IS CRICKET BEING OVERLOOKED ON CAMPUS?

Tebello Monokwa

@tebello_monokwa

 

Cricket coverage on campus remains a debated issue, with players, supporters, and officials sharing different perspectives on its visibility, popularity, and media attention compared to other sports.

 

A cricket player, Edumisa Athenkosi Dlulemnyango Ikageng, said, “Cricket takes time and usually goes on for the whole day, so it doesn’t have the hype and excitement like other sports.” He explained that the long duration of cricket matches often reduces the level of continuous excitement for casual viewers, making it harder for the sport to attract the same instant attention as shorter, high-paced games. 

 

Ikageng further suggested that this lack of constant action affects how broadcasters and students engage with the sport, as many prefer sports with quick results and highlights. This ultimately leads to cricket receiving less visibility, especially among students who may not have the time or patience to follow a full match from start to finish. His view highlights how the structure of the sport itself influences its popularity and media coverage.

 

According to Esinako Mcengwa, a cricket supporter, “On campus there isn’t enough hype about cricket, and no one knows about matches unless there are free tickets.” She explained that awareness of cricket matches is very low among students and that promoting the sport is often insufficient. She further noted that even significant achievements, such as the NWU men’s team reaching the finals and losing to Maties, are not widely known. 

 

Mcengwa’s perspective suggests that the issue is not only interest but also communication and marketing strategies on campus. She recommended stronger promotional efforts such as posters, online ticket sales, and more active social media engagement. She also emphasised that introducing cricket earlier in schools could help build long-term interest and familiarity, especially in public schools where exposure to the sport is limited. Overall, her viewpoint reflects how lack of exposure and promotion contributes heavily to cricket’s low visibility among students.

 

“It is definitely promoted well on national and domestic fronts, especially in the women’s game,” said Raeesa van der Westhuizen, assistant coach and manager of the North West Dragons women’s cricket team. She explained that at higher levels, cricket has strong visibility, with social media playing a major role in increasing access to live matches, highlights, and score updates. She added that fans can easily follow fixtures, tours, and post-match analysis through digital platforms, which has significantly improved engagement. 

 

Van der Westhuizen’s response shows a clear contrast between campus-level visibility and national-level promotion, where cricket is growing rapidly and gaining more recognition, particularly in women’s cricket. She also pointed out that modern technology has made the sport more accessible than ever, allowing audiences to stay connected regardless of location. This suggests that, while cricket may struggle locally, it is thriving in broader professional environments.

 

The overall picture suggests that cricket’s challenges are not only about the game itself, but also about communication, media strategy, and early exposure in schools. If these areas are improved, cricket could gain stronger recognition and compete more fairly with other popular sports in campus environments.

North-West University Dragons men’s cricket (Source: SuperSport).

 

Edited by Genevieve Croeser