Who says Washington University students live out their college lives like clueless and isolated children, detached from the pulse of the rest of the world?
All you have to do is look at the success of the WU club cricket team. Cricket, the second most popular sport in the world, finally found a home at WU in 2000. The club team offers the opportunity for students from various parts of the country and world to come together and compete.
Cricket as a sport was first popularized centuries ago in the days of British Imperialism. Today, test matches between nations can occupy the attention of billions of people worldwide.
In cricket-playing countries such as England, Australia, Pakistan or India, star players have celebrity status that Dan Marino can only dream of. At WU, the club team is working to build that sort of atmosphere. Since the time of its inception, the team’s membership has grown by leaps and bounds.
“When we first started during my freshman year, we would occasionally meet in JKL plaza,” says External President Karna Sarin. ” It was more of an introduction to cricket and only about 5 or 6 people would come. For practices that we have now, 20 to 25 people show up.”
The team plays several matches in the spring and has often competes against the Saint Louis University team.
“There isn’t really a formal rivalry,” says Sarin. “In the future, we hope to become a more well-rounded club so that we can challenge them and other neighboring schools.”
Don’t let his modesty fool you though. Rising star Ashwin Unnikrishnan firmly says, “We are the coolest team on campus.”
The cricket team has players from all different walks of life, some of whom have played since they were younger, but many of whom just recently became interested while at college.
“Cricket is a game that is a lot of fun and that many people are curious about. So anyone can come down and we can show them how to play,” says Sarin. “People are welcome to do that.”
The team’s strength lies in its bowling ability and its diversity.
“We have players from a variety of different backgrounds who each have something unique to contribute to the team,” said Sarin. “I look up to players like Rutvik, Ali Muzzafar, and Sajeeva for their bowling prowess.”
The team practices every other weekend in the swamp, weather permitting. Newcomers are welcome, and the team hopes to build a strong cricket community at WU.