The World of Cricket

[SuperShyGuy]

This thread is dedicated to the sport of cricket. If you have anything to say about the game, this is now the place to do it!

The World Cup is in full swing right now. It seems to me like Australlia have to be the big favourites right now. Is there anyone who can beat them in this tournament, especially with both South Africa and the West Indies making such surprising and unfortunate exits?

Of course if the tournament organizers had left a few days in the schedule for the possibility of rain delays, maybe South Africa and The West Indies are still playing, and not lowly Zimbabwe, who only beat Namibia and Holland and have now advanced to the super six.

Not that an underdog can't be fun. Kenya shocked the hell out of everyone by beating Sri Lanka, and they gave India a decent fight too. Are they the next emerging team or just a flash in the pan?

C'mon, let's get all the cricket fans together and discuss onw of the world's great sports! I'm hoping that maybe I'll learn a lot too, as my own knowledge of the game is somewhat limited. Let's get started!

 

[Ladybird]

I'll get started...

Aussie Aussie Aussie... oi oi oi!!

I love cricket, moreso the one day games than Test cricket, which I know is the only cricket to 'traditional' followers.

I know you had intended discussing the games etc, but there's something that I really need to say.

Back in the 80's cricket was a game played by hero's. Who'll ever forget the phrase.... "bowled Lillee caught Marsh". Those days cricket players became legends on retirement. They played hard, but overall they played fair.

I loved the New Zealand team back then too... Sir Richard Hadley and his team. Who'll ever forget the gentle giant of Clive LLoyd from the West Indies? Remember that Sir Garfield Sobers loved Australia that much that he retired here.

And the english had some characters too. Derek Randall... what a hoot, and a good player as well. Chris Tavarre (sp?) must have been the slowest opening bat I've ever seen.

But each on of these men, and many more, bought colour and integrity to a game of old traditions. How I wish we could say that of the newer players.... for all countries, but Australia in particular.

Todays players have no interest in the tradition or the hallmarks of the game. They've adopted an approach of win at all costs... the cost being the game itself.

 

[tendril]

I'll get started...

Aussie Aussie Aussie... oi oi oi!!

I love cricket, moreso the one day games than Test cricket, which I know is the only cricket to 'traditional' followers.

I know you had intended discussing the games etc, but there's something that I really need to say.

Back in the 80's cricket was a game played by hero's. Who'll ever forget the phrase.... "bowled Lillee caught Marsh". Those days cricket players became legends on retirement. They played hard, but overall they played fair.

I loved the New Zealand team back then too... Sir Richard Hadley and his team. Who'll ever forget the gentle giant of Clive LLoyd from the West Indies? Remember that Sir Garfield Sobers loved Australia that much that he retired here.

And the english had some characters too. Derek Randall... what a hoot, and a good player as well. Chris Tavarre (sp?) must have been the slowest opening bat I've ever seen.

But each on of these men, and many more, bought colour and integrity to a game of old traditions. How I wish we could say that of the newer players.... for all countries, but Australia in particular.

Todays players have no interest in the tradition or the hallmarks of the game. They've adopted an approach of win at all costs... the cost being the game itself.

Oh Ladybird you gem...what can i say, you've just about said it all !!

Yes, the 80's were the golden days's of cricket. Im a Kiwi but one of Dennis Lillee's and Ian Botham's greatest fan's.

Oh how can we leave out Lance Cairns at the MCG?? THe stuff of legends alright!

SSGuy, thanks for this thread.....I am SUCH a cricket fan

When I have more time I'll add some more thoughts on my fave game !

 

[Ladybird]

Of course... Lance Cairns. He'd walk out to the pitch, and his bat would look like a matchstick in his hands.... he was so tall. And a nice man as well.

Tendril I'm in Perth, and I remember how proud we all were over here when there were seven West Aussies in the Australian Team. They were known as the 'magnificent seven'.

Let's see if I am remember them all...

Wood
Laird
Yardley
Lillee
Marsh
Hughes
Alderman

I did it! What a team.

 

[alwaysawake]

(Puts on my suit of armor before I mention this.)

When I was an ex-pat in Hong Kong for six years in the late 80's/early 90's...two sports I never did understand the rules to were cricket and Aussie rules football. I prided myself on being an athlete in college but those two sports still baffle me. AA

 

[tendril]

Well...just think how much you'll learn my hanging out here

You know a sport that baffles me? America football !!

 

[alwaysawake]

Well...just think how much you'll learn my hanging out here

You know a sport that baffles me? America football !!

