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A Game of Glorious Uncertainties
Bad-Beat
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
There is a wondrous game that we should all play and love. It's the game for classy gents and respectable ladies and it's history can be traced back to 16th-century England. Although some speculate that it dates back even further! However, it's often the subject of ridicule by those that do not understand the rules.
So allow me the chance to try and change all that, as I introduce you to:
CRICKET!
The Gentleman's Game!
So allow me the chance to try and change all that, as I introduce you to:
CRICKET!
The Gentleman's Game!
THE BASICS
Played between two teams made up of 11 players.
Each team has a period in which they field/bowl and a period in which they bat.
These periods in the game are called "innings".
When a team is fielding all 11 players are on the field.
When a team is batting only 2 players are on the field at a time. When one of these players are out, they are replaced by another member of the team.
The fielding/bowling team's objective is to get all of the batting team out and having them score as few 'runs' as possible.
Runs are essentially points.
On the fielding side is a bowler whose main objective is to bowl the ball overarm at the batters, hoping to get them out. (how they get them out will be covered shortly)
The batting team's objective is to score as many runs as possible because the team with the highest number of runs at the end of the match is the winner.
PITCH, EQUIPMENT AND FIELDING
Each team has a period in which they field/bowl and a period in which they bat.
These periods in the game are called "innings".
When a team is fielding all 11 players are on the field.
When a team is batting only 2 players are on the field at a time. When one of these players are out, they are replaced by another member of the team.
The fielding/bowling team's objective is to get all of the batting team out and having them score as few 'runs' as possible.
Runs are essentially points.
On the fielding side is a bowler whose main objective is to bowl the ball overarm at the batters, hoping to get them out. (how they get them out will be covered shortly)
The batting team's objective is to score as many runs as possible because the team with the highest number of runs at the end of the match is the winner.
Cricket is played on an oval field, in the centre of which is a cricket pitch:
The majority of the action takes place on the pitch. Two batters stand at opposite ends of the pitch. The batsmen stand behind a 'crease' and in front of a set of stumps. A bowler then runs towards one end of the pitch and throws an overarm delivery at one of batsman. The pitch is 22 yards in length from wicket to wicket.
You'll find the wicket behind the batter.
At each end of a cricket pitch there are a set of stumps. On top of these stumps sit two bails. This is the 'wicket'. The bails are used to indicate when a wicket has been 'broken'. The bowler's primary aim is to hit the stumps and cause the bails to fall off. If this happens, the batter is out. The man behind the batsman wearing the gloves is called the wicketkeeper and is the second most important role on the fielding team after the bowler. He is there to catch the ball when the batsman misses the ball and it also fails to hit the stumps. He is also there as the main catcher for when the batsman slightly edges the ball, which counts as a hit, but the ball continues on behind him.
THE BALL
here's what a standard cricket ball looks like:
Made with cork and leather. Along the middle there is a very pronounced seam that is used to stitch the ball together. This has a big impact on how the ball is used by the bowlers which we will examine later.
Meet the batter:
He certainly wears a lot of clobber but the most important part of his equipment is his bat. He needs that to score runs!
In order to score runs the batting side need to hit the ball as far away from them as possible. In any direction on the oval field. Points are called runs in cricket because they are scored by the batters running to the opposite ends of the pitch as many times as possible before the ball can be brought back to the pitch by the fielders.
Around every cricket field is a boundary, usually a length of rope that circles the field. If the ball is hit along the ground and past the boundary or it bounces before the boundary but continues past it, the batting team are automatically awarded 4 runs and there is no need to run 4 lengths of the pitch. If the ball manages to cross the boundary without hitting the ground beforehand, then 6 runs are automatically scored.
GETTING THE BATTERS OUT
He certainly wears a lot of clobber but the most important part of his equipment is his bat. He needs that to score runs!
In order to score runs the batting side need to hit the ball as far away from them as possible. In any direction on the oval field. Points are called runs in cricket because they are scored by the batters running to the opposite ends of the pitch as many times as possible before the ball can be brought back to the pitch by the fielders.
Around every cricket field is a boundary, usually a length of rope that circles the field. If the ball is hit along the ground and past the boundary or it bounces before the boundary but continues past it, the batting team are automatically awarded 4 runs and there is no need to run 4 lengths of the pitch. If the ball manages to cross the boundary without hitting the ground beforehand, then 6 runs are automatically scored.
