Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ric, I am by no means expert. I don't follow a lot of team sport frankly. Nevertheless you can hardly be an Aussie and not have some appreciation. Here is a simplistic description of the game. As you may appreciate there is quite a bit of tradition and jargon associated with the game. While there are shorter, more modern versions of the game, the traditional competition takes place over several days. Nations having teams include Australia, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Each side has 11 players. Within a test match each team normally bats twice and bowls (pitches) twice. Bowling is a formal over arm action which is quite odd compared to a baseball pitch, I suppose. The ball is typically bounced on the hard ground (pitch) in front of the batsman. It is intended to bounce up to either hit the three stumps (wickets)behind the batsman or cause him to hit (even just a tiny snick) the ball so that one of the bowler's team catches the ball on the full. The bowler may typically bowl the ball very quickly, perhaps approaching 90 mph or so or he may cause the ball to spin so that it bounces unexpectedly. A very good spin might angle dramatically after bouncing and confound the batsman. It is also possible to dismiss the batsman by hitting his legs (if they are in front of the stumps)when he doesn't play a shot with his bat. The batsman attempts to hit the ball out of reach of the fielding team. He runs to the other end of the pitch, swapping places with a second batsman at the other end. Each time they swap ends without the ball hitting their stumps is one run. Hitting the ball all the way to the boundary scores more runs (4). Hitting it over the fence without a bounce scores six runs. Once all of the batting team are out by being caught or their wickets hit, the other team bats. A very good score for a batsman might be 100 or more runs, but it is by no means certain and even the best batsman might be out for a low or 0 score. A side might for example score 150 runs say (a low score) or 500 or more. So whichever team has the most runs after the two innings (turns at bat) is the winner. The attractions for the fans include the competition between the bowlers and batsmen. The catching is often extremely fast and athletic. For example a catch might happen only a couple of metres from the bat at full speed (perhaps .5 second reaction time or after the ball has travelled all the way to the edge of the ground. The batting and bowling skills are very subtle and fascinating to the cognoscenti. An additional benefit is that there is considerable national pride in the competition and all of the teams have very skilled and popular members within their home countries. Currently it would be fair to say that Australia is the dominant country. The current series of five matches between Australia and England has just finished with Australia regaining the perpetual trophy, if you like, which was won by England on the last occasion. Australia defeating England in a sporting competition is a matter of much satisfaction locally, akin to say beating an American team in an international swimming competition. OK I hope that makes some sense. I have been careful to be polite to our English brethren in this simple description. At no time did I mention the 5-0 result of the five matches, oh sorry England LUG, that just slipped out. We LUG folk include folks from three fiercely keen cricketing countries, the third being India which also has a world class and formidable team. Cheers Hoppy -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Ric Carter Sent: Thursday, 11 January 2007 23:06 To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] Cricket images MCG atsa start tanks ric On Jan 11, 2007, at 12:49 AM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: > Hi Ric, > > Here is a bit of translation: > > bowler=pitcher > boundary=home run > wicket keeper=catcher > the three pieces of wood behind the batter=strike zone > tea=warm beer > > That's a start, I will leave it to our Aussie members to fill in > the rest. > > Nathan > > Ric Carter wrote: >> Hey, guys, can one of you recommend an online synopsis of the game >> for the unwashed? >> >> Listening to the Beeb, they seem to shift to some language other >> than English when they begin talking cricket. >> >> I don't need to become an expert, but a passing acquaintance would >> be nice. >> >> Ric >> >> >> On Dec 31, 2006, at 7:18 PM, Alastair Firkin wrote: >> >>> For those of English bent, a few images from my visit to the MCG. >>> It was a great send off for SKW, but a somewhat foreshortened >>> contest sadly. On to Sydney and cheers: >>> >>> http://www.tiny.cc/4HVpF >>> >>> Alastair >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > -- > Nathan Wajsman > Almere, The Netherlands > > Opportunistic Image Acquisition > > General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com and http:// > www.greatpix.eu > Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > Seville photography: http://www.fotosevilla.com > > Stock photography: http://www.alamy.com/search-results.asp?qt=wajsman > http://myloupe.com/home/found_photographer.php?photographer=507 > Prints for sale: http://www.photodeluge.com > > Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog > > > SUPPORT FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUY DANISH PRODUCTS! > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. 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