October 15, 2007
Rugby and the cricket test
I think I may be some sort of genius. Six weeks ago - at the beginning of the Rugby world cup - I put £10 on England to win the tournament at 33-1. Now England are through to next weekend’s final against South Africa. Just one more win and I will have the satisfaction of picking up £340 from Ladbrokes of King Street, Hammersmith. I never bet online, since I like to see the look of defeat in the bookmakers’ eyes when they hand over the money.
I would not claim genius simply on the basis of this one bet. But I’ve done this sort of thing before. Before the 2002 soccer World Cup I made a winning bet on Ronaldo of Brazil to be top scorer at 25-1. (He was long odds because he had been injured for two years). I did it again at the 2006 World Cup, where I bet on Miroslav Klose of Germany, who was mystifyingly well-priced at 28-1. On that occasion - to my infinite satisfaction - the bookie actually said "well done, sir", as gave me the cash. If England beat South Africa, I may finally get the courage to abandon journalism and become a professional gambler.
But my interest in the final will not simply be financial or sporting. The game also gives me a good chance to observe the "cricket test". British readers will be familiar with the test - invented by Norman Tebbit, a Tory politician. Tebbit argued that you could tell whether immigrants to Britain had assimilated successfully by who they support in the cricket. If they are pulling for England, all is well; if they are still supporting Pakistan or the West Indies or South Africa, the future of the country is bleak.
The "cricket test" is widely regarded as pretty mean-spirited. ("Very unEnglish" comments an English colleague of mine.) Still, on this particular occasion, I find it irresistible. My father, mother and step-father were all born in South Africa, but emigrated more than forty years ago. My neighbour at the FT, Mike Skapinker, is also a former South African. So I have adopted the role of Norman Tebbit and gone round asking them all who they will be supporting next weekend.
The rugby team has always been a tricky issue for liberal South Africans. During the days of apartheid, it was such a symbol of Afrikaner white supremacism that the politically-correct thing to do was to want the Springboks to lose. Now it is a multi-racial side - and the team’s star, Brian Habana, is black; although the muscle is still provided by the likes of Os du Randt. Ever since Nelson Mandela appeared in a Springboks’ jersey, the team has been transformed into a symbol of the new South Africa.
So who will my selection of ex-South Africans and lapsed liberals be supporting? Mike Skapinker waffled so long that I’m not quite sure - but I think he said was neutral. My mother hesitated a long time and said she would support England. My father wasn’t answering the phone last night, but I’m pretty sure he will be supporting England too. My step-father sounded faintly embarrassed and muttered, "I’ll be supporting the Springboks."
Fortunately, I have no loyalty problem. With £340 on the line, I’m definitely supporting England.
It is always good to bet on the side that you like to win anyway. It makes watching more enjoyable.
(I was doubly happy after Iran beat the US in the 1998 World Cup!!)
You being a second generation immigrant, I am not surprised that you support England. My friends’ kids always seem to support England although the parents uniformly fail the “Tebbit test” with equanimity and root for India / Pakistan / Turkey / Iran as the case may be.
I am still a bit ambivalent about supporting a S African team that fields 14 whites out of 15 but I certainly am glad that South Africans produce those deliciously plump Medjool dates. It allows me to enjoy eating the dates whilst keeping faith with my personal boycott of Israeli and American products.
One final thing. Isn’t it a welcome sign of the maturity of the British society that most people think Norman Tebbit is a bit of a joke and a dinosaur?
All the best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | October 15th, 2007 at 12:42 pm | Report this commentPacifist - we get it, you’re ferociously right on. 10 points. Extra points if you can tell me why I should care.
Posted by: Charles Surface | October 15th, 2007 at 1:09 pm | Report this commentHi Charles. I bet your 10 points won’t matrialise into £10
Best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | October 15th, 2007 at 1:16 pm | Report this commentYeah! Got me there, Pacifist.
Posted by: Charles Surface | October 15th, 2007 at 3:38 pm | Report this commentPacifist,
Your personal boycott of Israeli and American products? Then which system are you contributing with to this blog? It can neither be a Mac (preferable) nor Windows. What’s for sure, it isn’t an Intel powered laptop - those chips were developed in my home town Haifa.
Posted by: RCS | October 15th, 2007 at 8:11 pm | Report this commentWell, I had no idea the rugby WC was coming up. Now it makes sense; that’s why they were playing rugby games late night on ESPN. Sorry, rugby is not exactly a popular sport here in the States, but that doesn’t mean it’s not awesome.
But about this “cricket test.” What a load of garbage. This Norman guy sounds like a right-wing xenaphobe trying to score cheap political points with other British xenaphobes.
My parents immigrated to the states in 1978, I was born here (Texas) six years later. When my parent’s home country plays the U.S. in a soccer (futbol) match, we are unambiguously cheering for Iran, that’s right, Iran. Does that make the future of my country is “bleak?” Or does something like the Iraq war make the future of my country bleak?
In fact, the U.S. sucks so bad when it comes to soccer that I would cheer for England before I did the states (I always pick England on FIFA - the game). But that’s becaue of my immense affinity for Wayne Rooney, what a player!
Posted by: kian | October 15th, 2007 at 10:25 pm | Report this commentThere is a similar informal thing in the United States, if immigrants support an American football, baseball or basketball team that’s great, welcome to the club. If they support soccer teams, they still haven’t fully become culturally American. For instance, the Detroit Pistons have a big Arab American fanbase.
Nice story about the change in attitudes towards the South African rubgy team. The best thing about sports are how they can bring people together, put the superficial nonsense aside for a minute and just play well.
Posted by: mdy | October 16th, 2007 at 7:00 am | Report this commentHi RCS,
Politics is practising of the art of the possibe. Where possible, i.e., when there is an alternative or where the goods in question are not necessities, I avoid purchasing American and Israeli products. I know it is a very meagre contribution but I can only do what is reasonably possible.
Best,
P
Posted by: Pacifist | October 16th, 2007 at 12:11 pm | Report this commentYou could sell the position now and guarantee yourself a good profit.
Lock-in and celebrate, instead of seeing your hopes AND ten quid walk away.
Posted by: Ken Houghton | October 19th, 2007 at 7:41 pm | Report this comment