Cricket: 1st W. Indies test at Lord's

[Pei]

Originally posted by niknak
Let me get this right, the other countries (oz, NZ, india, w. indies, pakistan, bangladesh, south africa, sri lanka etc etc)   who had no problem adopting cricket with all its "complicated" rules are stupid but the US who had to simplify it untill it resembles rounders, a game played by primary school girls (aged 5-11) are smart and manly.

I think i see.

 

On a slightly more serious note here is an introduction to cricket for americans
http://slate.msn.com/id/100692

The rules of Cricket aren't that complex, even some of my Yank friends have manage to grasp them! .
The problem for non-cricketters (or Poor Benighted Heathens as I like to refer to them) is the nuances and tactics of the game, which of course is part of it's beauty.

In theory the Yanks should have no problem even if the rules are complex - after all we are talking about a nation who took a simple game like rugby and turned it into a 98-player, 3 hour monster.

On an intersting note they are setting up a professional 20 over competiton in the States (http://www.procricket.com/index.asp). Though limited overs cricket (and 20 over cricket in particular) is an abomination it's a good start  for our notoriously low-attention span cousins.  It's probably the civilizing influences of all the those Pakistani and Indian immigrants over the last few decades.

[midnight Target]

And here I always thought the Queen's subjects spoke English.

[Shuckins]

Rugby??  Isn't that the game played by all those gap-toothed wonders?

[Pei]

Originally posted by Shuckins
Rugby??  Isn't that the game played by all those gap-toothed wonders?

Yup, it's very hard to hold down both a modeling career adn a rugby career at the same time.

[beet1e]

I think having grown up with Cricket makes a big difference to understanding it.

One thing I'm not clear on is the LBW rule.  I thought the ball had to pitch in line with the stumps for an LBW to be given. But Sarwan was given out LBW when the ball pitched outside the stumps, and the commentators seemed to agree with the umpire's decision. The other was Gayle's LBW dismissal - the commentators did not agree with that.

I take it this is a three match series: Anyone know the venues for the second and third matches?

[Redd]

Originally posted by beet1e
I think having grown up with Cricket makes a big difference to understanding it.

One thing I'm not clear on is the LBW rule.  I thought the ball had to pitch in line with the stumps for an LBW to be given. But Sarwan was given out LBW when the ball pitched outside the stumps, and the commentators seemed to agree with the umpire's decision. The other was Gayle's LBW dismissal - the commentators did not agree with that.

I take it this is a three match series: Anyone know the venues for the second and third matches?

Can't pitch outside leg stump beet , can pitch outside off, particularly , when the batsman doesn't offer a shot ( pad's up to the ball).

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Redd
Can't pitch outside leg stump beet , can pitch outside off, particularly , when the batsman doesn't offer a shot ( pad's up to the ball).

Ah, that would explain it!

[RTStuka]

After reading this thread I realize I know nothing about cricket, I didnt realize it was such a complicated game, just thought it was baseball with a different bat lol.

[beet1e]

Originally posted by RTStuka
After reading this thread I realize I know nothing about cricket, I didnt realize it was such a complicated game, just thought it was baseball with a different bat lol.

Don't feel bad. Many Americans think the same thing, and have no knowledge of sport as played in other countries.

[Shuckins]

Beetle,

Smile when you say that!  I may have no knowledge of cricket (Was never interested enough to investigate it, to tell ya the truth) but I betcha you've never played stump poker either.  Have ya?  Well HAVE YA!?

Snort!  Furriners!

[Curval]

Come and see the violence inherant in the system!

Help Help  I'm being sublimated.

You saw him sublimating me didn't you?

[Shuckins]

Curval,

How sophisticated can these Brits be if they've never heard of stump poker?

[-tronski-]

The windies game was on foxsports after the South Africa vs. All Blacks tri-nations test..but didn't really watch it

Richie Benaud's a legend, once sat next to him on a flight to melbourne and was so uttterly intimidated by him all I managed to say the entire flight was G'day...

The 12th man's impersonation of him is fantastic!!

 Tronsky

[beet1e]

Shuckins! Nothing to do with sophistication. Anyway, thanks for not doing a Dago on me by getting all bent out of shape, and telling me to fxck myself, which is what he did last time he thought I was bagging on his country. Cricket is played in most continents with strong teams fielded all around the world by such countries as England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and the West Indies.

Never heard of Stump Poker - in how many continents is it played?

Anyway, doh! Windies avoided the follow on. If I were England captain, I would want now to put on about another 450 runs which would hopefully put the match out of the Windies' reach, but would leave England enough time to bowl 'em out in their second innings. I'd hate to see this one end in a draw. Let's hope the weather holds for England, but I wouldn't mind seeing a shower of rain for when the Windies bat their 2nd innings - bring on the spinners!

[Shuckins]

Stump Poker;  A game sometimes played by adolescent males, who gather around a stump, ante up their bets, bare a sensitive portion of their anatomies and attempt to see who "arrives" first.
At it's best when played before an audience of adolescent females.

Was never a participant myself.