20 ways in which Cricket eclipses Football: The Cricket v Football debate is not a new one. From opinions to judgements, from sitting on the fence to strong views there is everything. People are crazy about cricket because of the adventure, excitement and amusement it brings with it. But doesn’t football give you those luxuries too? Many feel football is a far more superior game than cricket due to its sheer mass appeal and overall reach but is that really true or just imaginative fantasies. Football might beat cricket when it comes to the size of the ball, but in other areas Cricket is the hands down winner. Today we present you 20 ways in which Cricket eclipses Football: If you are a football fan, read it to get a bite of reality. If you are a cricket fan, read it to be proud on cricket. 1. Cricket allows you an option (Photo Source: Cricket South Africa Twitter Handle) Unlike Football cricket provides you the liberty to watch your preferred form. There are different formats to suit any fan. T20 for quick matches, or one day internationals for something more intense. Or the Test matches over 5 days. Pick one and enjoy. Each format appeal to a different mindset, and no one is forced to watch something they don’t want to. Also Read – Top 10 Cricketers with their Football Equivalents 2. No Show off (source) Footballers pretend to get hurt all the time to get rival players carded, coming across as great potential actors. While a footballer will call for a stretcher at the slightest scratch, a cricketer is ready to fight it out even after undergoing serious injuries. 3. Cricket is more action packed (Photo Source: Getty Images) In football, for 90 minutes you wait and wait for a goal which may or may not happen. But in cricket there is some action-a six, four, bowled, run out on virtually every ball. Thus, providing more reasons to cheer. 4. Cricket is more market friendly (Source) Football provides just one time slot (i.e half time) for advertisers, while in cricket there are at least 40 time slots (in T20 format). Thus, making it more commercially viable. 5. Technologically far Ahead (source) In football, for majority of the time you are shown just one camera angle. But in cricket, broadcasting is a challenge. You need cameras in every corner of the ground, you require technologies like hawk-eye, speedometer, snicko-meter, zoomer, hotspot. Thus making cricket more technologically advanced. 6. Popularity Conundrum (Photo Source: Twitter) Talking about popularity, here are some stats- Total population of 32 nations participating in football: 1541 millions. Population of just 3 cricket crazy nations (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) : 1572 millions. Clearly, cricket is popular among more people. 7. Enjoyment Quotient (© Getty Images) Players and fans seem to enjoy Cricket more – there is less nastiness and more joy in the stands and on the field than there is in football. Cricket recognises its place in the world and in people’s lives; football is way too serious and sometimes utterly joyless. 8. Why should we play in the rain? (source) Unlike football matches, which carry on in some dreadful weather, cricket shows that sense should prevail. Cricketers and officials acknowledge that a wet ground invites chances of injuries. (common sense which Football lacks) 9. Cricket allows for the build ups (source) From an audience point of view there are a lot of exciting moments in cricket (when the ball goes to boundary, six, catch, wicket, run out, etc). It is more like a countdown. While Football pretty much carries on in one flow. 10. The greatest rivalry in sport: (© Hamish Blair/Getty Images) Brazil vs. Argentina, Germany vs. England, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, to name a few, are some of the best rivalries in sport. But, when it comes to the mother of all rivalries, nothing holds a candle to a Pakistan vs. India Cricket match. 11. Test of Fortitude: (© Gallo Images/Getty Images) Football can indeed have great moments of attrition, but how exciting is it to watch Jacques Kallis bat out the final day of a test match, to secure a draw on a crumbling pitch or watching Michael Atherton bravely take balls on the chin, chest, and elbow, as he tried to play out time against Aland Donald. Thus Cricket holds a distinct edge on this front. 12. Interwoven Elements (source) Cricket it is infinitely more interesting and intricate, with its countless nuances and variations. Football is too simple a game to be truly and endlessly interesting. 13. Multiple dimensions (© Getty Images) From wrist spin to finger spin, from traditional swing to reverse swing, cricket has so many finer points to appreciate. If watching football is like consuming a delicious burger at a fast-food joint, then enjoying cricket is like having a proper seven-course meal. 14. Class rather than just mass (© Getty Images) Compared to football, cricket has a cleaner public image / reputation. It is a classy game; football is however, essentially ‘common’. 15. A place for everyone (© Getty Images) Footballers complain that size and strength are becoming too great a factor, in determining your success in the sport. In cricket, men as tall as Joel Garner, or as short as Sachin Tendulkar have found their places as legends of the game. 16. Cricketers are less complaining (Source) Undoubtedly, the most annoying thing about football has to be players constantly rolling around on the floor holding their faces, or legs or arms. Cricketers can take some proper hits and you can bet they left their acting CVs at the door. 17. A lesson for Football (source) Cricket’s post-match ritual doesn’t include exchange of stinking, sweaty jerseys. The first thing a footballer presumably does when he gets home is to burn it and bury the ashes in courtyard. 18. Footballers are harder to manage (source) Footballers tend to be much harder to manage than cricketers. Just think about Carlos Tevez, one of the highest paid footballers in the world, moaning constantly about homesickness? Cricketers on the other hand stay on away tour for over months without complaining. 19. A worthy point (Photo Source: AFP) Even the shortest version of cricket is twice as longer than any football match, thus providing entertainment for longer duration of time. 20. Football fans are too volatile (Source) Rioting, setting themselves on fire, destroying property, and murdering fans of rival teams, are just some of the ridiculous that football fans have gotten themselves involved in over the years. Cricket fans are enthusiastic but no way near as nutty as these freaks. Also Read – Cricketers and their favourite Football Clubs