Читать книгу We’re British, Innit: An Irreverent A to Z of All Things British - Iain Aitch - Страница 52

The cricket test, as opposed to test cricket, is derived from a question posed by former MP Norman Tebbit in a 1990 interview with the LA Times newspaper. He asked who second-generation immigrants would support in sporting competitions, stating his belief that many would ‘fail the cricket test’ by rooting for Pakistan, India or the West Indies over England. Tebbit saw this test as an indicator of how British immigrants and their descendants felt, despite the fact that most of Scotland would also root for any of those nations over the English team. Then there is the fact that those of Indian heritage will cheer for England when they play Pakistan, with those of Pakistani origin doing the same when England are up against India. Tebbit claimed vindication of his views when homegrown suicide bombers attacked the London transport system in July 2005, though it seems unlikely that a lengthy interrogation about their views on Freddie Flintoff would have stopped the terrorists from carrying out their mission.