1st Edition

Cricket and Contemporary Society in Britain Crisis and Continuity

By Russell Holden Copyright 2022
178 Pages
by Routledge

178 Pages
by Routledge

178 Pages
by Routledge

This book investigates the declining status of cricket within contemporary British society after the high-water mark of England’s Ashes victory in 2005. It considers the deep roots of the game within British national life as well as its ever-changing nature, and reflects upon the current significance and relevance of a sport that many still perceive as deeply traditional and conservative in... Read more

1          Introduction and Framework for Discussion

2          The Depths of 1999 and the Rehabilitation of Cricket

3          Impact of the 2005 Ashes Victory

4          Cricket and Identity: Some Geographical Reflections

5          Cricket and the British Afro-Caribbean Community: Losing the Heritage

6          Realising the Power of the South Asian Community

7          Twenty20: Cricket’s 21st Century Revolution

8          Comparing the British Cricketing Experience

9          The Advance of Women’s Cricket

10        Concluding Remarks

Biography

Russell Holden is a lecturer, writer, researcher and broadcaster having written and taught widely on the sociology of sport, with a particular interest in the role and value of cricket in contemporary life. He launched In the Zone Sport and Politics Consultancy, an organization based in Wales, working both in the UK and overseas, which is dedicated to exploring the many and varied interconnections between sport and politics, straddling issues of identity, nationalism, human rights, gender and reconciliation.

"Ultimately this study, while being a forensic examination of the factors at work that define the various British communities’ relationship with cricket, is a labour of love. Holden wants to know “how [cricket] can capture the nation once more as the chief summer sport and not completely drop off the sporting radar during the winter months”. He believes it can be done through successful national men’s and women’s teams and “[by engaging] as widely as possible in projecting a sport that is accessible, open, safe and free of injustice and discrimination”. Like many lovers of this truly remarkable sport, I sincerely hope he’s right." - Daniel Norcross, cricket broadcaster