Any cricket fans?

[swarne]

I'm wondering if there is/are any cricket fan(s) on this board?

[JHEM]

I'm wondering if there is/are any cricket fan(s) on this board?

Yes, I usually keep one on the hearth for good luck.

And I'm deeply saddened that some Asian nations put them in cages and force them to fight to the death.

James

[sunkssss]

I could've sworn you were referring to the wireless company; perhaps not, however.

[KristianJ]

The sport of cricket, most certainly! The insect on the other hand I'm not fussed about at all.

[jamiphar]

I've never played or watched cricket. But I hear it's similar to baseball, which is my favorite sport.

[swarne]

The sport of cricket, most certainly!

Quite right

[KristianJ]

Yeah, it's similar to baseball - if you're up for a long but accurate read about the rules of the game, you can go here. But basically to sum it up as easily as possible, you have 2 teams of 11 players. One team will bat and the other team will field. The aim is for the fielding team to bowl the batting team out, which is done by taking 10 wickets (wickets being similar to strikes in baseball). Then the fielding team bats and generally tries to beat the other team's score without losing 10 wickets. I used to play a few years ago but am in "semi-retirement" because of work getting in the way.

There's a World Cup of cricket starting in the Caribbean this week - no idea whether it'll get much coverage in the US, but Canada will be playing alongside the heavyweights of the game (Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies).

[Turbo Audi]

I feed crickets to my tarantulas, god do they love them.

[swarne]

I've never played or watched cricket. But I hear it's similar to baseball, which is my favorite sport.

It's somewhat like baseaball except when the bowler (like pitcher) bowls a delivery (ball) it bounces first on the pitch (ground) and then reaches the batsman (striker). When I told this thing to my baseball crazy roomate, he got a little bit surprised.

Anyways, you can refer to the very good guide posted by "KristianJ".

There were many cricket fans from USA showing up few years ago in England supporting their team for some big tournament but now sadly they've been suspended by ICC (International Cricket Council) for not following it's constitution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6414625.stm

[jamiphar]

Ok, now I understand it a bit better. I'll have to try it out sometime.

[bill bolton]

I'm wondering if there is/are any cricket fan(s) on this board?

Owzat!

Who's going to win the World Cup?

Cheers,

Bill

[JHEM]

While I can be found watching the odd ODI or Twenty20, I'm afraid I'm not rabid enough about cricket to be accepted by my UK, NZ and OZ kin as I draw the line at sitting through 5 days of a test match that ends in a draw!

“Cricket is basically baseball on Valium.”

James

[bill bolton]

I draw the line at sitting through 5 days of a test match that ends in a draw

I like my football fast and bat & ball games slow. I can't help but notice that North Americans in general seems to prefer it the other way around! Fortunately some have seen the light..... http://www.philacricket.com/club/script ... ?NS=PUBLIC

"American football is basically Rugby on Valium".



Cheers,

Bill

[JHEM]

You're preaching to the choir Bill!

http://www.southjerseyrugby.org/

James

[KristianJ]

I like that Google logo, Bill!

Regarding US cricket, I came across quite an interesting article a month or so ago that looked at the history of the game around the late 1800s - Philly had quite a competitive group of cricketers back then!

[swarne]

Owzat!

Who's going to win the World Cup?

Cheers,

Bill

1. Australia, if they had Warnie and other missing players like Lee, I hope Symmo gets fit before South Africa clash.

2. South Africa, looks very strong.
3. New Zealand, after beating aussies few weeks ago, they got beaten by Bangladesh in a warm-up.
4. Sri Lanka, got some big names.
5. India, former Worldcup's runner up.
6. West Indies, they say a host nation has never won a Worldcup.
7. Pakistan, never seen a team winning without their bowlers.
8. Poms, never.

[bill bolton]

The Windies had a good opening game win, so it looks like it will be an interesting world cup!

Cheers,

Bill

[gator]

Cricket! Its the sport that people worship at my home country - I am from India (we lost to the Aussies last year in the finals!).

[swarne]

The Windies had a good opening game win, so it looks like it will be an interesting world cup!

Cheers,

Bill

Today, Aussies won easily against Scotland by a huge margin and Kenya did the same against Canada.

The next game I'm waiting for is Australia vs. South Africa, hopefully it will be as interesting as the 1999 semifinal in Edgbaston was.

