In recent years, the Wall Street Journal seems to have published more major pieces about cricket than any other big U.S. daily. The reason: Tunku Varadarajan, who was, until last month, editorial features editor on the paper's editorial page (he has since been promoted to assistant managing editor on the news side, a rare move for the paper). A British-Indian, Varadarajan's love (passion? obsession?) for cricket has resulted in several items on cricket being published in the paper.
His latest piece, "In Praise of Cricket," ran in Wednesday's paper and is about the Cricket World Cup, which begins next week - and the ability to watch it online. From the piece:
It is a source of immense chagrin to those of us who love the game--and there are few games on earth that are loved with as much fidelity, and gusto--that cricket is disparaged in America as a languorous pastime conducted between breaks for tea by men who utter such daffy things as "sticky wicket, old chap."
I make no apologies for saying this, but such views of the game are just not cricket; and I'm determined to make my case by inviting readers actually to watch the game. The International Cricket Council's 2007 Cricket World Cup begins next week--on Tuesday, when the West Indies, the tournament's host, takes on Pakistan--and will conclude on April 28, when the final is played in Bridgetown, Barbados, with India thrashing Australia. (OK, that last bit is pure fantasy--as is any thought of physically attending the match, unless as a guest of the Barbadian prime minister: There isn't a room to spare on the island in the days preceding the final, and cricket fans are being billeted on cruise ships anchored offshore for want of terrestrial accommodation.)
One way to watch the games in the U.S. is via the DISH Network; another is via DirecTV. Another is via the web. Varadarajan goes on to describe a website that's carrying the games live, Willow.tv.
Given that the time differences between the U.S. and the various Caribbean islands are never greater than four hours, you can actually watch this World Cup in real time without the need--as arose with previous World Cups, held in India or Australia--to wake up while those around you slumber. All you must do is log on to www.willow.tv (a Web site named after the splendid and resilient wood from which all cricket bats are made) and purchase a package of 51 matches for $199.95--a cost of under $4 per match. When you consider that each match lasts about seven hours, that's a lot of sticky wicket for your buck.
Some of the previous cricket pieces in WSJ included this 2004 commentary, "Cricket Diplomacy: India and Pakistan celebrate their weapons of mass destruction."
And here's the headline of a non-Tunku A1 cricket story in the WSJ (timed to the last World Cup):
Bowled Over: One Man's Drive Helps Make Cricket A Big-Money Sport --- Indian Construction Magnate Turned a Boyhood Passion Into Sponsorship Bonanza --- The Match-Fixing Scandals
By Joanna Slater
2,159 words (Feb. 27, 2003)
Also see New York Observer piece, Op-Out: Varadarajan Hurdles Journal’s News-Editorial Divide (you need to scroll down to find the story).
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