Know your Australian sports: Cricket

At first I was going to write a big long post about the rules of cricket. Then I realized it was a very big, way too long post on cricket that you wouldn't read. So, instead, if you want to know the rules: I suggest Wikipedia. That page works very well, as the Aussies thought I was a bit more knowlegable then they expected.

Instead, I'll focus on my expereinces watching the few cricket matches I have.

I've found cricket to actually be kind of interesting because unlike most sports you don't really know whose winning until the end. Take for example last night's match between Ireland and England.

Englad bats first, and half way through their inning they have a score of 113. They end up with a score of 266. Not a bad score, but would it be enough to hold up for the win? (What other sport could you at one point have 135 points and the commentator say, "The English are in trouble."?) Ireland made it close, but suffered their 10th and final wicket just 48 runs shy of matching the English score.

On the other hand, when Australia put up a 322 against the West Indies, it was pretty much known they would take that one, especially when the West Indies could only manage a few runs per over in the early goings of their inning. (If you're confused...I suggest reading the rules that I linked to!)

So, this element of the unknown makes cricket somewhat enjoyable. Also making it enjoyable: wickets.

Wickets are outs, and they're rare. 10 wickets will end an inning, but often a batting team makes it through the 50 overs (in one day cricket) without this happening.

So, what you get is the opposite of baseball. In baseball, its a big ordeal when somebody scores. The fans go nuts, the players congratulate each other, and it gets shown again and again. In cricket, when a wicket is made: its time to celebrate. An out breaks up the monotiny of scoring, and its enjoyable to watch.

Not that the scoring is always boring. Given that there is no foul territory, batters can be quite clever with where they place the ball to score runs. Mostly its singles and doubles, but every now and then a batsmen will get a boundary to score four runs (crossing the boundary on a hop) or even a six (clearing the boundry on the fly).

My other favorite thing: you bat until you're out. Can you imagine how awesome it would be if Ichiro could keep batting for the Mariners and not need Richie Sexson to get him home? Awesome!

Plus, the unpires will call time so people can have drinks and stuff. In five day matches, they take breaks for things like lunch.

On the down side, even though people are scoring, cricket takes a long time. One day matches last six hours. (to contrast, an MLB game lasts a little over 3 hours).

Overall though, I enjoy cricket. It can be fun to watch and its easy to pick up on.

Interested in cricket? Here's some starting points:

World Cup website

Australian cricket team

USA Cricket team

Major League Cricket...it exists apperently.