LOL Oddly enough, THAT was the sport that I received the college scholarship to play! AA

 

[tendril]

Oops

 

[alwaysawake]

Oops

You ARE absolutely correct...I will learn the basics of the sport if I keep reading here. Thanks.

 

[tendril]

You ARE absolutely correct...I will learn the basics of the sport if I keep reading here. Thanks.

To know it is to to love it

 

[islander01]

I dont know much about cricket, but I just read a BBC article saying that Disney world in Orlando may host the world cup in 2007. Seems a little surreal.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

India has crushed Sri Lanka in the Super Six round of the world cup! It wasn't even close! India has now qualified for the semi-finals. It looks very much like India is the only real threat to the Australians now. This I have no problem with though, Ganguly is my favourite player! Then again, I've only seen a small handfull of international games so my judgement is far from absolute.

To those who have said they don't get the rules of cricket, allow me to try and explain. Not long ago I was in the same boat, so I think I can do a good job of explaining the basics of one day cricket simply. Don't even get me started on test cricket.

Okay the basics. The field is circular. Each team has 11 players. Generally the game is similar to baseball, so if you like that you could probably enjoy cricket.

The big difference is unlike baseball where one team bats at the top of an inning and the other team at the botttom, in cricket each team is given 50 "overs" to bat, and all of those overs are played at once. 6 balls makes one over, so 300 balls is one innings. A team bats until those 50 overs are done, or until 10 of their batsmen are out. This gives the team that fielded first a total to chase. Then the other team bats for its fifty overs.

Batsmen work as a partnership, two at a time. There are two wickets, with one batsmen standing at each. A wicket is just like a base in baseball. When the ball is hit, the batsmen run from one wicket to the other to score runs. A single would result in your partner being placed up to bat, while a double would mean you are still up to bat. Tripples are less common, but still far more regular than in baseball.

If the ball roles out of the boundry of the field without the fielers stopping it, it scores four runs. If the ball sails through the air past the boundry, like a homerun in baseball, it is worth six runs! These are not attempted often however, as you only need to be caught once to be out, and only 10 outs for an innings. Generally it is considered good strategy to keep the ball as low as possible when hitting it.

Generaly, 50 runs would be a very good score for a good batsmen, apropriatly this is called a half-century. 100 runs to a singular batsmen is called of course, a century, or a ton. Again generaly a team score of 250-290 runs is what the big boys of cricket are aiming for. Cracking 300 should give you a damn good shot at victory.

The ball is bounced into the batsmen, as opposed to the delivery in beseball, where bouncing the ball is a big no-no.

You are out if

1- you hit the ball in the air and it is caught
2- the bowler (pitcher) bowls through the wicket
3- a run out. Like a stolen base in baseball, sort of. If the fielding team manages to break your wicket while you are running between the wickets, you're outta there!
4- leg bowled wicket. Okay try and stay with me here, this one gets a little complicated to new followers of the game. When you're batting you generaly stand in front of the wicket, to make the bowlers job as difficult as possible. If the ball hits you in the leg pads, and the umpire decides that if you hadn't been standing there the ball would have shattered the wicket, he can call you out "LBW". The bowlers will often be seen shouting at the umpires, what they are usually doing is making an appeal for a LBW.

The major powers in cricket are Australiia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, England, The West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad ect. play as one team), Sri Lanka, and New Zealand.

The "B" teams, who compete on occasion but have yet to make that next level would be Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bangladesh, Holland, Namibia, and Canada.

There are many "C" teams that I won't even start listing.

Hmmm, well there's a lot of little details I left out I'm sure, but there's a very general overview of the game! Hope it helped you newbies!

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Something I was going to post earlier and forgot...during this World Cup Wasim Akram of Pakistan became the first bowler in history to take 500 career one day wickets. A remarkable accomplishment. Congratulations are definetly in order.

 

[tendril]

India has crushed Sri Lanka in the Super Six round of the world cup! It wasn't even close! India has now qualified for the semi-finals. It looks very much like India is the only real threat to the Australians now.

Yes didn't they do well !! Sachin Tendulkar did it again....that man is a machine. Broke the record for the number ofruns in a single tournament !

HOWEVER..Aussie cricket rocks...my money is still on them



Sady we (the Kiwis)play the mighty Aussies next *gulp*

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Yes, between Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly India has as good a 1-2-3 combination as you could ask for. But I agree, Australia's depth is amazing. They are the team to beat. I wish the Kiwis luck, you'll need it.

