Set to music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujv9vRTJXAY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujv9vRTJXAY)
Two stories, one true, one doubtful - you can judge which is which.
Story 1.
I was talking to an American 'gentleman' who told me he thought cricket was a 'game for wimps'.
I asked him what sport he thought a real man should play?
"Baseball", said he.
"Baseball is called 'rounders' in the UK and played mainly by little girls", I replied.
Strangely enough he didn't seem to want to continue the conversation.
Story 2.
Back soon after coming to power Adolf Hitler decided that Germany must have a national cricket team, and one was formed.
After much practice the MMC were challenged to play in Berlin. Germany won the toss and elected to bat, Hitler himself opening the batting.
Unfortunately he was bowled out by the first delivery, declared it a silly game and led the Germans off the field, the game over.
Today it is best remembered for that old song "Hitler only got one ball"
So which of the two is true?
:laughabovepost:
Both are true (except for the bit about the song).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHGYzZ5e6as (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHGYzZ5e6as)
When in a sports bar in the US my wife insists on referring to the sports as netball, rounders and rugby.
She cannot understand how the female pitchers achieve such speed "bowling underarm". Looks weird too.
Anyone who overhears her does not understand the humour either. I did recently find an American woman who understands British humour. Buying an ice cream I was offered the addtion of some whipped cream. The question was "Do you want the whip?". My reply of "Yes. I usually have to pay extra for that" was met with a blank "no charge sir". The American woman said "I think that was lost in translation, but I got it".
Quote from: woodbury22uk on June 08, 2015, 09:20:58 AM
When in a sports bar in the US my wife insists on referring to the sports as netball, rounders and rugby.
She cannot understand how the female pitchers achieve such speed "bowling underarm". Looks weird too.
As I understand it bowling underarm was the accepted way of play in the early cricket game and is depicted in the Napoleonic war TV drama episode "Sharpe's Waterloo".
Overarm bowling only became the standard way of play after women took up the game and their huge skirts got in the way of underarm bowling.
P/S A question. Is it called 'bowling' after the similar underarm actions in the very old game of 'bowls'? The connection has only just come to me with this post.
:hmmm: I hate to be thought of as a 'cricketing rivet counter' but aren't they the Laws of Cricket, as opposed to 'rules'? :-\
I was sent on a business trip to the states during the NFL "world series" (which only the USA competes in) a few years back. In a bar, after one or two drinks and a fair while of watching it on the telly, I finally nudged a colleague and said "So American football is basically Rugby, where they're allowed to pass forward, never bother with scrums and everyone wears padding and helmets".
I got a lot of evil looks, but nobody said anything.
Talking of sport I once said that rugby was a game for fat boys who couldn't
play football. I got plenty of looks and a few replies....
Quote from: Agrippa on June 09, 2015, 04:01:32 PM
Talking of sport I once said that rugby was a game for fat boys who couldn't
play football. I got plenty of looks and a few replies....
My dad, a rugby fanatic who once played for his Corps during his army days in WW2, was very disappointed that I never took up the 'sport'. >:(
Sorry dad, but rolling in the mud on cold wet days never seemed like much fun to me. :no:
I reckon Etched Pixels summed up Rugby when he said it was a team pretending it didn't hurt as opposed to football players pretending it does ;D
Back on topic, though, I'm really not sure sure how our lot will fare in The Ashes as it strikes me they're more concerned with getting their sunglasses 'just so' 8) ::)
Quote from: newportnobby on June 09, 2015, 04:46:59 PM
I reckon Etched Pixels summed up Rugby when he said it was a team pretending it didn't hurt as opposed to football players pretending it does ;D
Back on topic, though, I'm really not sure sure how our lot will fare in The Ashes as it strikes me they're more concerned with getting their sunglasses 'just so' 8) ::)
To go quickly back off topic I was always told 2 things relating to rugby by my dad but the key one is when he was at school (early 60's I reckon) they had a lad come over from america and claim that american football was a lot rougher and the players were rougher which is why they wore helmets etc. He was quickly put in the middle of the scrum by his new class"mates". I think he soon realised his mistake...
Back on topic we used to have a teat towel with the the rules of cricket on it.
