Anything just isn't Cricket

It may have escaped your notice, but a major sporting series is happening right now over here in England. If you live over here, of course, the Ashes are a big deal; a battle that dates back to....

*googles for date*

1882, when the English team toured Australia and lost; causing someone to burn the bails of one of the wickets after the 1883 series, so legend has it. But since then, every two years, the two teams take it in turns to host the 5 or 6 game series.

England won the 2nd test today to lead the 5 game series 1-0. It may surprise you to know that cricket, test match cricket, a test match can last 5 days. Yes, that's 5 days. And you thought a 19 innings baseball game was long.

Generally, as well as being a sport, it's a game of manners, if a batsman knows he is out, he will walk not waiting for the umpire's raised finger. Or not.

It takes a special kind of country to invent a game that takes 5 days to finish, can't be played in rain or evenings. And then export it to various countries around the world, and now have test matches against what were once former colonies.

Of course, there is more to cricket than that; it's like a chess match on a grand scale, and can be compelling viewing. Or not. I love it, although life gets in the way and mostly can't get to see much of it on TV.

So, here is a potted guide to the game; pay attention, I'll be asking questions later..............

Take two teams of 11 players, toss a coin and the winner of that decides to be either in or out. Batting or fielding. The team that is out try to get the team that is in, out. Then the team that were in, but are now out, try to get the team that were out, but now in, out. Then the team that were out, then in are out try to get the team that were in, then out, now in, out again. And finally the team that were in then out then in try to get the team that were out then in then out now in, out.

I think that covers it. The team with the most runs, wins. Teams play in white flannel trousers and white shirts and possibly white woollen pullovers. Players can be out by being caught, bowled (the ball hots the wickets or LBW, which is way too complicated for this. Fielding players have silly names for the position where they stand, gully, slip, silly-mid-on, etc. Interested?