An exploration of professionalism in cricket

Abstract

The term professionalism is in wide popular use, with an array of positive connotations. This thesis details some of the meanings of the term. In cricket it is the age of the professional expert, dispassionately displaying the correct techniques of the game. The financial rewards are high and obsessive norms of professional behaviour can occur. This is a reversal of the historical trends in cricket. The aristocratic heritage of cricket endeared it to noble amateur values, but the ruthless epoch of professionalism, in line with the changes in Western society, transformed the face of cricket. This change was slow in England, but quicker in New Zealand and was directly related to increased money and one-day cricket. From this historical analysis, a critical evaluation is presented. This discusses the market-centred commodification of cricket and how it is shaped by pervasive economic forces. This effects many areas of cricket - from imposing quality controls on the processes of the game, to blatant over commercialisation. A caricature of extreme aspects of professionalism is presented. This is the cold, unemotional expert, engrossed in the technical specifics of cricket and impervious to the wider purposes of the game. This is contrasted to an unprofessional caricature; the instinctive, happy-go-lucky player who is less constrained by the norms of professional endeavour. These developements in the theory of professionalism are further explored via interviews with some New Zealand international cricketers. From their opinions some common themes surfaced. They concurred with the positive perspective of professionalism and expanded it into a broader purpose. This tempered the excessive aspects of professionalism, while rejecting the cavalier attitudes of an unprofessional approach. Personal standards and, ultimately, performance were key issues in their conception of professionalism. Money was important but for many was subserviant to internal attitudes and standards. An important issue was raised as to whether professionalism is merely a personality trait, or triggered by social norms. Although possessing no easy answer, it is an interesting idea for further study. Because professionalism is in vogue, some crictical awareness of what the term entails is required; this thesis is a contribution to this.