[tomh009]

As Canada has no hope at all, I'll be chering for the Windies!

[bill bolton]

There's some interesting stuff in the comments at this web site....

http://www.bhatt.id.au/blog/australia-t ... st-indies/

Cheers,

Bill

[JHEM]

As Canada has no hope at all, I'll be chering for the Windies!

Black caps! Have to stay true to my (ancient) Maori forebears.

James

[bill bolton]

Gibbs Hits Sixes Record at Cup; N.Z. Defeats England (Update4)

By Sam Sheringham

March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Herschelle Gibbs hit six sixes in an over, the first ever in a cricket international, as South Africa dominated the Netherlands in the World Cup. New Zealand, chasing 210 to beat England, got to its target for the loss of four wickets.

Gibbs achieved his feat off Daan van Bunge to help the top- ranked South Africans amass 353-3, the fifth-highest tally at a World Cup. The larger scores were all in 50 overs, while today's match in St. Kitts was reduced by 10 overs a side because of rain. Jacques Kallis smashed an unbeaten 128 and Mark Boucher clubbed a half-century in 21 balls, a World Cup record.

``It's up there with the best things I've done,'' Gibbs said. ``I never thought about getting six in a row, but if it's your day, it's your day.''

The Netherlands crawled to 132-9 as the World Cup continued to throw up lopsided results between the sport's major powers and second-tier nations. Sri Lanka beat Bermuda yesterday by 243 runs and Australia, the defending champion, trounced Scotland by 203 runs the day before.

In St. Lucia, England and New Zealand both lost early wickets in a low-scoring match on a pitch that helped the slow bowlers. Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett provided a late rally with an unbeaten 71-run partnership in as many balls to lift England to a competitive score.

Styris, Oram

Scott Styris, with 87, anchored the New Zealand reply after Lou Vincent and Ross Taylor -- to a diving one-handed catch by Andrew Flintoff -- departed without scoring. Styris, dropped by Pietersen with the score 149-4, combined with Jacob Oram in an unbeaten 138-run partnership that swung the game for the Black Caps. Oram finished the contest with two boundaries in the 41st over to take his score to 63.

``The satisfying thing for me is not to win but it is the nature of it,'' Oram told Sky Sports. ``It's always nice to come out of those holes and take the win.''

James Anderson, passed fit after breaking a finger in training, took two wickets for England.

England, which hosted the first three World Cups, has never won the tournament and hasn't reached a semifinal since finishing runner-up for the third time in 1992. New Zealand has reached four semifinals and came into the tournament buoyed by a 3-0 sweep of defending champion Australia.

The winner will carry its points through to the Super Eight phase of the tournament, assuming both England and New Zealand qualifies from a group including Canada and Kenya.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sam Sheringham in London on at ssheringham@bloomberg.net

[swarne]

Well well well, the drama has started. Two big cricket giants [India and Pakistan] are on the verge of exiting the worldcup from the first round. They have been outshined by minnows Bangladesh and Ireland.

[bill bolton]

Minnows’ victories upset Cricket World Cup

It was a memorable day for minnows Ireland and Bangladesh at the 9th ICC World Cup of Cricket as they created the first two upsets, defeating Pakistan and India respectively.

After their thrilling tie game against Zimbabawe on Thursday at Sabina Park, Ireland returned to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by sending home one of the tournament favorites, Pakistan.

In a must-win game for both teams Pakistan was blown away for 132, equalling their second lowest World Cup total, with the top score being extras 29.

Imran Nazir made 24 and Kamran Akmal 27 against the 6 ft 7 inches pacer Boyd Rankin who took 3-32, while Andre Botha took 2-5 and McCallan 2-12.

Wicket keeper Niall O’brien, with six fours and a six, hit a top score of 72 to help an Irish recovery from 70 for four.

He shared a fifth wicket stand of 38 with his brother Kevin, who finished on 16 against Mohammed Samim, who claimed 3-29 and Ifitkhar Anjum, who took 2-29.

So Pakistan, beaten by West Indies, are now out of contention for a place in the Super Eight and Ireland, with three points, will end their group fixture with a match against West Indies.

West Indies, with two points, could send Zimbabwe packing as well on Monday.

Meanwhile 18-year-old wicket keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim, scored an unbeaten 59 to help Bangladesh to a historic five wicket win over India in the teams opening Group B game at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad.

