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CRICKET EXPLAINED
Latest column, presented in cutting-edge Portable Document Format, might be slightly tricky to locate; try here if the above link isn’t helpful.
Good show, Blair.
For me, the cricket coverage on the television has never been the same since the directors became too PC to show us some of the random good sorts in the crowd between deliveries during the slower periods of play. Surely there is some UN body we can complain to about this.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 11 02 at 06:16 PM • permalinkCricket is not explainable, nor is it meant to be. Understanding of this greatest of games is essentially genetic and cultural. Unless this basis is there, the best that can be achieved is a level of knowledge, which may be quite comprehensive.
But understanding….never.
And of course PC has taken over, with the demise of, interalia, the C-word
Howzat?
RodCIn my search for a UN body to complain to about the malicious withdrawal of eyecandy referred to at #3 I have come up with this.
Surely there is an enormous reservoir of untapped goodwill towards women that can be achieved during cricket broadcasts.
Chief contacts will be goodwill ambassadors Nicole Kidman and HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 11 02 at 06:43 PM • permalinkNow that’s really going to help our fellow anglospherics understand the game.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 11 02 at 07:26 PM • permalink#45 Sexist! SEXIST! There isn’t a UN development fund for men, and particularly, this one.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 11 02 at 07:28 PM • permalinkooops, fingers. I’m afraid, Margos maid, you will have to repat #5 comment at #45 - coming soon.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2007 11 02 at 07:29 PM • permalinkEgads, I noticed that the bottom of the PDF an invitation for people to visit timblair.net and join in with the comments.
Are we about to be beset by a brace of cricket nutters?
Posted by mr creosote on 2007 11 02 at 07:56 PM • permalinkYet another cut n’ paste column. Next you’ll be printing a comic book edition.
Thanks for the info on Roebuck. I had no idea he was a cricket writer. I thought he must have been the literary editor or something.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 11 02 at 09:18 PM • permalinkI thought it made perfect sense. Then the Skilaxen wore off.
Posted by JorgXMcKie on 2007 11 02 at 11:49 PM • permalink#4, right. Fine. Be it known that I have read every word P.G. Wodehouse ever wrote about cricket, understood none of it, yet enjoyed it immensely.
I once watched a large part of a match at the Singapore Cricket Club in the early ‘90’s and enjoyed it.
But if you tell me that it is not explainable, that does match my experience and I will not argue. However, what also is not explainable is why the rest of the Anglosphere makes this elaborate pretense at not understanding baseball. The Japanese freakin’ get it, as does a large chunk of Central America, but you guys? Oh nooooooo. And it’s wearing a bit thin. Not funny anymore.
Posted by Steve Skubinna on 2007 11 03 at 12:18 AM • permalink#17 Steve S ....I cannot speak for the rest of the Anglosphere, but for myself, as an old man, I enjoy baseball. But that is less important than respecting a game which, like cricket is a game of numbers, endless statistics, ancient records awaiting a breaker, but most importantly heroes and legends. Like cricket it is a team game but apart perhaps from boxing the ultimate individual contest….who is more alone than when walking out to bat??
There is of course more than one version of cricket.. For the purist, and old blokes like me the long game (4 or 5 days, 6 hours play per day) rules. The shortened one day version, usually 50 overs per side, is now the most played, and normally attracts huge crowds and TV viewers for international contests (A notable exception, this years World Cup, held in the Caribbean, which was a fiasco). A game can go for 7-8 hours A statistical weakness with this variant is that the side batting first has an advantage. On the whole, I prefer baseball to one day cricket, if I have the choice.
There has recently appeared a ghastly version called 20/20. I prefer not to discuss it.
Interesting the Anglosphere spread of the game. I think yourselves and Canada are the only former Brit possesions that hardly play it. Baseball is played by enthusiasts at club level here in Oz. It used to be a winter game, played by cricketers to keep the eye in. Attempts to get a commercial leage off the ground have failed.
Cheers
RodC#19 Rod:
The C-word is gradually being expunged and replaced with “Controversial action, but a great challenge to play against.”
This summer’s other great challenge will see Channel Nine trying desperately to avoid showing any super slo-mo high-res footage of said controversial actions.
Posted by Tony.T.Teacher on 2007 11 03 at 02:40 AM • permalink#22 Rod:
Two questions:
1) What’s your C-word?
2) Is “Hoare” a joke?Posted by Tony.T.Teacher on 2007 11 03 at 02:58 AM • permalink#25 RodC
The answer to number one is dead easy—A “Chinaman” is the mirror image of a “Googly”.
Posted by MentalFloss on 2007 11 03 at 05:20 AM • permalinkOh Lord here comes cricket again. Is it too late to ask for my donation back?
Posted by dean martin on 2007 11 03 at 09:15 AM • permalinkTim,
A bit disappointing that Mike Coward couldn’t make it to your definitions particularly with India touring this summer. All season will be bombarded with Coward’s lavish praise on Indian Cricket and the Indian players regardless of their on-field performance.
Mike will be creaming his strides over the:
“exquisite timing and technique of the little master Sachin”
“the flourishing blade of Laxman”
“in a world of fast food and short attentions spans of the youth, Rahul Dravid’s stonewall defence and perfect technique are a refreshing throwback to days thought long gone.”
You get the picture.
#19 RodC, you miss a few key points about baseball and cricket [both of which I played and loved].
The one thing they have in common is that they both try to ban the ‘spit-ball’, the ‘bean ball’ and the ‘scuffed ball’, though the third is sort of essential in cricket and nowadays it’s the umpire who gets sacked for bringing attention to it..As for 20/20, at last the cricket authorities have allowed a form of cricket that is hugely more entertaining than baseball, where the scoring is often as dull as any soccer match.
Baseball-lovers - imagine a three hour slugfest with about 10 homers for each side! Eat your hearts out and change your outdated view of cricket!
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Oh, great. You know, I almost had cricket figured out once, then I made the mistake of asking an Aussie to explain to me. Afterwards I knew less than I did before.
On the other hand, the beet and grilled onions on the burger were pretty good.