Anyone who has attended an international cricket match in recent times will be familiar with the singing of the Neil Diamond song Sweet Caroline by many in the crowd. This year it was also taken up by England football fans at the European Cup. It is certainly better than some of the alternative songs. Some like David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd complained but the song isnt the property of any particular group of fans.
According to a report in the always reliable Daily Telegraph, the new and much criticised cricket contest, The Hundred, which starts next week has cancelled the song. The Hundred is as much about DJs and live music as it is about cricket, and the DJs wont be playing Sweet Caroline.
Apparently the cricket authorities think the song is associated with raucous and indeed not sober fans and this is not the family image The Hundred wants.
So the song is cancelled. Cue an intervention by Culture and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden and heated ‘discussions’ on GB News.
There is of course nothing that can really be done if fans just sing it anyway
Thanks to @hackneyhaz for the picture
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