Cricket is a national obsession in Australia and India, countries that are important to China's future. So it makes sense for mainlanders to want to take up the game: authorities are planning to ensure that by 2019 the country qualifies for one of cricket's holy grails - the World Cup. So why does China want to play this most English of sporting pursuits? No doubt it would love to take on its strategic arch-rival India on the sporting field, and cricket provides that opportunity. And the Chinese must look with envy on the billions of dollars in revenues that New Delhi receives each year from media organisations for the rights to broadcast and market the game. In short, cricket could provide China with substantial business and 'soft diplomacy' opportunities in Asia. Fortunately, it seems world cricket authorities need China. The Asian Cricket Council's Sharia Khan said last year that cricket could not be a global game unless it took off in China. 'China playing cricket adds immeasurably to the profile of the game,' he said. 'It stands to boost the commercial revenues of the game in the future when it hosts tournaments. 'We really think that China could be the answer to any question cricket might face in the years ahead that it's a marginal or shrinking sport.' Australia, the undisputed world champion of the game, is keen to help with development on the mainland. Australian cricket's governing body and promoter, Cricket Australia, sent a high-powered delegation to Shanghai and Beijing last year with the specific and ambitious purpose of helping to 'fast-track China as a competitive cricket nation'. The delegation conducted workshops, coaching sessions and training for 30 aspiring mainland coaches. Cricket Australia is also working with the newly formed Chinese Cricket Association to help it meet its aim of having 30,000 players by the end of this year - and 150,000 by 2020. It would seem that while it's early days, cricketers are already impressing luminaries such as the game's global chief, Australian-born Malcolm Speed. Mr Speed, chief executive of the International Cricket Council, visited China in September. He sees the mainland as an unparalleled growth opportunity for the game and has pledged financial, technical and marketing support for its development. Surprising though it may sound, if China takes to cricket, it might find it a useful diplomatic tool in dealing with countries like Australia. Australian Prime Minister John Howard, like many of his predecessors, is a cricket fan, and cites the common bond that Australia and India share in cricket to further his nation's diplomatic and economic interests. In the mid-1980s, Pakistan's then president, Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq, a cricket lover, surprised everyone by attending a game in India - which helped to ease the tension between the two countries. Today, Pakistan and India regularly use the symbolism of cricket matches to help break the ice in discussions over the vexed issue of Kashmir. It might not be exaggerating to suggest that something similar could happen should Australian-Chinese relations hit a sticky wicket in the future. If the leaders of the two countries can share an afternoon watching their countries' finest play cricket, they may find it a useful forum for resolving serious diplomatic differences. Greg Barns is a political commentator in Australia and a former Australian government adviser