thats in the Super 8's from your Group. So, in Ireland's case, IF they qualify for the Super 8's they won't play the West Indies. The points gained from the match West Indies go forward to the Super 8's, so you will see at the start of the Super 8's 4 teams with 2 points, and 4 with 0.

The top 4 then play in the semis, straight knockout then.

They play the other 6 teams from the other 3 groups who qualified. Its not certain who will qualify for the Super 8's but Australia and the West Indies are definitely through.

The chances of Ireland qualifying are, firstly, in the hands of Pakistan and Zimbabwe on Wednesday. Its their final groups games. If Zimbabwe beat Pakistan, we must beat the West Indies on Friday. We will be in the position to know what is required to qualify on Wednesday, after that game.

I'm confused! So if Ireland go thro, they can't play the WI in the Super 8. Ok.

Teams who won their final matches in the initial groups get 2 points or teams who finish top of their group get 2 points?

Then each team play the other 6 who they haven't played before and the top 4 out of that go to the semi-finals? How are the places decided? Is it 2 points for a win 1 for a draw or does runs scored come into it like tries in European Cup Rugby ?

graham13

Ok,I've only started watching the cricket since Saturday.I was inspired by looking at the Zimbabwe thread on here.This might sound like a stupid question but lets say team A is 200 all out after 50 overs and team B is 190/4after 50 overs who wins?Is the winner always decided by most runs and not by most wickets lost?

DMC

Welcome along

The winner is the team with the most runs at or before 50 overs in a one-day game. So in your scenario, is team A. Team B needed 201 runs to win from 50 overs.

graham13

Cheers.I thought that:)Its a bit unfair,One team could be all out for 100 and the other team could be 99/1 and still lose.I'll learn as i go along.:)

DMC

It wouldnt be unfair, its chasing the target that matters.

Side A will set the target, 101 is what Side B need, so at the start of Side B's innings, they know exactly what is needed to win. All that matters is that Side B need to get to 101 within 50 overs. It doesnt matter how they achive it, i.e. how many wickets they lose in getting to 101.

graham13

Thanks for that.Look forward to Friday so,the wife wont be too happy.Another sport to be into now.:D

Marshy

Marshy wrote:

Yeah thats true. Most people(Irish) associate it with the english upper class and having cucumber sandwiches and afternoon tea. Lets hope the WC brings about a bit of an image change anyway.

I think Botham, Freddie and Shane Warne helped shed that image for me long ago!!

Zaph

The way I see it, a lot of extra people are watching cricket now because there's an Irish team competing and they're doing quite well. It's like when Jordan were in Formula 1, all of a sudden there were thousands interested in a sport that I'd been quietly watching for years. The key difference however, is that unlike F1 some of the new cricket fans can actually get involved and play the game. This can only be good for the future of the sport in Ireland as a) some genuinely talented players may be unearthed that may have otherwise been undiscovered; and b) the more that play, the higher the profile and the whole thing expands exponentially.

I do also think that the ICC have been instrumental in gaining new fans in places like Ireland through the promotion of limited overs competitions. I'm not really a fan, but in the past if there was nothing else on tv and I came across a one day match I'd watch it for a while. If it was a test match I'd switch off immediately as I think that format is mind-numbing. Now I know there are a lot of subtleties to the game and this is heresy to the real cricket fans here, but the one day games remove a lot of the perceived stuffiness attached to the sport and usually offer genuine excitement for the entire match. And who knows, if I watch enough of them I might actually start to enjoy test matches.