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Imagine a World Without Sports

Jimmy stares at the clock.

It’s 3 o’clock. Just 15 minutes to go. School is about to end. Yet another day in the third grade comes to a close.

The bell rings.

Jimmy and his friends scream from the bottom of their lungs. The sprint out the door. They catch the bus and go home.

Jimmy does his homework, completes his chores, watches cartoons, and goes to sleep.

One day goes by. Then another. And another.

The same cycle repeats.

20 years later, Jimmy becomes a successful banker.

Jimmy Anderson, Financial Analyst

****

Michael is one of the most popular students at his university.

He has an INSANE daily schedule.

He wakes up at 4 AM, studies for his midterms, eats breakfast, and goes to marching band practice swiftly at 6:30.

It’s 9 AM now, which means it is lecture time.

He focuses on his classes, finishes his homework during lunch, peruses world history brooks at the library, and takes a short break for some delightful coffee.

At 3 PM, he goes to his entrepreneurship club. To finish off his day, he decides to volunteer at the Food Bank.

He later catches the 9 PM train while he studies some more before he reaches home and crashes on his couch at 10:30 PM.

10 years later, Michael gets a coveted job at the United Nations headquarters.

Michael Jordan, US Policy Analyst, Diplomat in Training.

****

Roger is a doctor.

Serena is an engineer.

Rafael is a lawyer.

Novak is a successful businessman.

Roger spends his entire life in Switzerland. Serena spends her entire life in the United States.

Rafael spends his entire life in Spain, and you guessed it—Novak spends his entire life in Serbia.

Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal never cross paths in their entire lives.

****

We can have our endless debates—Who was the greatest of all-time? Michael Jordan? LeBron James? Or was it Kobe Bryant?

We can have our mindless fan wars. Kohli vs Rohit vs Dhoni.

We can have our arguing, fighting, and grappling. We can have our podcasts, pre-match analysis, post-match analysis, stories & tributes, the numbers game, and the statistical predictions.

But for once, just once, imagine if this all went away on a whim.

Imagine a world without sports.

Just imagine and think—can be just take a step back for once, reflect, and be grateful for what we do have?

What does sports means to you? How would life have been different without it? Comment Below.

If you like these types of articles, you may like:

© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 02/24/2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).

What If India Won 2017 ICC Cricket World Cup?

Today’s Scenario: Mithali Raj Lifts the 2017 Cricket World Cup

In our segment Just Imagine, we explore how a specific moment in cricket could have lasting ripple effects. Going back in time, we ask a simple question: What Would Happened if…? and reflect on its consequences.

What if Brathwaite’s Dream Was Not Diminished in Manchester in the 2019 Cricket World Cup? What if Freddie Flintoff Kept his Cool to Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 T20 World Cup?

Since the Women T20 Challenge is in full flow among the teams—Trailblazers, Velocity, and the Supernovas, we imagine what would have happened if India had not collapsed against England in the 2017 Cricket World Cup Final?

Match:

England vs India, July 23rd 2017, Final, Lord’s, London, ICC Women’s World Cup

Background:

The 2017 Cricket World Cup was a watershed moment in several ways for women’s cricket. It was widely broadcasted and viewed, the matches were highly competitive, several remarkable individual performances were on show, and to cap it off—an intense final.

The hosts were favorite to win the trophy, while India captured the imagination of the world during the tournament.

In the group stages, India had won 5/7 games while brushing Australia aside in the semi-finals thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s magnificent 171*—maybe the best world cup innings by an Indian in a semi-final, certainly in the last decade. On the other hand, England squeaked past the Proteas with 2 balls to spare. Their only defeat in the tournament coming at the hand of India via Smriti Mandana’s elegant 90.

The final was a classic low-scoring thriller. Ebbs and flows throughout.

England scored 228/7. In response, Mandana and Raj fell cheaply before Punam Raut and Kaur stabilized and registered 50s.

India now in control….Or at least, we thought.

Embed from Getty Images

The Moment:

Chasing 229, India are sitting comfortably at 191-3.

38 needed off 44 balls. Punam Raut 86* (114), Veda Krishnamurthy 28* (28). Then, next ball, there is an appeal for LBW…

What Actually Happened:

42. 5 Shrubsole to Raut OUT:

Punam has asked for a review but the umpire says sorry, you took too long. Do England have wink of an opportunity? This was the wrong shot. Length ball sliding in from wide of the crease, Punam plays all around the delivery. Looked to work it square when he could’ve played in down the ground. Hit on the knee roll. That would’ve gone on to hit the stumps. Has she done enough though?

