Short description:

This book examines the ways in which cricket has reflected and reproduced some of the social and political tensions of the twenty-first century. The chapters in this volume employ cricket as a useful conceptual tool to analyse the dynamics underwriting interactions between races, sexes, classes, and polities.

Long description:

This book examines the ways in which cricket has reflected and reproduced some of the social and political tensions of the twenty-first century.

Cricket?s struggle for global recognition and the shifting concerns about cricket?s perceived ?character? provide two of the most significant meta-narratives to shape the game?s historical and future development. However, in contrast to the degree of continuity these narratives appear to support, the game is currently undergoing a particularly rapid and radical phase of change. This book illustrates some of these dominant processes, that can be broadly categorized as the changing political economy of the game, the nation-specific manifestations of cricket?s political-economic landscape, and the intro- and retrospection within the English game. Cricket is not only thriving across the world, its global spread reveals narratives of migration, national and international politics, astute governance, empowerment of people, and cultural practices of everyday life. New ethical, political, and identity-related concerns have arisen with the reworking of the objectives and methods of playing and watching cricket. The chapters in this volume employ cricket as a useful conceptual tool to analyse the dynamics underwriting interactions between races, sexes, classes, and polities.

Cricket in the 21st Century will be a fascinating read for students, scholars as well as general readers with an interest in the sociology and history of sport and global political economy. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Sport in Society.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Cricket at the beginning of the long twenty-first century  Part 1 - Emerging Networks in Global Cricket  1. Cricket, Brexit and the Anglosphere  2. Capitalism and the ethics of sport governance: a history of the board of control for cricket in India  3. From idyllic past-time to spectacle of accelerated intensity: televisual technologies in contemporary cricket  4. Flight of fantasy or reflections of passion? Knowledge, skill and fantasy cricket  5. Maidens and Man-kads: gendering cricket scholarship in the 21st century  Part 2 - Shifting Topographies of National Cricket  6. Cricket, terrorism and security in contemporary South Asia  7. The development of cricket in China  8. Beyond the boundary: the Sandpapergate scandal and the limits of transnational masculinity  9. Cricket, society and religion: a study of increasing religiosity in the national cricket team of Pakistan  10. No-ball! When transformation, indigenization and politicking overstepped into Zimbabwean cricket  11. Quotas in South African cricket: what the players say  Part 3 - Negotiating Diversity in English Cricket  12. Towards a safer past: thoughts on the invocation of English cricket?s soul  13. ?The ?blazer boys? were getting all the chances?: South Asian men?s experiences of cricket coaching in England  14. Inclusionary and exclusionary banter: English club cricket, inclusive attitudes and male camaraderie  15. Cricket has no boundaries with NatWest? The hyperreality of inclusion and diversity in English cricket