As an ardent fan of international cricket, I knew immediately what the headline meant.
Darrell Hair is an Australian member of the International Cricket Conference (ICC) "elite" umpiring panel that officiates in international cricket matches around the world. In a vote split along racial and ethnic lines; the member countries of the ICC voted to fire Hair from the umpiring panel for bringing the game into disrepute.
The black and brown members of the ICC - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies - voted to fire Hair; while the white countries - Australia, England and New Zealand - voted to retain him.
This vote reveals the power the Asian sub-continent now wields in international cricket. With over two billion fans, India and Pakistan now call the shots and this is resented by the traditional powers England and Australia.
Hence the reason I'm posting at this ungodly hour. Australia and the West Indies are about to play in the ICC Champions Final in India. The Darrell Hair vote provides an interesting subtext to the game being played on the field.
Jan: Thanks! I don't recognize sports names even from sports Americans like. Most of what I know about cricket is based on Bill Bryson's surreal account in "In a Sunburned Country." In any case, "Hair" is an odd name... certainly to me.
"Hair barred..." Makes me think: Was it done with a barrette?
Chuck: Apparently, you're the kind of drunk whose drinking causes him to perceive other people as drunk.
8 comments:
What, Ruth Anne?
No, I'm sorry. It's me. I had a few drinks tonight.
As an ardent fan of international cricket, I knew immediately what the headline meant.
Darrell Hair is an Australian member of the International Cricket Conference (ICC) "elite" umpiring panel that officiates in international cricket matches around the world. In a vote split along racial and ethnic lines; the member countries of the ICC voted to fire Hair from the umpiring panel for bringing the game into disrepute.
The black and brown members of the ICC - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies - voted to fire Hair; while the white countries - Australia, England and New Zealand - voted to retain him.
This vote reveals the power the Asian sub-continent now wields in international cricket. With over two billion fans, India and Pakistan now call the shots and this is resented by the traditional powers England and Australia.
Hence the reason I'm posting at this ungodly hour. Australia and the West Indies are about to play in the ICC Champions Final in India. The Darrell Hair vote provides an interesting subtext to the game being played on the field.
Jan: Thanks! I don't recognize sports names even from sports Americans like. Most of what I know about cricket is based on Bill Bryson's surreal account in "In a Sunburned Country." In any case, "Hair" is an odd name... certainly to me.
"Hair barred..." Makes me think: Was it done with a barrette?
Chuck: Apparently, you're the kind of drunk whose drinking causes him to perceive other people as drunk.
Ruth Anne: You make it sound like a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
Well it does help that I was born in the cricket-mad, English-speaking Caribbean so I still follow the sports we played as kids.
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