The NFL - America's Game?

American football always has been and always will be a hotly debated topic in the UK, with many followers of the game over here but a lot of fierce critics, who believe the sport is inferior to those like rugby.

What doesn’t help the sport is that it is one of the most complicated in the world. There seems to be a never-ending list of rules and regulations the players must comply by, there seem to be penalty flags thrown on every play. For a newcomer, this must make the sport very daunting, though I believe it makes it more exciting and complex.

The pinnacle of the sport is of course the Superbowl, which involves the top team from each ‘conference’ playing against each other for the title of worlds best. The event is massive, and this year had the highest viewing figure ever on US TV, with 111 million people tuning in to watch the game.

However, also interestingly, 3.5 million people are believed to have watched the game in the UK, despite it being at a very unsociable time. Wembley stadium has hosted four NFL games, all of which have been completely sold out. It is clear there is a reasonable deal of interest in the UK, and that the sport is rapidly growing in popularity.

Although a Wembley game in 2011 is under jeopardy, the interest is apparent, with many teams wanting to spread their popularity, and many people wanting to watch games in the UK. There are several months until the beginning of next season, and many people both here and in the US will be keen to come to some sort of an arrangement regarding a fixture in the UK.

Whatever happens, it is apparent that American Football is a sport on the rise in the UK, and however complicated it may seem at the beginning, it is a thrilling and incredible sport, one unrivalled across the globe.

Ben Carter

Cricket World Cup

Does the quantity of fixtures at the World Cup detract from the quality?

With the Cricket World Cup just around the corner, there are a number of key talking points, varying from the final tournament for cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, to the worries about security and terrorism.

Another key talking point is the set-up of the cup. Instead of four groups with the top  two teams from each group progressing to the ‘Super Eights’ stage (as was the case in 2007), there are now only two groups (of seven teams) and the top four from each group progress to the quarter finals. The maximum number of fixtures you can play is 9, compared to the 11 that Australia and Sri Lanka played in 2007.

It has been suggested that the new format benefits the major teams (India, Australia, England) as they can recover from early defeats in the group stage as there are seven games to play. Part of the reason for the shake-up of the format may be because the Indians fell foul in 2007, losing out on a place in the ‘Super Eights’ because of a loss to Bangladesh.

One of the concerns about the shake-up of the format is that some interest may be lost, as the first few games will not be as critical as those later in the tournament. However, the tournament can allow a wildcard to win the competition- if a team can finish in the top four of their group and produce some great performances in the next three matches then they can win the cup. This means teams like Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies- all capable of great games but horribly inconsistent- have an outside chance of winning the tournament. Personally, I feel this makes the tournament more exciting, and the way the tournament is set-up means form will be a big factor- don’t be surprised if a team like New Zealand go on a good run.

One thing that won’t be in doubt however, is the crowds. The subcontinent is going cricket crazy, with Indians willing Tendulkar to a well-deserved cup before he retires, whilst Sri-Lankans will be cheering on their king Muralitharan - also playing in his last World Cup. Unfortunately, Pakistan are no longer co-hosting the competition, as their cricketing profile has been on the decline for a long time, what with terrorist attacks, match-fixing claims and the recent bans given to three of their players including promising young bowler Amir.

However, one of the key issues is that of fatigue. The England squad played 5 ashes test matches, followed by 2 T20 internationals and a 7 game one-day series with Australia. The quick turn-around into the 6 week tournament means a lot of players will be tired in the tournament, and as a consequence, the standard and quality of cricket will decrease. The Australians have also taken part in this series, and have just had a season of county cricket.

This begs the question- how hard will the players push it, particularly at the start of the tournament? A lot will be tired and may have their minds on other things- getting back home to their families and getting a break before the English county season starts. I feel there are too many games and too many teams at the world cup. I believe that the top 8 ODI sides in the world should qualify for the tournament, and they should be in one ‘Super Eight’ Group. They play each other side once, and the top four teams qualify for the semi-finals and then the final. Whilst the maximum number of games is still the same (9), there are fewer teams and therefore fewer matches, meaning the stadiums will be packed and every game will be crucial. There will be no more ‘easy wins’ as there arguably are this year with teams like Ireland and Kenya involved in the World Cup.

In conclusion, I believe that the way that the Cricket World Cup is structured, planned and organized detracts from the quality of the cricket, and ultimately tires the players and fans. In my opinion a shorter, more intense competition would be more interesting and competitive, although I must admit, I will be watching the matches this year with hope and intrigue- and that’s what the World Cup is all about!

Ben Carter