Wednesday, September 13, 2006

It doesn't get bigger than this...except the hype

Every new cricket series brings with it the next level in marketing of the game. I do not expect to be charged with overstatement for stating that this image provides a comprehensive picture of a world centred around promotion. Not even 24 hours have passed since the English Ashes squad was announced and we have this image splashed across the web. Do not recall seeing anything as dramatic as that during the build up of any recent big series. Not even the last Ashes that is barely a year behind us.
But then, no one expected the 2005 version to be much more than a formality. This illustration, then, is a tribute to the elevation of English cricket team in the domain of public awareness and it is commendable that they have raised such hopes of a repeat dogfight even in the face of losing so many of their 2005 heroes to injury.
There is another team though where half the team does not matter anyway because those players simply do not crave to be the one that made a difference (except maybe against India). They seem hell-bent on clinically removing every remaining reason for the team's numerous ardent supporters across the globe to keep on rooting for them. I must say that they do a pretty good job of it.


Update: Here's an expanded modification of this post.

3 comments:

Karthik Narayan said...

hmmm too many blogs spoil my reading pleasure... also makes me feel that i havent covered em all... anyway just kidding... will read each one

Blue and Brown said...

When did the last Ashes aftermath end and the next Ashes build-up start?

angshu said...

I'd say when Vaughan got injured and when Flintoff drew the series in india, respectively;)