Howzat for 2008
By
Julia Newbould
Mon 21 Jan 2008
It is as much a surprise to me, as it will be to those who know me, that cricket has once again gained prominence in my thoughts for the new year.
It is as much a surprise to me, as it will be to those who know me, that cricket has once again gained prominence in my thoughts for the new year.
Sport and politics have been closely tied for many years. From the late '60s, African countries and then others boycotted games that included South Africa and Rhodesia, and later Cold War opponents the USSR and USA snubbed each other's Olympic Games. Now, however, is different.
While the suspension of star Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh by the International Cricket Council raised some eyebrows, the subsequent threat to boycott the Australian tour is an example of India learning to flex its considerable muscle.
India has realised its strength and has begun to take advantage of the fact its cricketing wealth is 50 times that of any rival.
India has also started to realise its global position of strength.
Its pending economic strength has changed the nation, which only 60 years ago was just a colonial outpost of one of the world's economic powers.
Now India is rivalling China as the number one economic powerhouse of the future. In preparation, it is producing far greater numbers of graduates in engineering, science and mathematics than any of the so-called first world economies.
The tide is turning and the Indian cricket team is showing that to millions of Australians who perhaps take less notice of the financial pages.
And when the economic tide turning becomes obvious to the majority, it's a good time for those of us who can take advantage of the change to begin to do so.
It won't be the only big change for financial services this year. I'm sure there will be many changes from many directions.
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