Sporting Culture

Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.  Nelson Mandela (1918–2013)

Competitive, colourful and sometimes even controversial: There is something about an Australia versus India contest in cricket

There are connections and commonalities' between India and Australia There are connections and commonalities' between India and Australia. The British empire played an important role in their formation as nations. January 26 is significant for both India and Australia, as it is the day that India commemorates Republic Day and Australians celebrate Australia Day.  

Thousands gather at the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch Australia battle India on the cricket field. The World Cup. What do we need to understand in order to appreciate why sport brings people together. It is important to appreciate that cricket has for many years been the lifeblood of the Australia-India relationship. Historically, it has often been said that the Australia-India relationship is based on three things: cricket, Commonwealth and curry. While the recent successive visits by Australia’s Prime Minister to India and India’s Prime Minister to Australia serve to highlight that our national interests have converged in other areas, cricket still remains an enviable bond that Australia and India share.

It is therefore no surprise that the two greatest cricketers of all time hail from Australia and India. Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar, both shared a mutual respect for each other and an appreciation of the importance of cricket, on and off the field. Indeed, as a symbol of how Tendulkar has served the Australia-India relationship by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport of cricket, in 2012 he was conferred with Australia's highest honour, the Order of Australia by Julia Gillard, the then Prime Minister of Australia.  Indian cricket great, Rahul Dravid, said: "The people of both our countries are often told that cricket is the one thing that brings Indians and Australia together."

“Cricket is a universal language”. Sydney Herald Sun reporter Shaun Star stated “As an Australian living in India, I can appreciate Rahul Dravid’s sentiment. Often, out of curiosity, I will be asked by a stranger on the street or an auto-rickshaw driver "Which country?", to which I respond "Australia". Following this short exchange, the stranger will almost instinctively rattle off a few familiar names: "Ricky Ponting", "Michael Clarke" and "Adam Gilchrist". Despite my limited Hindi and their limited English, we inevitably manage to hold an engaging conversation on cricket”. “Cricket is a universal language”.

Given the importance of India's growing settlement in Australia (which now comprises half a million people), our governments regularly extol the virtues of people-to-people links as a means of improving the Australia India relationship. Sports, culture and the arts are important facets of this relationship. The widespread popularity of shows such as Master Chef Australia in India, the appreciation of Indian cuisine in Australia and, of course, our shared love for sport, especially cricket, are all catalysts for stronger people-to-people ties in the relationship. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT In the interest of promoting cricket as a mechanism for promoting the Australia-India relationship, Cricket Australia hosted 30 young leaders from Australia and India, immediately prior to the 26 January One Day International between Australia and India in Sydney, to kick off the Australia India Youth Dialogue 2015. As part of proceedings, the delegates heard from a panel of experts about the role of sport in diplomacy. The panel was comprised of cricketing great Doug Walters, Greg "Mo" Matthews, AIYD delegate and former vice-captain of the Australian Women's Cricket team Lisa Sthalekar and Gurinder Sandhu, the first male cricketer of Indian ancestry to represent Australia in an international tournament. The dialogue from these cricketing greats all agreed that cricket is a language that can and does bridge cultural barriers and the Australia-India relationship is all the healthier because of it.

Understandings and Relationships Built on Common Ground The Australia-India relationship is so much more than just cricket. We should reflect on the importance that cricket continues to play in building ties between our two great nations. It is an interesting note to make that healthy competition makes for strong bonds between the opponents. Therefore, the relationship between Australia and India will continue to be rewarded by the closely contested, competitive and colourful brand of cricket that our nations play.

To quote Dravid: “Whenever India and Australia meet, there is expectation and anticipation - … players on both sides will want to deliver their best". The World Cup is no exception. May the best team win.