The fielding team want to get the batting side out. An innings is only over when the fielding/bowling side have taken 10 wickets (got 10 batsmen out) or, if the batting side have had a player injured during the match, enough wickets so that there is only one batsman left. The batting side must have two batsmen left in to be able to continue batting.
We already know that if the bowler manages to bowl a ball and hit the wicket the batsman is out but there are other ways in which the fielding team can get a batsman out:
BEING CAUGHT! It's fundamentally the same as baseball. The batter hits the ball into the air and if a fielder can catch the ball before it bounces the batter is out!
LEG BEFORE WICKET! A funny sounding one but a fairly simple concept. A batter can only defend his wicket with bat. It wouldn't exactly be fair if a batter could just stand in front of their stumps all day long. So if a ball is deemed to be on course to hit the stumps only for the batter's body to get in the way first, an umpire can give the batter out! If the ball hits the bat first and then the batter's body it doesn't count. There are also some more finer, more complicated details to this but this is only an introduction!
Other dismissal methods:
RUN OUT while running between the wickets, if one of the batters fail to make it back to their crease and a field throws the ball and it hits the stumps. STUMPED if a batter steps out of his crease and misses the ball the wicketkeeper, while holding the ball, can break the stumps and the batter is out. if the BATTER HITS HIS OWN WICKET he's out. OBSTRUCTION If a batter is deemed to have obstructed a member of the fielding team he can also be given out. TIME WASTING can also result in the batsman being given out as well asHANDLING THE BALL and HITTING THE BALL TWICE
BUT! And it's a big but. (heh) None of these will get a batter out UNLESS a member of the fielding team 'appeals' to the umpire, asking if the batter is out or not. If you ever watch a game of cricket and you see, usually the
bowler, shouting: "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT" or something like it, toward a man in a brimmed hat, that is an appeal. See here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drko5hiNEq0
Cricket also has an appeal system called the Decision Referral System (DRS) if a batter or the fielding team feel like the umpires has got a decision wrong they can choose to refer the decision to the third umpire who then has to examine video footage and make a decision based on what he sees. (The two umpires on the field can not look at video evidence themselves to make a decision during a match).
BOWLING
We already know that if the bowler manages to bowl a ball and hit the wicket the batsman is out but there are other ways in which the fielding team can get a batsman out:
BEING CAUGHT! It's fundamentally the same as baseball. The batter hits the ball into the air and if a fielder can catch the ball before it bounces the batter is out!
LEG BEFORE WICKET! A funny sounding one but a fairly simple concept. A batter can only defend his wicket with bat. It wouldn't exactly be fair if a batter could just stand in front of their stumps all day long. So if a ball is deemed to be on course to hit the stumps only for the batter's body to get in the way first, an umpire can give the batter out! If the ball hits the bat first and then the batter's body it doesn't count. There are also some more finer, more complicated details to this but this is only an introduction!
Other dismissal methods:
RUN OUT while running between the wickets, if one of the batters fail to make it back to their crease and a field throws the ball and it hits the stumps. STUMPED if a batter steps out of his crease and misses the ball the wicketkeeper, while holding the ball, can break the stumps and the batter is out. if the BATTER HITS HIS OWN WICKET he's out. OBSTRUCTION If a batter is deemed to have obstructed a member of the fielding team he can also be given out. TIME WASTING can also result in the batsman being given out as well asHANDLING THE BALL and HITTING THE BALL TWICE
BUT! And it's a big but. (heh) None of these will get a batter out UNLESS a member of the fielding team 'appeals' to the umpire, asking if the batter is out or not. If you ever watch a game of cricket and you see, usually the
bowler, shouting: "HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT" or something like it, toward a man in a brimmed hat, that is an appeal. See here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drko5hiNEq0Cricket also has an appeal system called the Decision Referral System (DRS) if a batter or the fielding team feel like the umpires has got a decision wrong they can choose to refer the decision to the third umpire who then has to examine video footage and make a decision based on what he sees. (The two umpires on the field can not look at video evidence themselves to make a decision during a match).
