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.