NPR: Cricket Cracks New York Public Schools

Cricket Cracks New York Public Schools

Filed under: Video

For those of us who grew up with the American pastime of baseball, cricket can be a confusing game. For immigrants from places like Guyana, the Caribbean islands, India and Pakistan, cricket is a way of life. "I was born in India, I've been playing for a long time," says Sohom Datta, a senior at Stuyvesant High School who helped start his school's cricket team.

But when families move to the United States, kids end up playing American sports like basketball and football in school.

"My favorite quote about that is that when Indian kids come to Britain, they're still cricket crazy. When they go to America, they forget about cricket," says Datta. "That stuck with me."

That is quickly changing. The New York Department of Education introduced cricket into the public school system and the response was tremendous. It's only the first season, but the varsity league is already in full swing. Teams signed up from Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx and Queens.

As in baseball, there are bats and balls, but no bases to be found. Instead, the batters run back and forth between "stumps." The pitchers are called "bowlers." They try to knock little wooden "bails" off the "wickets" -- three wooden sticks stuck in the ground.

Several kids in the league have never played before, but they say they're having blast learning an unconventional sport.

Elsa Butler

12:58 PM ET | 05- 7-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

This is great, as an indian immigrant i have always wihsed for a cricket team in my highschool. Could you send me some info about starting a cricket team in my higschool in staten island (who to contact, requirements etc). Also to the author of the article,I am about to write about cricket in my higschool newspaper. Do you mind if I use your article as a reference. I would also like to interview some of the team members in the video for the article.
Please contact me to let me know.

Sincerely,
Simit Christian

Sent by Simit Christian | 12:50 PM ET | 05-10-2008

It is great to see NEW YORK has taken the first step to bring cricket into the school system. Having done that, the future for cricket looks bright for this country.
A bunch of old men running around on Saturdays and Sundays will not futher cricket in this country.
Great move! Congratulation!!!!

Sent by IVOR W A HENRY | 12:23 PM ET | 05-11-2008

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