The 2023 T20 Cricket World Cup was always going to be historic, with matches held in the United States for the very first time. The country has made strides in the world’s second-most popular sport, and while there’s clearly some way still to go, the progress is clearly apparent. But the fact that the ICC named the U.S. a co-host, despite the country not having a high profile in the sport, was a decision that involved many factors. One was certainly to grow the game; another was the awareness of the country’s ability to make a big deal of the event, as they did with the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
The relationship between the U.S. and cricket is an interesting one, to put it mildly. While many former British territories have taken advantage of the opportunity to beat the colonizers at a game they invented, the Americans – probably to expedite the process of deleting signs of colonialism – opted for inventing baseball and making that the national pastime. Even today, the average American may view cricket as an odd activity, with images of players wearing all white clothing, playing for five days, scoring one or two runs at a time, and sometimes settling for a draw.
While that is the most basic possible description of Test cricket, the addition of T20 has brought an excitement to the game that may finally lure Americans to the sport. Because the strategy of T20 encourages more fast-paced action, and the increased chances of a defined winner and loser in each match, that would entice more people to tune in for the first time.
Another factor that would increase American enthusiasm? The U.S. doing well in the tournament.
Longtime cricket followers may have to be forgiven for not expecting much of Team USA in the first group stage. But an opening-match win over Canada gave the co-hosts confidence for their next match with Pakistan, a traditionally respected cricket nation. Imagine a Power 5 college football team losing to an opponent from FCS; that’s the equivalent of how unexpected it was for the USA to compete with Pakistan, let alone win a match. And that confidence nearly worked against India, with the 2007 T20 champions only just emerging with a win.
But the United States did advance to the Super 8 stage, with at least three more games to come against England, South Africa, and fellow tournament co-host West Indies. The home crowd support is now gone, as all remaining matches will take place in Caribbean nations. However, the breakthrough moment for USA Cricket has taken place, and it is now up to future generations to make sure that success continues.
Matt Digby 