Meet the bowler:
It isn't just a case of throwing a ball at the stumps and hoping for the best. You need strategy when it comes to a bowling attack. One of the reasons test cricket is considered the toughest form of the game is the way in which various conditions change during the course of the match. The changing conditions of the ball, pitch and even the weather all have an effect on a bowling attack and so various styles of bowling need to be used in order to make the most of the conditions.
Here are the most widely used Bowling attacks:
-Swing Bowlers: a variation of fast bowling. By pointing the seam of the ball either slighty left or slightly right, the bowler can make the ball swing or curve while in flight. Swing is generated by disrupting the air flow over the ball. This is increased by trying to keep one half of the ball as shiny as possible and the other as rough as possible, although it is illegal to try and intentionally "rough" up the ball. Weather conditions also help cause a ball to swing, humid weather conditions are considered ideal for swing bowling.
-Seam Bowling: Because the seam of a cricket ball is so pronounced, it can cause the ball to deviate slightly when it bounces on the ground. Seam bowlers try and exploit this as it can leave a batsman unsure as to how badly the ball will deviate. Changing pitch conditions can also come into play here. If the ball bounces off an uneven part of the pitch, it can cause a massive deviation.
Spin Bowling: Spin bowling is completely different to pace bowling as spin bowlers are not looking to generate as much speed as possible but rather getting the ball to spin in the air so that on impact with the ground it changes direction leaving the batsman confused. Most spin bowlers will hold the ball with the seam in a more horizontal position. There are many variations of spin bowling but I won't go into as much detail with them.
FORMS OF THE GAME
It isn't just a case of throwing a ball at the stumps and hoping for the best. You need strategy when it comes to a bowling attack. One of the reasons test cricket is considered the toughest form of the game is the way in which various conditions change during the course of the match. The changing conditions of the ball, pitch and even the weather all have an effect on a bowling attack and so various styles of bowling need to be used in order to make the most of the conditions.
Here are the most widely used Bowling attacks:
-Swing Bowlers: a variation of fast bowling. By pointing the seam of the ball either slighty left or slightly right, the bowler can make the ball swing or curve while in flight. Swing is generated by disrupting the air flow over the ball. This is increased by trying to keep one half of the ball as shiny as possible and the other as rough as possible, although it is illegal to try and intentionally "rough" up the ball. Weather conditions also help cause a ball to swing, humid weather conditions are considered ideal for swing bowling.
-Seam Bowling: Because the seam of a cricket ball is so pronounced, it can cause the ball to deviate slightly when it bounces on the ground. Seam bowlers try and exploit this as it can leave a batsman unsure as to how badly the ball will deviate. Changing pitch conditions can also come into play here. If the ball bounces off an uneven part of the pitch, it can cause a massive deviation.
Spin Bowling: Spin bowling is completely different to pace bowling as spin bowlers are not looking to generate as much speed as possible but rather getting the ball to spin in the air so that on impact with the ground it changes direction leaving the batsman confused. Most spin bowlers will hold the ball with the seam in a more horizontal position. There are many variations of spin bowling but I won't go into as much detail with them.
One Day (limited overs): A shorter version of the game. As the name suggests it takes place over the course of a single day. Consisting of only two innings with a limit on how many overs are bowled. At international level, a One Day game has a limit of 50 overs per innings.
Twenty20: Also a limited overs game and follows the same format as One Day matches. The main difference is that the limit is 20 overs per innings and makes for a much more fast paced game and a much shorter match.
-Test teams
There are currently 10 teams that are allowed to play cricket at the test level and are full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a result. (it's obviously a coincidence that these countries are nearly all former British colonies...)
After the countries allowed to play test cricket, there are associate nations. The associate nations, of which there are 36, compete in the World Cricket League, in order to qualify for full International One Day and Twenty20 status. The World Cricket League is a recently introduced format aimed at trying to improve the level of cricket in countries that play the sport but are not at test level. Only 6 sides can be given this status at one time.
The six nations currently granted permission to compete in ODI and T20I level are:
COMPETITIONS
There are currently 10 teams that are allowed to play cricket at the test level and are full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a result. (it's obviously a coincidence that these countries are nearly all former British colonies...)