[Source: Cricinfo commentary]

What followed was an absolute collapse. Anya Shrubsole’s 6 wicket haul grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.

India fell agonizingly 9 runs short with 8 balls still remaining.

Highlights: England trumps India in tense World Cup Final

Just Imagine:

If Punam Raut had straight batted the shot, or if the DRS review was called in time, and the decision (magically) overturned, what would have happened?

The Consequence:

Punam Raut hits an unbeaten century in the final. Veda seals the deal with an exquisite six.

Jhulam Goswami, the star with 3 wickets on the final, and captain Mithali Raj retire as World Cup winners. The 2017 squad return as legends. Their stories now etched in stone along with the 1983 and 2011.

The BCCI want to capitalize as usual.

They have a template—2007 T20 World Cup and the 2008 IPL. Upon the Indian men’s victory, the experiment of IPL turned into an unprecedented success, changing the global cricket game forever.

They have an opportunity again.

The Women’s IPL launches in 2018. All the world cup heroes are in their prime. Raj captains the Chennai Super Kings, Harmanpreet the marquee player for Kings XI Punjab, and Mandhana starring for the Mumbai Indians. With foreign players such as Heather Knight, Nat Sciver, and the world’s greatest Ellyse Perry, the WIPL is a financial and global success.

This T20 experience gained helps Indian women win the 2020 T20 World Cup defeating Australia in their background in front of a 86,174 crowd at the MCG.

Reflection – Inaction Trumps Imagination

Well, things did not turn out that way, did it?

Winning and losing is part and parcel of the game. Yes, one moment can change histories, but sometimes if action is taken in the right time, it could pay dividends as well.

India’s performance had already delighted audiences around the world and Goswami-Mithali-Harmanpreet-Mandana were household names.

Why then, has the WIPL not been put into action?

It did not need to be an 8 team tournament. A 5-6 team tournament would be wonderful as well. In 3 years, teams would have stabilized, rivalries and fanbase would have fostered, and ultimately, women’s cricket would have benefitted.

Instead, we are watching the 3rd T20 Women’s challenge as an afterthought of a 56 match exhausting Men’s IPL, just taking a break before the Playoffs. Meanwhile, most of the foreign players like Heather Knight, Alyssa Healy, and Ellyse Perry are employing their trade at the WBBL, and we are just waiting for the Hundred for a competitive world T20 women’s league.

With the likes of Shefali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s future is still bright, but by the time WIPL commences, India women’s stars would have already retired.

Photo of Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues times a cover drive to perfection

Inspired By Conversations with Vandit and ESPNCricinfo’s Alternative Universe Series.

Sources: ICC, Cricinfo
Image Courtesy: Eng-Ind Final: BMN Network (Flickr) via CC 2.0, Jemimah Rodrigues: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

What if Brathwaite’s Dream Was NOT Diminished?

Today’s Scenario: Brathwaite’s Dream

Carlos Brathwaite Keeps West Indies’ Dream Alive.

Background:

At the 2019 Cricket World Cup (CWC) held in England, all 10 teams played against each other. In the 29th match at Manchester, New Zealand faced the mighty West Indies. Until that point of the tournament, West Indies had won 1, lost 3, and 1 no-result. New Zealand, on the other hand, were unbeaten with 4 wins and 1 no-result. With each team having 4 games in hand, the tournament was still wide open.

The Moment:

Chasing 291, West Indies collapsed to 164-7.

Comes in Carlos Brathwaite. Remember his name? Braithwaite and the tail launches a remarkable comeback. Twists and turns, wickets fall, spectators at the edge of their seats.

Brathwaite hits 3 consecutive sixes in the 48th over. Brathwaite scores his maiden ODI century. Brathwaite can do no wrong.

Brathwaite’s dream is alive. One wicket left, West Indies need 6 off 7 balls, Brathwaite on strike. Surely, it is their game now…

What Actually Happened:

The dynamic duo of Brathwaite and commentator, Ian Bishop, from that 2016 T20 World Cup final are back together. Jimmy Neesham runs it and bowls a short ball, Brathwaite heaves, and Trent Boult is near the boundary. (Yes, the same Trent Boult who would later do this in the Final). All you can see is the ball in the blue sky.

Ball comes down. Gravity happens. Boult catches it. West indies 286-10. New Zealand win with an over to spare.

Ian Bishop exclaims, “New Zealand win! The dream is diminished for Carlos Brathwaite here in Manchester!”

This is the turning point of the tournament. New Zealand go to the top the table. They qualify for the semi finals due to net run-rate despite losing 3 against Pakistan, England, and Australia. West Indies lose momentum and would eventually crash out at 9th place.

