I guess it has to do with the nature of the game. In cricket you, kind of, have a freedom to do things .
You pick up the bat and can hit the ball as far as you like, you can the bowl the ball with as much speed you want and you can dive to take spectacular catches. But in Hockey all you have to do is hit the ball in your destined goal, and prevent your opposition from doing it. I am not saying Cricket is more 'sporty' or 'cooler' than hockey, it's just the rules of the game. Besides a game becomes popular when more people play it, and cricket is just played everywhere ! On empty grounds, streets and even inside our houses.