-
Australia
Bangladesh
England (represents both England and Wales)
India
New Zealand
Pakistan
South Africa
Sri Lanka
West Indies (made up of 20 different caribbean countries and territories)
Zimbabwe
After the countries allowed to play test cricket, there are associate nations. The associate nations, of which there are 36, compete in the World Cricket League, in order to qualify for full International One Day and Twenty20 status. The World Cricket League is a recently introduced format aimed at trying to improve the level of cricket in countries that play the sport but are not at test level. Only 6 sides can be given this status at one time.
The six nations currently granted permission to compete in ODI and T20I level are:
-
Afghanistan
Canada
Ireland
Kenya
Netherlands
Scotland
Cricket World Cup
The cricket world cup is a One Day International (ODI) event held every four years. Currently 16 teams qualify for the world cup. Although the 10 test nations qualify automatically. Australia have dominated the World Cups over the last decade. Winning in 1999, 2003 and 2007. 2011 finally saw Australia lose and India were eventually crowned World Champions on home soil. The next World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
ICC World Twenty20
A recent addition to the cricketing calendar. Played every two years. It's the little brother to the Cricket World Cup. T20 is a much faster paced version of cricket and the focus is on quick, big hitting shots. Almost the opposite of Test cricket. England are the current international champions. The first international competition England have ever won.
ICC Test Championship
This is an international competition that is constantly operating between the 10 international teams that play test cricket. Simply put, it is a ranking system based on results of test matches and it is used to determine how good each country is at cricket. The no. 1 ranked test side in the world are England, though they have only recently reached this position for the first time since the ranking system was introduced. Unlike other sports ranking systems, when a country becomes no.1 in the world it is recognised through a presentation where the team is presented with a MACE:
The Ashes: The most famous test match in cricket!!
Not a competition but worthy of note. Australia first beat England in test cricket in 1882 (a HUGE upset at the time) and ever since there has been a massive rivalry between the two countries when it comes to test cricket. Australia and England play each other in test cricket roughly once every two years. With Australia and England alternating as hosts. Whoever wins the test series (an ashes series is comprised of 5 test matches) can claim to have won the ashes. The ashes urn itself is never presented to the winners though. It is kept on display at Lords Cricket Ground in London (the home of cricket). England are the current 'holders' of the Ashes, beating Australia 3-1 back in December/January.
WHAT THE FUCK?
The cricket world cup is a One Day International (ODI) event held every four years. Currently 16 teams qualify for the world cup. Although the 10 test nations qualify automatically. Australia have dominated the World Cups over the last decade. Winning in 1999, 2003 and 2007. 2011 finally saw Australia lose and India were eventually crowned World Champions on home soil. The next World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
ICC World Twenty20
A recent addition to the cricketing calendar. Played every two years. It's the little brother to the Cricket World Cup. T20 is a much faster paced version of cricket and the focus is on quick, big hitting shots. Almost the opposite of Test cricket. England are the current international champions. The first international competition England have ever won.
ICC Test Championship
This is an international competition that is constantly operating between the 10 international teams that play test cricket. Simply put, it is a ranking system based on results of test matches and it is used to determine how good each country is at cricket. The no. 1 ranked test side in the world are England, though they have only recently reached this position for the first time since the ranking system was introduced. Unlike other sports ranking systems, when a country becomes no.1 in the world it is recognised through a presentation where the team is presented with a MACE:
The Ashes: The most famous test match in cricket!!
Not a competition but worthy of note. Australia first beat England in test cricket in 1882 (a HUGE upset at the time) and ever since there has been a massive rivalry between the two countries when it comes to test cricket. Australia and England play each other in test cricket roughly once every two years. With Australia and England alternating as hosts. Whoever wins the test series (an ashes series is comprised of 5 test matches) can claim to have won the ashes. The ashes urn itself is never presented to the winners though. It is kept on display at Lords Cricket Ground in London (the home of cricket). England are the current 'holders' of the Ashes, beating Australia 3-1 back in December/January.
Now, I guess I could've called the whole thread 'what the fuck' but hopefully you'll at least be familiar with how the game of cricket is played. In this section, I'll attempt to cover some of the things you'll see and hear during a cricket match that seem confusing at first but in actual fact, are rather simple.
Let's start with the scorecard. The scorecard is a summary of all the important information from a particular
innings.
