London and West Midlands are top UK hotspots for cricket fans, study finds
London (61%), the West Midlands (44%), and the North West (41%) are the top UK regions – where most people are likely to be fans of cricket, research has found.
Those in the capital claim to be the biggest fans, with 37% of Londoners saying they have a good, or very good, understanding of the sport. This is perhaps unsurprising, as London is home to the UK's largest cricket ground, at Lord's. However, a quarter of those in the North-West (26%) also claim to be sufficiently brushed up on their bat and ball knowledge.
And when it comes to the age groups that most avidly follow cricket, over half (51%) of 18-24-year-olds are fans – more than any other age group. This was followed by 43% of self-confessed cricket lovers in the 25-34-year-old age group. The research of 2,000 adults was commissioned by Compare The Market, and found that on average, four in ten Brits claim to be fans of cricket.
Social media video gamers Captain Puffy, SMajor, and Solidarity Gaming have been commentating key games at cricket tournament, The Hundred (PinPep)Mark Vile, from the price comparison website, which is sponsoring cricket tournament The Hundred, said: “There's so much to love about the game of cricket. Across the country, there’s huge support for the game, which goes from strength to strength. From close and thrilling games to strategic gameplay and tactics, there’s something for everyone to love.”
The research also found that the top ways fans keep up to date with matches and events include on TV (66%), sports websites and apps (55%), and social media (32%). It also emerged that among the 33% of respondents who have children, aged between seven and 18-years-old, just 36% reckon they have a better understanding than their child. And 47% felt that if online gamers played or talked about the game, their children would become more interested in the sport.
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It comes as Compare the Market and The Hundred have teamed up with three social media video gamers across the course of the tournament, to commentate on some key games. Among the stars are Captain Puffy, SMajor, and Solidarity Gaming, who have more than three million followers between them across their social media platforms.
Captain Puffy said: “I didn’t know much about cricket before I got into The Hundred, but I’m getting to grips with it pretty quickly and turning into quite the fan. It’s such a fast-paced game, and it’s been amazing to be a part of and educate my community along the way.”
Mark Vile, from Compare the Market, added: “It has been great opening up The Hundred to a new and younger audience in this way with the help of our gamers, allowing for a new generation of fans to soak up the electrifying atmosphere the game has to offer. We look forward to engaging more fans throughout the tournament, and experiencing some world-class cricket along the way.”
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