Quote from: newportnobby on June 09, 2015, 04:46:59 PM
I reckon Etched Pixels summed up Rugby when he said it was a team pretending it didn't hurt as opposed to football players pretending it does ;D
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGVHusUU8AEnQyg.jpg)
Back on topic though, cricket was a sports option when I was at school. We played it once and once only. Nobody ever chose to play it again...
Quotewe used to have a teat towel
Did that help you keep a-breast of things?
Nice spelling boob, Vonk :-X
Quote from: newportnobby on June 09, 2015, 09:24:23 PM
Nice spelling boob, Vonk :-X
:-[ Come on chaps - keep it clean. We should be talking about BRAnch lines and things instead! ;)
Two sides go out to play..
they toss to see who is 'in'..
the side that is in goes out....
the fielders on the other side also go out...
if the batsman is dismissed he goes out..
etc...
What Cricket Looks Like to Americans
! No longer available (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEH4ahCCrJo#)
(actually it's still available!)
Not about the Laws of Cricket, but still about the game.
I gave up watching when the players started wearing clown costumes instead of traditional 'whites'. Watching the above, it may not exactly have been cricket, but at least the players LOOKED like cricketers.
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on June 15, 2015, 06:15:42 AM
Not about the Laws of Cricket, but still about the game.
I gave up watching when the players started wearing clown costumes instead of traditional 'whites'. Watching the above, it may not exactly have been cricket, but at least the players LOOKED like cricketers.
The "clown" costumes as you call them are only used in 1 day + T20 which although I really do enjoy the tactics of a good test match T20 is good if you want to watch quick hard hitting batting and is bringing a new audience into the game and is almost a party atmosphere. Definitely a good way to introduce people that dismiss cricket to the game is watch a bit of T20. They don't even use the pavilions just bus shelters by the pitch it is that quick :D
Quote from: Vonk on June 15, 2015, 12:40:06 PM
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on June 15, 2015, 06:15:42 AM
Not about the Laws of Cricket, but still about the game.
I gave up watching when the players started wearing clown costumes instead of traditional 'whites'. Watching the above, it may not exactly have been cricket, but at least the players LOOKED like cricketers.
The "clown" costumes as you call them are only used in 1 day + T20 which although I really do enjoy the tactics of a good test match T20 is good if you want to watch quick hard hitting batting and is bringing a new audience into the game and is almost a party atmosphere. Definitely a good way to introduce people that dismiss cricket to the game is watch a bit of T20. They don't even use the pavilions just bus shelters by the pitch it is that quick :D
The point I was making is that they could do that in 'whites', not fancy dress.
For the "fancy dress" you can blame the media, trying to attract viewers, all the players in white make it difficult for the couch potatoes to tell which side is which.
Cricket is big business now and competes with socccer, especially in India which is its biggest market. They have had a professional T20 league with foreign players since 2008. "Clown costumes" are de rigueur.
Bangladesh has copied India.
Not for the purists but at least it generates interest in the wider population, especially females (apologies in advance for sexism). The biggest cricket stars in India are treated like film stars and earn as much.
Best regards,
Joe
I'm a big cricket fan and have to say I still prefer the traditional long form of the game (be it 3, 4 or 5 day) where the players still wear whites.
However, I can see that the game badly needed (needs) to appeal to a much wider audience so I have become accustomed to and actually enjoy the shortened form of the game despite the players wearing different coloured clothing.
Cricket should, I believe , be applauded for trying to progress whilst still retaining it's tradition and heritage.
I suppose it can be likened to a heritage railway holding Thomas events (despite the fact that some "purists" might object).
I'll jump off my soapbox now and get my coat !
Quote from: port perran on June 15, 2015, 08:42:26 PM
I'm a big cricket fan and have to say I still prefer the traditional long form of the game (be it 3, 4 or 5 day) where the players still wear whites.
However, I can see that the game badly needed (needs) to appeal to a much wider audience so I have become accustomed to and actually enjoy the shortened form of the game despite the players wearing different coloured clothing.
Cricket should, I believe , be applauded for trying to progress whilst still retaining it's tradition and heritage.
I suppose it can be likened to a heritage railway holding Thomas events (despite the fact that some "purists" might object).
I'll jump off my soapbox now and get my coat !
