Quote:
Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel
...sparrow, if you can explain cricket to me in 500 words or less and preferably in basic english, it would be a great help to me. i admit to a mild fascination for any game that opaque, my utter indifference towards organised sports notwithstanding.
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I've had a crack, it wouldn't stand up in a court of law - but here goes (495 words according to MS Word):
Cricket -
2 teams of 11 players.
1 team 'fields' while the other 'bats'.
A coin toss gives one team’s captain the right to choose whether to bat or field first.
The fielding team's captain arranges his side around the field of play.
The batting team send in two men to bat, they stand 22 yards apart in front of 'wickets' - three wooden sticks (stumps) topped with two wooden pieces (bails), their area is called the 'batsman's crease'.
One of the fielding team - the ‘wicket keeper’ will - generally be behind the batsman’s wicket, since this is a productive fielding position for catches and run outs (see below).
One of the fielding team 'bowls' at one of the batsmen, by throwing the cricket ball from one wicket towards the other. It must get within hittable distance of the batsman. The bowler must not step over the crease before releasing the ball. The delivery must be from a straight arm. If an unfair ball is bowled, the batting team are awarded an extra run, and the bowler has to try again.
The batsman attempts to hit the ball away from the wickets, and score ‘runs’ by running from one wicket to the other - one ‘run’ for each length completed. His partner likewise runs so they are always at opposite ends. Both batsmen must make it to the far crease to score one run, which is credited to the one who hit the ball.
If the ball travels to the field boundary it scores 4, if it flies over the boundary it scores 6.
After an 'over' - 6 fair balls bowled - the fielding side bowl from the other wicket.
Batsmen can be ‘out’ if a fair ball breaks the wicket (bowled), if they are caught by a fielder, if the ball would have broken the wicket but was impeded by the batsman's leg (out - leg before wicket), or if they are out of their crease when the wicket is broken (run out). (There are a few more obscure ways to be out.) The batsman leaves the field of play and is replaced by a team-mate.
A team is out when ten of their batsmen have been dismissed; their 'innings' is over.
A team can also 'declare' if they think they have scored enough runs, and want to leave enough time to dismiss the other team. They forfeit their remaining batsmen.
(In short forms of the game, an innings will not exceed a certain number of overs.)
The team that scores the most runs wins.
A draw results if time runs out before the final innings has been completed, or if the runs scored are equal.
A ‘test’ match is played by two countries over 5 days – the longest form of the game. Each team is allowed two innings – side 1, side 2, side 1, side 2.