If one is to accept that cricket has undergone a period of transformation, change, or even evolution, it is first necessary to identify, and discuss, a suitable theoretical framework to describe and frame such change. Brookes (2002, 73) suggested that in order to understand changes to modern sport, one must consider the process of globalisation when evaluating such change. Similarly, Jarvie (2006, 87) recognised that in order to understand changes to sport, culture and society one must understand the process of globalisation. One key definition of globalisation that this study is based upon is:
Globalisation is the process by which interaction between humans, and the effect of that interaction, occurs across global distances with increasing regularity, intensity and speed (Jarvie 2006, 93).
10 The process of globalisation, stemming from the 16th century, is not a new phenomena, rather it has gathered considerable pace in recent years with the advent of ever improving modern technology — such as the internet and television (Andrews 2003).
The key characteristic underpinning the process of globalisation is the transcendence of national boundaries. Cricket, like many other sports, has been subject to the process of globalisation for several decades. Initially, cricket began spreading to other countries when British soldiers and settlers introduced it to the various colonies of the empire (Kaufman & Patterson 2005). Subsequently, today, most Commonwealth countries have a strong cricket culture, as is discussed in detail in the following section and highlighted in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Cricket Playing Nations ICC Membership Level (ICC.com 2014).
Figure 1 depicts cricket playing nations and their level of membership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body for cricket. Fully associated members have a strong, long-standing history of playing cricket. Full members have a strong interdependent relationship with one another as they have played international Test cricket against one another for many decades (ICC.com 2014).
In recent years, the accelerating process of globalisation has increased such interdependence amongst full members. Globalisation, for some, has forced cricket, not
11 just in England and Wales, to compete with sport from around the world, challenging its traditions and encouraging it to change to fit into the global, modern sport market (Gupta 2007). Such a position correlates with specific evidence to suggest that globalisation exists including; the world feeling smaller, challenges to traditional values, and culture becoming more homogenous. Key to understanding the process of globalisation is to recognise that it is not only highly uneven, in relation to influence, which varies over time, but rather more it is a process, which has no clear beginning or end (Jackson & Andrews 1999) . The process of globalisation is understood from three key perspectives, in relation to influence on cultural, political and economic spheres.
Political globalisation, understood as the increasing power and number of global sport organisations, or cricket organisations in this instance, which shape, govern or influence international sport (Jarvie 2006, 93). With regard to cricket in England and Wales, there is evidence to suggest that political conflict exists between local governing actors and global political forces. Global cricket competitions and tournaments, taking place at local locations, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Big Bash in Australia, and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) often take place throughout the year. This is problematic for some professional clubs and competitions that operate in England and Wales as players commit themselves to such global competitions, thus neglecting their responsibly for their club and tournaments operating in England and Wales (Rumford 2013, 15). This can create conflict between the two teams, the tournaments, and even the governing bodies of the two countries of interest.
Underpinning the movement of players across international borders is the process of economic globalisation, which refers to the increasing financial exchange or trading that occurs across national boundaries (Jarvie 2006, 93). The migration of players from England and Wales to earn money in such global competitions is further evidence to suggest that the process of globalisation is relevant to understanding the changes to cricket in England and Wales. Agencies even exist, such as Global Cricket, which seek
12 to match players from around the world with clubs in England and Wales, thus highlighting the process of global exchange is reciprocal and strongly associated with global flows of finance.
As players travel across international borders, they not only generate interest in cricket in different countries around the world, they also bring with them their own set of beliefs, values, tastes and preferences to and from such competitions. This has fostered a global cultural exchange, amongst not only the players, but also all the stakeholders involved in cricket — players, fans, media, and governing bodies. The growth and exchange of such cultural practice between such stakeholders is summarised as the process of cultural globalisation, where tastes, preferences and beliefs are shared between countries, transcending national borders (Jarvie 2006, 93).
Given the role that globalisation has played in shaping cricket, especially within recent years in England and Wales, this study seeks to explain the influence of pay-to-view television utilising the three key perspectives of globalisation — cultural, political and economic. The following section chronologically describes the key stages that have underpinned changes to cricket in England and Wales and furthermore explores why the relationship between pay-to-view television and cricket is relevant today.