 

[alwaysawake]

Thanks for posting the basics...I knew some of them, but will help when I get to see another game. While in HK, almost every time I'd turn on ESPN Asia...cricket would be on. I will learn what to watch for yet. AA

 

[SuperShyGuy]

It took me a few games to figure stuff out too. As with most things, just keep watching and it should all explain itself eventually.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

oh, one other fairly important rule I forgot to mention. Each bowler is only permitted ten overs, so a team will have to use a minimum of five bowlers in a game should it go the distance.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Well, you knew there would be hell to pay in Pakistan for their failure to make the super six. It looks like Inzuman Ul-Haq might be the fall guy. He's resigned as vice-captain and at this stage of his career who knows? Maybe this is the end for him.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Here is the remaining schedule for the World Cup.

Tues 11 Australia v New Zealand
Wed 12 Zimbabwe v Kenya
Fri 14 India v New Zealand
Sat 15 Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka
Sat 15 Australia v Kenya
Tues 18 1st Super Six v 4th Super Six
Thurs 20 2nd Super Six v 3rd Super Six
Sun 23 Final v Final

The key match should be India vs. New Zealand. That one could have a real impact on who finishes where.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Well, Australlia showed what they were made of against New Zealand. It looked like the Kiwis might have them in trouble but the Aussies answered the bell big time. If they lose the World Cup, I'll be shocked.


C'mon, where are all the Brittons, Aussies, and Kiwis? Get in on this thread!

 

[SuperShyGuy]

bump

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Kenya is in!

Kenya has shocked the world by qualifying for the semi-finals of the world cup. Here is the scorecard from their win over Zimbabwe in a fairly low scoring encounter.



SCORECARD
Kenya vs Zimbabwe
Toss: Zim won the toss and elected to bat
Kenya win by seven wickets


Kenya - 1st Innings
Batting
Batsman How Out Runs
Kennedy Otieno lbw b Olonga 19
Ravindu Shah run out 14
Steve Tikolo c Streak b Blignaut 2
Thomas Odoyo not out 43
Maurice Odumbe not out 38
Extras 19
Total (26 overs) 135/3

Zimbabwe
Bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Heath Streak 6 0 24 0
Andy Blignaut 9 1 36 1
Henry Olonga 4 0 20 1
Douglas Hondo 3 1 14 0
Grant Flower 3 0 27 0
Douglas Marillier 1 0 9 0

FOW: 1-24 (Shah), 2-33 (Tikolo), 3-62 (Otieno).

Zimbabwe - 1st Innings
Batting
Batsman How Out Runs
Craig Wishart c Otieno b M Suji 5
Alistair Campbell lbw b M Suji 7
Andy Flower b Odoyo 63
Grant Flower c Otieno b M Suji 7
Tatenda Taibu c Otieno b C Obuya 3
Dion Ebrahim st Otieno b C Obuya 13
Andy Blignaut run out 4
Heath Streak c Shah b C Obuya 0
Douglas Marillier b Tikolo 21
Henry Olonga c Odumbe b Tikolo 3
Douglas Hondo not out 0
Extras 7
Total (44.1 overs) 133/10

Kenya
Bowling Overs Mdns Runs Wkts
Martin Suji 8 2 19 3
Thomas Odoyo 10 0 43 1
Peter Ongondo 5 2 16 0
Collins Obuya 10 0 32 3
Asif Karim 9 0 20 0
Steve Tikolo 2.1 0 2 2


FOW: 1-8 (Wishart), 2-26 (Campbell), 3-45 (G Flower), 4-66 (Taibu), 5-85 (Ebrahim), 6-95 (Blignaut), 7-97 (Streak), 8-114 (A Flower), 9-129 (Olonga), 10-133 (Marillier).


Umpires: Aleem Dar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan

Third Umpire: Billy Bowden

Match referee: Wasim Raja






I realize virtualy no one else but me is posting so I promise, if nobody else posts next, I will let this thread die.

 

[SuperShyGuy]

Alright I swear, this is the last bump. I really thought more Aussies especially would at least want to brag about how well they were doing. Plus I was hoping to learn about the history of the game.

 

[tendril]

Alright I swear, this is the last bump. I really thought more Aussies especially would at least want to brag about how well they were doing. Plus I was hoping to learn about the history of the game.

Well I'll help it along too.

Been away at the beach for a few days, but still watched it all on the TV.

AS I predicted the Aussies did the business and beat us (the Kiwis), but licensed gambling has India as the favourites.