SPORTS
Newsday reporter
In 1963, the West Indies cricket team toured England. It coincided with the start of a first-class inter-county limited-overs cricket league.
The birth of the shorter form of the game created a renaissance in the sport. More interest developed as spectators had time to enjoy a game in just one day.
English county cricket was the only league to have a professional circuit. Before 1963, the only professional cricket played was three days long and two overs per team. He was called a first-class cricketer.
Therefore, when in 1963 the England Cricket Authority decided on a limited overs cricket competition, all concerned awaited the outcome with mixed feelings. There were those who felt it was not cricket and others who believed it could bring new excitement to the game.
County administrators came up with the idea because they couldn’t survive on the paltry money being collected at the gates as crowds were dwindling, so sponsors weren’t interested in a sport that wasn’t attracting spectators.
Immediately after World War II, between 1945 and 1955, there were tremendous crowds, but fans found other attractions to lure them, so county cricket was threatened financially.
The limited plan was accepted, sponsored by the Gillette Company, and consisted of 60 teams. It would be the first time that the professional cricketers of the county would take part in one-day one-day matches.
Sussex County Cricket Club won that initial competition. It proved very popular and everyone, friends and foes, realized the appeal it had and that it would be a money spinner.
Meanwhile, WI had beaten England three-one in the five-Test series, with one match, the second Test, at Lord’s Cricket Ground, playing out to a close draw. Colin Cowdrey had to enter the arena at the fall of the ninth wicket with a broken left arm in a sling, the result of a hit from one of Wes Hall’s lightning bolts earlier in the innings, which saw him retire injured. He was not called back to face Hall, who had two deliveries left. England needed six runs to win and WI one wicket. David Allen survived.
WI was exciting the English crowds, not to mention the many West Indian immigrants who had settled there. They were therefore invited to play the Gillette Cup winners at the end of the season, in an unscheduled 60-over game, and lost.
However, one-day cricket was here to stay. Five years later, there was another sponsor, the John Player cigarette company, who agreed to invest in a 40-over Sunday League. These games, being played on Sundays, drew large crowds. The countries were rejoicing in their newfound greatness.
After the 1963 WI tour, the England cricket authority found the WI team so attractive, skilled and popular with the crowds that they reorganized their entire future cricket programme, introducing a double tour every summer, apart from occasions when the Australians were scheduled to visit.
Prior to this, a Test venue would tour each summer and WI would not return until 1971. Because of how profitable WI was touring the circuits, it was felt that they should return much sooner. They did so for a full tour in 1966 and shared a tour with New Zealand in 1969.
Other rules were changed. The registration of overseas cricketers to play county cricket was drastically transformed. From 1968, there would be automatic registration of one overseas cricketer who could participate immediately, plus another who would be allowed residential eligibility for one year. There would be two overseas cricketers for each county.
Because of their stimulating style of play, most were players from the Caribbean.
In 1970/71, England toured Australia. The third Test match was abandoned due to continuous rain in the first three days. It was decided to play a 40-over match. Australia won by five wickets. The game was so well received by the public in Melbourne that the Australian authorities agreed to have a domestic league.
Between 1971 and 1974, limited-overs cricket grew in popularity and in light of that first unscheduled international between England and Australia, it was agreed to start a cricket World Cup competition in 1975, to be played every four years . WI won in 1975 and 1979.
T20s followed in 2003.
Within the next year, there will be two cricket WCs, a T20 in October, plus a 50 in February 2023.
WI are crawling. Shy.
