Cricket, like its famous mother England, is a game of finesse and style. Baseball on the other hand, is a game of power and strength, just like American grew up to represent.
In Cricket, the way the ball is 'bowled' (pitched) … the way the batter hits the ball, even the umpire's signals are done with an elegant style. Juxtapose that with the fastness and power shown by pitchers, the strength encouraged by batters and the loud, vocal clear decisions being made by the umps in Baseball. Finesse vs. strength. Style vs. power. England vs. America.
Only it's not a competition, simply deeply imbedded characteristics that reflect exactly the heritages of these two countries. Proof of the naturalness of these characteristics can be found in the approach of both countries to shared sport. Take horseracing for instance. In England, the big races are events that not only focus on the race, but also on style and class of the spectators, while in America, similar races are all about might and dominance.
In everything they do these two countries bring their individual characteristics to the roles. Politics, sports, entertainment. Finesse and strength factor into even how these countries market themselves. American in selling America, will focus on it's larger than life image promoted in it's BIG blockbuster movies and it's BIG stars and it's BIG cities and BIG entertainment, where as England, the country that has a queen and a jacked up royal family for god's sake ... sells it's history and its traditions of pomp and circumstance.
All this makes it easier to understand why Cricket hasn't caught on in America. There's no power behind it. No strength. There is dominance, yes, but not in the same way as the Yankees dominated Baseball with their fearsome, seemingly unbeatable team a few years ago. And at the other end of the spectrum it's also easy to understand why Baseball has not caught on in England either. Its focus on aggression, strength and power, isn't as appealing as sitting and watching a relaxing game of Cricket over tea.
Finesse vs. Strength. Style vs. Power. Perfect representations of the countries who exemplify them.
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