Occassionally cricketing commentators will throw in a cricketing term that doesn't seem to even be english let
alone make sense. Here's a glossary of terms courtesy of the BBC:
BLOCK Defensive batting stroke expertly played by Geoff Boycott, whose repetitive blocking tactics often sent fielders to sleep, enabling him to cut loose.
BOUNCER Ugly brute of a delivery - quick, short and designed to take the batsman's head off if he doesn't take evasive action.
CHINAMAN A deceptive delivery from a left-arm spinner, which fools the batsman into thinking it will spin from off to leg and does the opposite.
DRIVE Attacking, punchy, front-foot shot straight down the ground or through the covers.
DUCK A batsman removed from the attack without troubling the scorers. So called (perhaps) because a duck's egg is shaped like a zero. Plus it sounds better than hen. A golden duck is when this fate falls upon the batsman on his very first bowl.
FEATHER The faintest of edges from a batsman - often resulting in a catch behind. Also known as a tickle.
FLIPPER An underhand delivery used by a leg-spin bowler which comes at the batsman faster than a standard ball, with backspin.
FULL TOSS A bowling delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing - usually despatched for four. Unlike the beamer, which just takes your head off on its way through.
GARDENING A batsman prodding down loose areas of the pitch with the end of his bat. In Glenn McGrath's case, it means planting seeds of doubt in the batsman's mind before uprooting his wicket.
GOOGLY A leg spinner's prize weapon bowled out of the back of the hand. It looks like a normal leg spinner but turns towards the batsman, like an off break, rather than away from the bat.
GRUBBER A delivery that keeps low after leaving the bowler's hand. So called because it inches along the ground.
HOOK A reflex action shot to the onside aimed at keeping a short ball from smacking you plum in the face.
JAFFA An unplayable delivery
MAIDEN When an over is bowled and no runs are scored from it. Rumoured to take its name from a beautiful woman, who 'bowled' over a young cricketer.
OVER A set of six balls in succession. Usually bowled by one bowler. Overs are used to determine the length of limited cricket games.
PAD A protective covering for the legs of the batsmen and wicketkeeper.
PIE THROWER An inferior bowler, one who bowls like a clown throwing a pie.
PLUMB The perfect lbw. When the ball hits a batsman on the leg directly in front of the stumps. One might also describe it as a peach of a delivery, although a pair is a different thing altogether.
SESSION A period of play during a match - e.g. morning, afternoon, evening sessions. If, however, you are a spectator, you will only experience one period - the all-day session.
SLEDGING To tell your opponent what you think about him in a less than complimentary fashion. One of the most legendary examples featured Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad calling Aussie pace bowler Merv Hughes "a fat bus conductor". When he dismissed Javed shortly afterwards, Hughes called out "Ding ding! Tickets please!"
SILLY Any fielding position where you are extremely close to the batsman and in danger of being injured.
SLIP Fielding positions close to the wicket-keeper. Can contain up to five players, making a slip cordon. Takes on a different meaning when an easy catch ("dolly") is spilled.
SWEEP Risky, but effective shot played with the back knee on the ground to despatch to square leg balls which keep low.
TAIL Usually refers to the last four batsmen in the order, who are invariably all bowlers. If they play above themselves, the tail is said to wag.
WRONG'UN An Australian term for a googly. See above for googly.
LINKS
Let's start with the scorecard. The scorecard is a summary of all the important information from a particular
innings.
Occassionally cricketing commentators will throw in a cricketing term that doesn't seem to even be english let
alone make sense. Here's a glossary of terms courtesy of the BBC:
BLOCK Defensive batting stroke expertly played by Geoff Boycott, whose repetitive blocking tactics often sent fielders to sleep, enabling him to cut loose.
BOUNCER Ugly brute of a delivery - quick, short and designed to take the batsman's head off if he doesn't take evasive action.
CHINAMAN A deceptive delivery from a left-arm spinner, which fools the batsman into thinking it will spin from off to leg and does the opposite.
DRIVE Attacking, punchy, front-foot shot straight down the ground or through the covers.
DUCK A batsman removed from the attack without troubling the scorers. So called (perhaps) because a duck's egg is shaped like a zero. Plus it sounds better than hen. A golden duck is when this fate falls upon the batsman on his very first bowl.
