After soccer, cricket is the most followed sport worldwide. While not everyone can play the game, it’s also more than fine just to be a fan.
Cricket fans can do various activities to indulge their love of this technical game. This post explores a few of the activities that show your support and love, not just for the game but for the players and team.
The history behind this well-loved game
Many believe this sport began as early as the 13th century, giving it an age-old history. Country boys started playing it using a sheep pen gate or tree stump as their marker. This gate was called a wicket and consisted of a crossbar (bail) resting on top of two upright poles.
That’s how the modern-day wicket game came into existence. However, it started evolving into a more organised sport in the 17th century. The first recordable reference of an 11-a-side match was played in Sussex, England in 1697.
While a set of rules would have existed for this game, the first known rules for it were established in the 18th century (1744). Cricket largely originated in England. The Hambledon Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club became the first two recognisable clubs.
However, the sport continued to evolve until the mid-20th century. It became characterised as a highly technical game with defensive play and a slow pace. Test matches are the first cricket league games played, originating in 1877 when England played against Australia. Other popular forms, such as Twenty20 (T20) games, only originated in 2003.
Cricket’s global popularity
Cricket is the second-most popular sport among a global audience, with 2.5 billion fans. As such, many people are constantly checking the latest news about cricket to stay updated about teams, players, fixtures, and matches.
Experts estimate that there are about 30 million registered players, with around 4,200 professional men and women cricketers. That doesn’t even consider the children and unofficial cricket players, showing just how popular this sport is.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) governs cricket globally. Over 100 members belong to this council, originating from five different regions. These regions are Africa (22 members), Americas (17 members), Asia (24 members), East Asia-Pacific (11 members), and Europe (34 members).
Given the sport’s popularity, it’s no wonder many famous brands partner with the ICC, such as Emirates, Aramco, DP World, and Coca-Cola. Further, in 2023, cricket viewership hit a new record, with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup recording more than a trillion viewing minutes.
That’s a 38% increase from the last record-holder for the 2011 World Cup. ICC platforms also recorded about 16.9 billion views. This figure blasts the previous record of the 2022 CC Men’s T20 World Cup out of the water with a 158% increase.
Countries with the most cricket fans
It’s difficult to calculate the exact number of fans in each country unless you do a nationwide survey. In lieu of such a survey, the best approach was to look at which country has the highest online traffic related to cricket.
The results weren’t a surprise if you know anything about the cricket community. India sat at the top of the list, which makes sense. Cricket has been adopted as a way of life. The country that has the second-highest online traffic for cricket is Pakistan, with Sri Lanka not far behind.
Following them are the following countries:
- Bangladesh
- Australia
- United Arab Emirates
- Nepal
- Trinidad and Tobago
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
Cricket activities to try out
As a cricket fan, there are many activities you can do besides watching the games on the TV. Below are a few activities you can try out if you crave more involvement in the cricket world.
Watch a live game
Of course, the best thing to do as a fan is to watch the actual cricket matches. Having fans in the stadium not only helps set the atmosphere but also supports the teams financially. It’s further an experience like no other, with the crowd around you and hundreds to thousands cheering the players on.
Collect cricket NFTs
Investing in cryptocurrency/NFTs has become a popular activity in the last few years. Part of this is due to the recent Bitcoin price increase, where a bitcoin became worth over $95,000 (R1,7 million). NFTs, on the other hand, are digital assets you can buy or trade, with sports trading cards extremely popular. Cricket has several NFTs for players, which are collectables for fans and investors.
Visit a cricket/sports bar
If you want something a little easier and more social, then visiting a sports bar when a game is on is a great idea. Not only will you meet new fans and people, but you can experience the excitement of the game with others. Different types of sports bars are cricket-themed and offer drinking specials.
Wager on cricket games
If you’re sure you know how a game will go, another option is to bet on it. Sports betting with crypto on cricket is extremely popular, with many different online bookmakers available. Whether you use a fiat wagering platform or a Bitcoin sports betting site, you’ll find hundreds of odds and dozens of betting markets available.
Collect official merchandise
Collecting any type of official cricket merchandise not only gives you bragging rights but also supports the teams and players. There’s something different about attending a match and wearing the team’s official merch and colours in support of them.
Offer the spirit of the 12th man
Another name often used for cricket fans is the 12th man, as their presence at games helps motivate the team. An unwavering supportive atmosphere goes a long way in inspiring the team to do their best, which can be seen in how often teams win matches on their home turf. They can also create a competitive spirit.
Start your Journey as a hardcore fan
Cricket is extremely popular, and there are many activities you can do to show your support to teams and players. While watching at home with your friends and family is fine, you can also motivate and support your team by watching games in person, buying official merch and collectables, and visiting a sports bar to watch the game.