As we are looking forward to the latest edition of the cricket World Cup, I can’t help but think of how much we take the television coverage of the event for granted. Fans are not too disappointed if they do not get to watch their sporting heroes perform live, as they are assured of the best possible alternative when they settle down in front of their TV sets.
I remember my first ever memory of watching coverage of a cricket match in grainy black and white splendour, projected on the screen of our school assembly hall with the accompanying gravelly sound track. This was much before televisions became commonplace in India, and before cricket became so universally adored in the country. Maybe there was a connection. We also got to watch a few minutes of coverage in the cinemas before the main feature when the news reel used to briefly touch upon the exploits on the latest cricket tour.
It wasn’t until more than a decade later that I remember following India’s extraordinary run to the finals of the 1983 World Cup (including “that” magical game at Tunbridge Wells) all on radio. We still didn’t own a TV at home. I couldn’t remember a greater moment of pride as I heard the shocked commentators try and explain how it came about that the great West Indian team had been beaten by Kapil’s Devils.
As cricket coverage and television ownership increased in the country, so did the popularity of the game. Ask anyone growing up during the mid-eighties in India about their memories of the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, and you would most certainly hear about Ravi Shastri winning an Audi as the player of the tournament. We all watched this tournament on colour televisions. What made this even more spectacular was the television coverage of the Australian broadcasters Channel 9. I guess the benchmark was set fairly high even then.
We had another dose of Australian TV coverage during the 1992 World Cup, but by then, great TV coverage was becoming the norm across all parts of the World.
We have come a very long way from then and the technology available to the broadcasters of the modern game makes it very easy for viewers to follow the action. I sometimes watch DVDs of cricket matches from the 80s and cannot help but think of how much has changed. Watching a game from the viewpoint of a camera behind the stumps is rather unique today, and then, only in replays. Displays of scores on screen were so basic then. Fancy graphics were non-existent.
As we settle down in front of our TVs for the next few weeks, let us all thank all those involved in bringing this amazing experience into our homes.