Does the Australian Team reflect modern Australia

[CrazyJoeFevola]

Any theories on why aboriginals don't really play cricket?

My club is at least 20 percent Koori

 

[Ashton Agar]

Pathetic thread.

 

[Admiral Byng]

In terms of ugly tattoos and stupid facial hair - yes, absolutely they represent Australia.

 

[The Passenger]

I might be way off the mark, but isn't that why hockey is traditionally a white sport in the US? Prohibitive cost of entry?

And golf.

Which is why Tiger Woods being one of golf greats is such an irony.

It sucks but the unfortunate but the facts at the moment is a white person is on average going to have more money than a black person.

Whilst great strides have been made that is still the reality. Hopefully in due course that situation will change.

OP terrible post.

 

[frankrizzo]

As others have said what a sad thread, guess crushing wins or awful defeats always bring out the trolls.

No surprise this bloke had never made a single post in the cricket forum until this thread, been some intelligent replies and rebukes to the op but really this thread isn't worthy of having those posts.

 

[BarneyBent]

Terrible thread, or at least terribly expressed, BUT there is a valid point lurking here. Why is there not a greater diversity of people playing cricket in Australia? Why are there so few indigenous players in particular, but also people from continental European heritage? We're seeing a few more young players of subcontinental Asian descent, which is good. Khawaja, Agar, Sandhu, etc. We can probably expect to see a few more come through, second generations.

It seems we're missing out on a huge pool of potential talent by letting cricket sit as a "white guy's game". How about we try investing in youth programs targeted at traditionally non-cricket-playing demographics. Indigenous communities, immigrant communities, etc.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

Thread needs more Richard Chee Quee!

 

[Kram]

Cost?

Footy only needs a ball.

That's true but even as a kid I don't remember any aboriginals from my school playing the game at recess or in their yard at home like pretty much everyone else over summer. Not having any players on TV wouldn't help, I guess it just might not appeal to them culturally or something.

 

[TigerCraig]

Problems with getting "non-traditional" background kids playing include parent knowledge, time the game takes, focus on school work, focus on paid work

We had a few Vietnamese boys in my sons team at Kanga/Under 9 time, but as soon as the games got longer they dropped off.

As a junior to progress and become known to Grade clubs you and your parents need to be fully committed - club training, rep training, club games on Saturday, rep games on Sunday, travel all over town to play. When the parents aren't into it and have other priorities its tough for the kid to shine.

There are stacks and stacks of adult sub-continental players - 1st and 2nd generation - playing Saturday afternoon park cricket in Sydney. Some I know are very very good, but aren't interested in playing Grade as it means a couple of nights a week training and playing Saturday & Sunday

 

[frankrizzo]

It seems we're missing out on a huge pool of potential talent by letting cricket sit as a "white guy's game". How about we try investing in youth programs targeted at traditionally non-cricket-playing demographics. Indigenous communities, immigrant communities, etc.

From what i have seen over the years cricket officials had tried to push the game in indigenous communities, you can't make people play a game they don't like.

The lack of representation=conclusive proof of discrimination theory is obviously flawed

Guess short jewish guys could say the NBA has it in for them if it was as easy as using that line of thinking.

 

[iluvparis]

There are stacks and stacks of adult sub-continental players - 1st and 2nd generation - playing Saturday afternoon park cricket in Sydney. Some I know are very very good, but aren't interested in playing Grade as it means a couple of nights a week training and playing Saturday & Sunday

Good call - the winter comp I played in Sydney had tons of sub-continental players in it including a couple of all sub-contintental teams.

In contrast, rarely came across a South-East Asian or African-American componenent.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Does the team that just defeated England represent all Australian's or is it an white Anglo-Saxon boys club? A quick look a the starting 11 all were born in Australia and going by the names are all A-S.
Why is Australia cultural diversity not represented in the national cricket team?

For a long time Australian cricket authorities didn't try very hard to create support outside the 'Anglo-Celtic' majority. Possibly because it was 'the summer sport' and the only competition was two weeks of tennis (those days are certainly over). While Australian rules football and others put in considered efforts to appeal to anyone and everyone cricket rested on its laurels. (Fragmented state governship probably unintentionally assisted this.) I don't think the effects of this were realised until the '90s when the AFL and rugbys became more popular than ever. They've tried to widen their appeal since but it's taking a while to fully fledge. I stress it wasn't racism, they just didn't bother much to widen the appeal.

Also cricket was and is an expensive sport to properly play.

As a result of these factors most Australia team players are quite 'white' and went to private schools. That's not a stab against the players.

Why people are jumping down your throat I don't know. This stuff is hardly secret.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Problems with getting "non-traditional" background kids playing include parent knowledge, time the game takes, focus on school work, focus on paid work

We had a lad at our local team in the late 70s who was Italian. In his first season of cricket he scored 700 runs and took 50 wickets in the Under 16s and possessed great natural ability. His ability to drive a ball on the up through mid wicket was a joy to watch.

The next season, at 16, he had progressed to our 1st XI team. Cricket wise, he appeared to headed for at least Sheffield Shield standard. At the same time he was playing soccer and progressed through to his local 1st Division team.

It became harder to keep him playing cricket, even though he loved playing the game. I went to see him one day to find out where he saw his cricket future. He told me he loved playing cricket, but his parents understood soccer, not cricket, and wanted him to play that game instead.

So the game lost a natural talent, and I wonder how many other players of ethnic or Asian backgrounds have been lost to the game in similar circumstances.