Carlos Brathwaite: The Dream Is Diminished

Just Imagine:

If Carlos Brathwaite had managed to hit the ball a yard further, or if Boult had lost his balance, what would have happened?

48.6 – Neesham to Brathwait, SIX!

Has he done it? Yes! Boult tips the ball over the boundary at long on for six. West Indies wins.

The Consequence:

West Indies wins, joins the middle-muddle in the Points Table, and sprints to the semi-finals. New Zealand lose momentum and fail to qualify for the semi-finals.

It is England vs West Indies in the finals. Stokes batting vs Brathwaite bowling final over—a reversal of fortunes from 2016. Stokes attempts to take his revenge. 15 needed from 6.

49.1 – Six, 49.2 – Six. He wants to finish with 3 sixes and complete the revenge.

49.3 – OUT! One shot too many. Still 3 needed from 3.

49.4 – 1, 49.5 – 0, 49.6 – Run OUT!

West Indies win by one run! West Indies have won by the barest of margins. By the barest of all margins.

Brathwaite’s dream is realized. Carlos Brathwaite is the Man of the Match. He is hailed as the best all-rounder of the century. Stokes is dropped from the England squad. Eoin Morgan plays out the rest of his career for Ireland.

Jofra Archer returns to the Barbados. He spearheads the West Indies attack.

West Indies returns to its glory days.

YouTube Link:

From Remember the Name to Diminished Dream

Inspired by Conversations with Vandit Trivedi and ESPNCricinfo’s Alternate Universe series.

Sources: ESPNCricinfo (scorecards), Youtube (videos)

Image Courtesy of David Molloy photography from Sydney, Australia / CC BY creative commons license, some rights reserved.

What If Flintoff Kept His Cool to Yuvraj Singh?

Today’s Scenario: Freddie Flintoff Keeps His Cool To Yuvraj Singh

Match:

England vs India, 19th September 2007, Durban, South Africa – Super 8s (2007 T20 World Cup)

Background:

After crashing out of the 2007 ODI World Cup, India had sent a young team to South Africa under MS Dhoni. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly had opted out with India experimenting with a younger team. New Zealand and South Africa were sitting comfortably in the Super 8 group, England were already out, and India needed to win to stay alive.

The Moment:

Andrew Flintoff exchanged a few words with Yuvraj Singh prior to the 18th over, when Yuvraj was still playing on 14 runs. India – 171/3.

What Actually Happened:

Enter the young lad, Stuart Broad. Next, we witnessed history. With the adrenaline rush, Yuvraj hits 6,6,6,6,6, and 6. Smashes it to all parts of the ground, with Ravi Shashtri’s iconic commentary in the background. Yuvraj scores the fastest T20 half century in 12 balls, and India end up with 218/4. England come close with 200/6. Yuvraj carries the form in the semi-finals a couple of matches later and destroys Australia with 70 (30). As an underdog team, India are crowned the world champions in the inaugural T20 World Cup.

Just Imagine:

If Andrew Flintoff had kept his cool and not said anything to Yuvraj Singh, what would have happened?

18.1 – Stuart Broad to Yuvraj Singh, hits it in the air and gets caught at long off.

The Consequence:

India scratch their way up to 185/5. England chase comfortably. India crashes out of the 2007 T20 World Cup. Australia win yet another world cup in the decade, this time the T20 World Cup.

The proposed Indian Premier League (IPL) is discarded. Stuart Broad becomes a star and goes on to take 500 wickets in limited overs cricket. Andrew Flintoff captains England to the the 2010 T20 World Cup win. This starts a new cricket revolution in England which attracts the best players from all over the world—The Hundred. Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni are dropped post-2007, never to make a comeback. Without a spinning all-rounder, a world-class finisher, or a Captain Cool in their side, India fails to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup at home.

Ominous, isn’t it?

Well, these are just my thoughts on the importance of that moment.

As mathematician Edward Lorenz implied in his remarkable work that is now known as the “Butterfly Effect,”— even a flap of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado in another part of the world. Every single action, no matter how big or small, may have an immense impact down the road.

But anyway, what do you think would have happened had this match turned out differently?

Send us some moments you would like us to imagine, and as always, please subscribe, write in comments below and share!

Check out our next article in the Just Imagine series regarding Carlos Brathwaite in the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

YouTube Link:

Inspired By Conversations with Vandit and ESPNCricinfo’s Alternative Universe Series.

Image Courtesy of Aavtar Singh, CC via creative commons license, some rights reserved.