Cricket Colonialism

IT seems most important to me that the present scries of cricket test between England and New Zealand should not be ignored by progressive people. So it is most encouraging to me to note the study of cricket that is occurring among the staff of Salient.

Perhaps it is not apparent to readers why the current cricket series is so important. In simple terms, it is a matter of the struggle against neo-colonialist domination by the mother country. Since the granting of independence to New Zealand in 1907, Britain has employed a diversity of means to continue its colonial domination of New Zealand. Many of these we see and freely recognise, such as the shipping of our exports of primary products to the British market in British- owned ships. But the continuation of attempted imperialist domination of New Zealand on the sports field is less generally recognised.

To examine this idea in greater detail, I will illustrate from the two most recent tours of New Zealand sporting teams to Britain. The 1972—73 All Black tour of Britain (before it got to France) was, on its playing record, quite a success. However, there appeared to be a danger that the victims of colonial oppression might think they were capable of an independent existence. Therefore, to stifle any such radical murmurings of discontent from among the exploited masses, the British Press started a campaign to slate our boys as dirty players. That was why our Keith was sent home. After all, if the colonial peoples play their sport dirty, you can't say that they won.

And so now the importance of the current cricket series is becoming clear. Every time the New Zealanders approach a victory in a test match, monopoly capitalism cringes in fear. Thus we witness the event, in the First test, of the Englishman Greig bowling a short ball to Dayle Hadlee, causing him to collapse on to the stumps when hit by it, and thus sealing victory for England. Such are the filthy tricks that arc employed by imperialism.

That is why progressive forces in this country should be taking an acute interest in the cricket scries. Until the colonies can beat the mother country at its own game, how can they possibly throw off the last shackles of imperialist domination?