The New Zealand cricket team (The Black Caps) wins the inaugural World Test Championship! ThrilledI'm very tired this week because I've been awake sometimes at night listening to or watching the final between India and New Zealand of the International Cricket Council's World Test Championship being played in England. I had to rob sleep because New Zealand, timewise, is 11 hours ahead of England. But, tired or not. I'm thrilled. Are you too? The Black Caps did really well. New Zealand is a small country. India is big. It's cricket-playing and cricket-watching population is vast. It's Indian Premier League, featuring teams from its big cities, attracts packed crowds. Many years ago I lived and worked in India – and played cricket. I played at a community level – school and bazar teams. I experienced that cricket was in the nation's blood. Youngsters played in the streets. Cricket in New Zealand is certainly well supported but has nothing like India's cricket resource. I suppose that ‘little’ winning over ‘big’ is always appealing. The Black Caps win has certainly been applauded. ProvokedI'm provoked to write about cricket today for two reasons.
The place of sportThis picture is one of the reasons why 'boys playing with balls' is good. Here are two countries, a loser and a winner, talking to each other. They are not turning their backs on each other or threatening each other. They are being friends. And the populations of both their nations (and of other countries) are seeing this picture. because it's all over the media. I'm for sportI'm for sport. I play indoor bowls in the winter and croquet in the summer. I enjoy them and they teach me things – tolerance and respect. I watch sport – my grandchildren as well as professionals. Wimbledon next week. I admire the enthusiasm in the children and the art of the professionals. Sport at a high level is art, just as is great painting or music. The angry listener wants us to accept that doing trivial things – 'boys playing with balls' – in some parts of the world, while poverty and other evils rage elsewhere is wrong. I don't accept that. Those trivial things like 'boys playing with balls' are really important in societies economically stable and equitable enough for them to happen. Sport to play and sport to watch are assets. However, I do bridle at ridiculously big player payments and I'd like sports organisations, supporters and players themselves to seriously address the issue. ¹ Humanitarian obligationImportantly, there is in my view, a humanitarian obligation on those societies (and their members) who can have 'boys playing with balls', to work hard to ensure that others have the same opportunities. Countries such as Syria, Yemen and Tigray need to be able to have 'boys playing with balls.' That's why in this blog I often urge donating and petitioning. Donating to relieve misery. Petitioning, with thousands of others, to persuade leaders to change their ways. There is an old saying, famously used by John Kennedy, 'with privilege rides responsiblity.' □ John McInnes Friday 25 June 2021 Photo credits: ICC/Getty - Share page Footnote
¹ In 2016 Kane Williamson, the top-ranked New Zealand cricketer, earned NZ$205,266 as a basic retainer. This figure decreased in increments of $6000 and the 21st ranked player received $85,585. Kane Williamson also got a $40,000 captains fee. These retainers and fees were considered moderate.
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