Cricket and Colonialism: The Complex Relationship Between Sport and Empire

Cricket and Colonialism: The Complex Relationship Between Sport and Empire

For some, cricket is a refined game with arcane rules. And for others, it’s a reminder of the colonial past. In this piece, you’ll learn about the game’s controversial history, as well as the maximum withdrawal from Betika you can make when betting on cricket with the bookie.

England as the Cradle of the Sport

The game of cricket is the epitome of all English things, like a tea party or a pub crawl. It’s well documented that the sport has been practiced in the British Isles since the 16th century.

 

Like many sports, it began as a children’s game. But later, the activity became a part of the entire British society and a vital element of social interaction regardless of age or stratum. The upper and lower classes could meet in one game and even within one team.

 

During the 18th century, the sport gained immense popularity. This period saw the first set of the game rules, proliferating clubs and championships, and highly attended matches. The game’s technique evolved, and the bat changed its appearance.

 

Aside from being a captivating pastime, cricket became one of the most favored sports for gambling. The British punters were eager to bet big on matches with professional players.

Cricket as a Tool of the British Empire

The late 19th and early 20th centuries were considered the golden age of English cricket. At the same time, the British Empire reached its heyday, being the largest in the world. And, of course, the activity with a bat, ball, and wicket could not but spread to the conquered lands.

Part of Home in a Far-Off Land

For ordinary soldiers in the colonies, i.e., far-distant lands, cricket was an opportunity to feel at home. Keeping the sport alive overseas also benefited the Empire, which needed a healthy, athletic military force on all its estates.

 

Regular games were both entertaining and disciplining and allowed players to show critical qualities, including self-control, teamwork, and decisiveness. Thus, English cricketers contributed to the image of a powerful empire capable of mobilizing at any moment.

 

Initially, cricket served to distinguish between colonists and locals and was the prerogative of the incomers.

Mighty Weapon of Colonialism

Very soon, the huge potential of the sport became apparent to British politicians. They started leveraging cricket as a potent tool to control, assimilate, and unite. The game became the Empire’s soft power aimed at winning the colonized over.

 

As part of the so-called “civilizing” process, the British instilled their values and customs by teaching the locals their traditional sport. People of different nations and ethnicities could speak a common language within one empire — the language of cricket.

 

The governors of the various colonies tried to use the sport to network with the natives. And they succeeded. The game was now played in a number of regions under British rule, including:

 

  • Australia;
  • New Zealand;
  • India;
  • Sri-Lanka;
  • Pakistan;
  • Kenya;
  • South Africa;
  • North America;
  • the Caribbean.

The Game Status in the Former Colonies

Despite initial success, the game didn’t help tame the colonies; it strengthened them and accelerated decolonization. Finally, countries gained independence from the Empire. And having learned the lessons of cricket well, the students began to surpass their teacher.

 

Thus, India has by far the strongest national cricket team in the world. With triumphant victories in major international competitions, the nation is now at the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings.

 

Apart from India, other former colonies have also excelled in the sport. Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are among the stellar global cricket teams. Millions of people around the world love and play the game.

 

Cricket is a hit in Kenya, too. Its national team, an ICC associate member, regularly participates in big international tournaments.

Profitable Cricket Betting With Betika

The popularity of cricket makes it a must-play sport on the list of betting options provided by Kenyan bookmakers. So, if you go to the Betika website, one of the reputable in-house operators, you’ll find a host of cricket events for pre-match and live wagering.

 

The bookie invites you to bet on teams from diverse leagues and countries. The betting markets will also please you with a diversity of options. So you can make your prediction about

 

  • Winner;
  • 1st Innings Over;
  • Team With Top Batter;
  • Team With Top Bowler;
  • Will There Be A Tie;
  • Total Run Outs;
  • Draw No Bet.

 

Getting started with wagering is easy. To do so, you need to open an account and fund it from your mobile wallet. The gambling platform meets the interests of both low-rollers and high-rollers. And if your prediction is correct, the winnings are paid out instantly.

 

Here are a few significant figures about Betika that should encourage you to join the bookie.

 

Minimum stake size for a single or multiple selection 1 KES
Maximum stake size for a pre-match selection 500,000 KES
Maximum stake size for an in-play selection 300,000 KES
Minimum withdrawal amount (M-PESA and Airtel) 50 KES
Maximum daily withdrawal (M-PESA) 300,000 KES
Maximum daily withdrawal (Airtel) 30,000 KES
Maximum payout per bet 4,000,000 KES
Maximum aggregate payout per day 8,000,000 KES

Final Thoughts

Colonialism is a complex, controversial, and painful topic for the colonies themselves and Britain. Cricket was part of imperial expansion. But the game’s current status in the world says a lot about the very essence of the sport: to unite, inspire, and empower people.