Cricket: With Cricket’s Popularity Soaring, International Coverage Has Grown Particularly Lively
For legions of loyal cricket fans, the Internet promises to be a vital new source of the comprehensive and opinionated coverage they demand.
If you’re just starting to take an interest in cricket, watch out; a bevy of web sites brimming with statistics, constant news updates, and interactive features may pull you in deeper than you had intended to go. A survey of the sites reveals that cricket functions more like a religion than a sport, at least in the United Kingdom and the East.
With cricket’s popularity soaring in India and Pakistan, international coverage has grown particularly lively. The influential cricket magazine Wisden has also recently ventured online, reassuring seasoned enthusiasts that a tradition can be maintained in the here today, gone tomorrow environment of the World Wide Web. Passionate reviews and editorials entice readers into the feuds and alliances that can make cricket so gripping to track. And to show just how devoted fans can be, one site focuses exclusively on the legendary 1930s matches between rival English and Australian teams.
What really draws supporters to the Internet, though, are its interactive capabilities. Can’t make it to the game? No problem. Simply download sound bites and videos via RealPlayer. As if that’s not enough, you can even use Java to watch a game played in a virtual stadium or place a ticking box on your desktop that discreetly keeps score so you won’t get busted at work (don’t try the virtual stadium there). Powerful search engines and user-friendly interfaces help you find what you need quickly, while some sites offer free screensavers and wallpaper. Your next step is buying cricket paraphernalia online so you, too, can get in the game loved by millions.
With cricket’s popularity soaring in India and Pakistan, international coverage has grown particularly lively. The influential cricket magazine Wisden has also recently ventured online, reassuring seasoned enthusiasts that a tradition can be maintained in the here today, gone tomorrow environment of the World Wide Web. Passionate reviews and editorials entice readers into the feuds and alliances that can make cricket so gripping to track. And to show just how devoted fans can be, one site focuses exclusively on the legendary 1930s matches between rival English and Australian teams.
What really draws supporters to the Internet, though, are its interactive capabilities. Can’t make it to the game? No problem. Simply download sound bites and videos via RealPlayer. As if that’s not enough, you can even use Java to watch a game played in a virtual stadium or place a ticking box on your desktop that discreetly keeps score so you won’t get busted at work (don’t try the virtual stadium there). Powerful search engines and user-friendly interfaces help you find what you need quickly, while some sites offer free screensavers and wallpaper. Your next step is buying cricket paraphernalia online so you, too, can get in the game loved by millions.
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