Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
It looks like thundery showers in Guyana today, a forecast that will dampen the spirits of English cricket fans everywhere. England, the defending World T20 champions, are due to play this year’s favourites, India, in Georgetown. The winners will play South Africa or Afghanistan for the championship. But a poorly organised tournament, staged mostly in the Caribbean’s rainy season (with a handful of games played in the US), will end in farce if today’s game is washed out. India will advance by virtue of a superior overall record in the tournament – and because its commercial power guaranteed it the time and venue that best suits its television audience back home. Usually for such important matches, reserve days are scheduled. But because of logistical difficulties, a spare day was only set aside for the first semi-final last night. If the forecasters are right, the England team may lose its title without facing a ball. As they used to say, it’s just not cricket.