I too am a 'purist' - why today I even saw on the news a bowler wearing a number on this back, like a common footballer :(
As for being 'able to tell which side is which' we knew that for CENTURIES before this modern fad of 'colours' - like you, I'll say no more on this post as I've had my say now.
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on June 15, 2015, 06:15:42 AM
Not about the Laws of Cricket, but still about the game.
I gave up watching when the players started wearing clown costumes instead of traditional 'whites'. Watching the above, it may not exactly have been cricket, but at least the players LOOKED like cricketers.
Yes, a colleague at work some 40 yrs ago told me that cricket had Laws not rules. He passed the exams to be a qualified umpire - he played at Kent Village level. I also have been bemused at the near demise of the white shirt and flannels I had to wear at school. Though I realise that advertising and colour is the thing these days - sadly. And I am no cricket fan - I always found it deadly dull! At which comment I will duck.
Quote from: Dorsetmike on June 15, 2015, 07:54:18 PM
For the "fancy dress" you can blame the media, trying to attract viewers, all the players in white make it difficult for the couch potatoes to tell which side is which.
One way I use to tell which side is which when in "whites" is if they are padded up with a bat (normally only 2 on the field) then they are in bat 8) All the rest on the pitch are generally bowling/fielding.
With regards to whites I remember a few years back they were very cream/magnolia but now they seem to have gone back to a very white colour.
I think it is about getting the balance and so long as we don't go too much like india and focus completely on the T20 game and keep funding going into the county leagues then I am happy but if too much money is pumped into the shorter game then we will lose the heart of the technical game that is test/county.
I have no problem with the wearing of colours in the shorter games but can really do without the annoying bursts of loud pop music (e.g. Another one bites the dust) when someone is out or a boundary is scored >:(
Personally I'm pleased to see the short game is popular as the games can be played at times of the day to suit those who work and allows families to attend, which can only be good for the game overall.
When I did OBs, I quite enjoyed the odd test at Edgbaston or Trent Bridge. Nice weather, some gentle applause, listening to Jonno and Westy on the program circuits. Then it all changed, got a lot more rowdy, especially when the West Indies were playing. Lots of tin cans bashed together. No more peaceful dozing.
Quote from: Malc on June 16, 2015, 02:09:48 PM
When I did OBs, I quite enjoyed the odd test at Edgbaston or Trent Bridge. Nice weather, some gentle applause, listening to Jonno and Westy on the program circuits. Then it all changed, got a lot more rowdy, especially when the West Indies were playing. Lots of tin cans bashed together. No more peaceful dozing.
I know exactly what you are talking about regarding the changes Malc. Despite not being a big time cricket fan, (I am Scots so I have my excuse) I have attended international matches in Bombay and in Port Of Spain (Trinidad). Lords it AIN'T! Enthusiastic, fun, interesting - but it just isn't British!!!
Regards, Allan.....
Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on June 07, 2015, 10:36:06 PM
Two stories, one true, one doubtful - you can judge which is which.
Story 2.
Back soon after coming to power Adolf Hitler decided that Germany must have a national cricket team, and one was formed.
After much practice the MMC were challenged to play in Berlin. Germany won the toss and elected to bat, Hitler himself opening the batting.
Unfortunately he was bowled out by the first delivery, declared it a silly game and led the Germans off the field, the game over.
Today it is best remembered for that old song "Hitler only got one ball"
So which of the two is true?
On the One show (BBC 1) today (Wed) one of its usually random reports was by Phil tuffnell about this cricket game and that one of the players had been planted in the team to be a spy. Just thought people may have little to no interest in this :D
I hated cricket at school but was fortunate enough to sample canal delights with this young lady.... and that gentlemen is my claim to fame :drool:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Potter
She actually played for the towns mens 2nd XI which they say helped her to become a great womans game player.
Quote from: Graham Walters on June 18, 2015, 09:32:06 PM
was fortunate enough to sample canal delights with this young lady
Did you both enjoy your wanders around the canal system ? ::)
Quote from: MikeDunn on June 18, 2015, 09:38:33 PM
Quote from: Graham Walters on June 18, 2015, 09:32:06 PM
was fortunate enough to sample canal delights with this young lady
Did you both enjoy your wanders around the canal system ? ::)
Ah the banks of the Wye on a hot summers evening !