Cricket is the most preferred game over other ball sports

Cricket is a sport that has an unmatched passion for so many. In some countries, cricket is considered a religion rather than a game. The matches can be played for hours and even last for days. Fans get glued to their television screens, while some watch on mobiles and others even travel to the stadium. All this results from the passion that fans have for the sport.

Notably, over the past decade, the sport has grown in terms of viewership and its fan-base. The victory in cricket games was once dominated by the likes of England, the West Indies, and Australia. Now countries such as India are also showing unmatched victory in cricket games recently winning a game against Australia in Jan 2020.

Real Research conducted a survey on cricket preferences. Nearly 60% of the respondents are cricket fans. Moreover, the majority of respondents expressed that IPL is their favorite league and T20 leagues are their preferred cricket format. Additionally, the survey results show that cricket is best played in India.

Highlights

• The majority of respondents, 57.5% noted that they are cricket fans. Adding on, the favorite cricket league for 56.31% of the respondents is the IPL cricket league.
• Most participants revealed that their preferred cricket format is T20 leagues. Interestingly, nearly 40% of the respondents prefer to watch cricket on the television.
• Also, India with 46.83% followed by Australia 15.98% are shown as the best countries where cricket is played. Furthermore, Virat Kohli is said to be the best player in the current era.
• According to the survey, more than 50% of the respondents watch female cricket. Enid Bakewell is the best female player ever for the majority of respondents.
• Lastly, 33% of participants agree that cricketers are overpaid. Nearly 46% of the participants expressed that they prefer cricket over other ball sports

57.5% of the Respondents Answered That They are Cricket Fans

The RR survey asked the question are you a cricket fan, 57.5% of the respondents replied yes. Cricket’s popularity has boomed over the past years. The sport now has a huge following in most countries across the globe. Additionally, cricket is now amongst the most-watched sports with people eagerly waiting for cricket leagues every year.

According to the results from the survey, the favorite cricket league for most respondents is the Indian Premier League (IPL). 56.31% said that the IPL is their favorite cricket league. The IPL is the brainchild of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is an annual professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league established in 2008 and is usually held between March and May.

The IPL is the most-attended cricket league in the world. It is loved by many because of its shorter duration as compared to the five-day test match cricket match.

Another cricket league loved by the respondents is the Big Bash League (BBL). BBL is an Australian professional franchise Twenty20 cricket league, which was established in 2011 by Cricket Australia. The league is an exciting and thrilling league for many.

Most Preferred Cricket Format is T20 Leagues

From the data acquired in the survey, T20 leagues is the most preferred cricket format by the respondents. 27.86% of the respondents acknowledged that they prefer the T20 format. T20s are a newly-introduced variant of the cricket style of game that has taken the cricketing world by storm.

The idea for this variation came from a desire to make cricket a faster-paced game – more exciting than the games that took several days to complete. T20 may be defined as a short cricket match limited to 20 overs of gameplay, lasting for about 80 minutes per innings.

The survey also confirms that the majority of participants prefer watching cricket matches on television. Nowadays you don’t have to attend a live match especially due to the pandemic that hit the world.  You can stream and/or bet on them from the comfort of your own home. Nearly 40% said they preferred watching cricket on the television.

Following after is 24,86% who said they prefer watching the sport at the stadium. There are people who feel the true essence and fun of cricket only when watching it live in a stadium. Without a doubt, technology has evolved with smart televisions being developed continuously.

However, television cannot provide the kind of excitement that one can get while watching a match live in the audience with thousands of audiences from all walks of life.

Cricket is Best Played in India

From the RR survey, cricket is best played in India. 46.83% of the respondents noted that India plays cricket the best. Cricket has been a central component of Indian culture for years. Also known as the Men in Blue, team India, is undoubtedly the most formidable cricket team in the world currently.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that the national squad is composed of some of the best players to ever play cricket. Furthermore, after India, comes Australia which was also revealed as the best country where cricket is played by 15.98% of the respondents. Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Australia.

As per the RR survey results, 9.91% of the respondents also noted cricket is best played in Pakistan.

Furthermore, the RR survey results show that Virat Kohli is said to be the best player in the current era. Enid Bakewell has been reported to be the finest English female all-rounder cricket player. Bakewell was inducted into the ICC’s Hall of Fame in 2012 and was awarded an MBE in 2019. Kohli is regarded as one of the best contemporary batsmen in the world.

More than 50% of the Respondents Watch Female Cricket

The Real Research survey revealed that more than 50% of the respondents watch female cricket. In detail, 51.47% said they do watch female cricket. The results reveal that female cricket is becoming more popular across the globe. Furthermore, many countries are forming and promoting female cricket teams.

Cricket fans across the globe can take great comfort in the knowledge that female cricket teams are also the pride of a nation. A number of women over the years have been outstanding players, but only in comparatively recent times have records been kept of their performances.

Of late the female cricket teams are doing well in both domestic and international matches. Hence, many people are showing interest in female cricket.  (28.18%) say Enid Bakewell is the best female cricket player ever. Across 12 Tests and 23 ODIs for her country between 1968 and 1982, Enid Bakewell made six international centuries and took 75 wickets with her left-arm spin.

Cricket Players Are Overpaid

Lastly, 33% of participants agree that cricketers are overpaid. Depending on the country and its funding in sporting activities, cricket has also become a well-paying sport. In today’s date, cricketers are the highest-paid players especially in countries such as India. Also, payments depend on the player’s performance.

The financial side ensures the sport reaches far and wide throughout the globe and everybody has the chance to watch the games on television.

Nearly 46% of the participants expressed that they prefer cricket over other ball sports. Cricket has become a religion for others more than it is a game. Hence, they prefer cricket compared to other ball sports.

In conclusion, cricket has become a popular and much-loved sport across the world. The game is engaging to watch and easy to play for so many.