FEATHER The faintest of edges from a batsman - often resulting in a catch behind. Also known as a tickle.
FLIPPER An underhand delivery used by a leg-spin bowler which comes at the batsman faster than a standard ball, with backspin.
FULL TOSS A bowling delivery that reaches the batsman without bouncing - usually despatched for four. Unlike the beamer, which just takes your head off on its way through.
GARDENING A batsman prodding down loose areas of the pitch with the end of his bat. In Glenn McGrath's case, it means planting seeds of doubt in the batsman's mind before uprooting his wicket.
GOOGLY A leg spinner's prize weapon bowled out of the back of the hand. It looks like a normal leg spinner but turns towards the batsman, like an off break, rather than away from the bat.
GRUBBER A delivery that keeps low after leaving the bowler's hand. So called because it inches along the ground.
HOOK A reflex action shot to the onside aimed at keeping a short ball from smacking you plum in the face.
JAFFA An unplayable delivery
MAIDEN When an over is bowled and no runs are scored from it. Rumoured to take its name from a beautiful woman, who 'bowled' over a young cricketer.
OVER A set of six balls in succession. Usually bowled by one bowler. Overs are used to determine the length of limited cricket games.
PAD A protective covering for the legs of the batsmen and wicketkeeper.
PIE THROWER An inferior bowler, one who bowls like a clown throwing a pie.
PLUMB The perfect lbw. When the ball hits a batsman on the leg directly in front of the stumps. One might also describe it as a peach of a delivery, although a pair is a different thing altogether.
SESSION A period of play during a match - e.g. morning, afternoon, evening sessions. If, however, you are a spectator, you will only experience one period - the all-day session.
SLEDGING To tell your opponent what you think about him in a less than complimentary fashion. One of the most legendary examples featured Pakistan batsman Javed Miandad calling Aussie pace bowler Merv Hughes "a fat bus conductor". When he dismissed Javed shortly afterwards, Hughes called out "Ding ding! Tickets please!"
SILLY Any fielding position where you are extremely close to the batsman and in danger of being injured.
SLIP Fielding positions close to the wicket-keeper. Can contain up to five players, making a slip cordon. Takes on a different meaning when an easy catch ("dolly") is spilled.
SWEEP Risky, but effective shot played with the back knee on the ground to despatch to square leg balls which keep low.
TAIL Usually refers to the last four batsmen in the order, who are invariably all bowlers. If they play above themselves, the tail is said to wag.
WRONG'UN An Australian term for a googly. See above for googly.
So there we are. I hope this has gone some way in helping to explain cricket in all its forms. The strategy and rules of the game go much deeper then what I've explain but I should have given you enough information so you can watch the game and not be absolutely clueless. Whether you like it or not is another matter but I hope you can learn to appreciate a game that has existed for hundreds of years!!
If you still don't understand it, well, I tried my best...
Bad-Beat's World of Cricket!
Throughout this thread I will be taking a deeper look at the world of cricket. Focusing on the Players, Teams and Matches that have made cricket a much loved sport.
#1 Donald Bradman
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Posts
You are a credit to the sport, BB :^:
the godwins law of british threads
seriously?
I'd be surprised if this even reached 8 pages.
Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
And I do understand cricket a bit better now!
No, baseball is from the British game of rounders. Which is not the same.
In essence, yes. Only way slower and way more popular in the not-US.
Cricket? Nobody understands cricket! You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket!
Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
Test Match Special! the classiest of cricket coverage. Lunch, Buses and What type of pigeon is on the pitch.
Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
Bad-Beat has told us a dozen times and I still can't remember. He's practically a minor deity in India too!
It begins with 'S' I'm sure.
Steam Switch FC: 2799-7909-4852
it is the name for the deceptive pitch and that is just wonderful
(Famously used as the theme when England won the Ashes in 2005((one of the greatest Ashes series of all time!))
I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking of doing that.
And that's why I like cricket
And that's why I like the BBC
more!
If/when we have another UK meet up: cricket.
Although Mambo No. 5 is a pretty aribitary choice for a cricket song now that I come to think of it.
Yes! a twenty20 match would be the best option as they only last about 3 hours and you're guaranteed big shots.