After restricting the former world champions to 191, Bangladesh replied with 192 for five with nine balls remaining.

Rahim, who was promoted to number three and Saqibul Hassan, who made 53, shared a fourth wicket stand of 84 to consolidate the efforts of opener Tamim Iqbal, who slammed 51 runs off 53 balls.

Earlier, only Sourav Ganguly on 66 and Yuvraj Singh on 47, who together made a fifth wicket stand of 85, had prevented India from an ignominious collapse.

Captain Dravid said his players failed to make the runs.

Mashrafe Mortaza 4-38, Abdur Razzak 3-38 and Mohammmad Rafique 3-35 shared the bowling honours.

Bangladesh's Captain Habibul Bashar said they had to work hard for the win.

In Sunday’s action World Cup holders Australia are expected to register their second win as they take on The Netherlands in St. Kitts.

The Dutch should brace themselves for further punishment after being defeated by South Africa by 221 runs on Friday.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story. ... tory=33902

[swarne]

A very shocking news, Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer has suddenly expired. I encourage every cricket fan in here to observe 1 minute silence in his respect. May his soul R.I.P.

March 18, 2007
Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has died of a suspected heart attack after being discovered unconscious in his Jamaica hotel room.

The 58-year-old former South Africa coach, who played for England between 1975 and 1981, was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness.

"It is very shocking news to all of the team and the team management," said Pakistan team manager Pervez Mir.

Woolmer died less than 24 hours after Pakistan exited the World Cup.

Mir revealed that Woolmer suffered from a medical condition - but said it was too early to say whether it played a part in his death.

"We saw him last night but having not seen him early today two of our officers went to his room and with the help of hotel staff entered. He was found unconscious there.

606: TRIBUTES
A wonderful cricketing mind and a pioneering coach

MP
"It is too early to say whether he has suffered a heart attack. We are awaiting medical reports."

Woolmer's South-Africa based wife has been notified. He also leaves two children.

Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday after losing by three wickets to minnows Ireland.

Their preparations for the tournament had been far from ideal.

Following the infamous forfeited Test against England at The Oval last summer, two of their leading fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were suspended after failing doping tests.

The pair later saw those bans rescinded but missed the World Cup because of injury, something Woolmer admitted had hindered the team.

"There are a number of extenuating circumstances in the last six months that have made coaching Pakistan slightly different to normal sides," he said after the defeat by Ireland.

The Pakistan team are scheduled to play their third match of the World Cup against Zimbabwe on Wednesday in Jamaica.

Spokesman Mir revealed that the match would take place and said: "The Pakistan team will continue its participation in the tournament. We are due to play Zimbabwe and we will.

"Obviously the boys are extremely sad, they are very disturbed, they are shocked, it's a very shocking happening. But the boys have to play the match and they will."

Woolmer took charge of Pakistan for 10 Test series, four of which were won, with three lost and three drawn.

His overall Test record in 28 matches as Pakistan coach was 10 wins, 11 defeats and seven draws.

In the one-day game, he took charge of 69 Pakistan internationals, winning 37, and losing 29, with three non-results.

Previously he coached South Africa between 1994 and 1999, guiding them to the World Cup semi-finals.

[bill bolton]

WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

BY Joel Campbell and Rodney Hinds

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=11076

Locals hit for six as World Cup crowds fail to materialise
HOTELIERS, locals and the general cricket fraternity have one burning question on their lips following the start of the Cricket World Cup: where is everybody?

The expected influx of fans and tourist has not occurred and confused West Indians want answers.

St Lucia, St Kits and Trinidad and Tobago have all experienced a similar situation which is having a knock-on effect on attendance figures at subsequent matches on the respective islands.

With the opening match between West Indies and Pakistan attracting almost 17,000 people, it had been hoped that a positive tone had been set.

However, the game featuring tournament favourites Australia against Scotland was witnessed by only a handful of people, a spectacle certainly not befitting the new Warner Park stadium.

The low attendance at the Kenya verses Canada match at the beautiful Beausejour ground had locals scratching their heads. Without school kids being given the day off it was universally agreed there would have been no atmosphere at the game.


EFFORT
While it is understood that non-cricketing nations would not be the bulk of travelling fans, it is believed a more concerted effort could have been made to boost attendances in the first week of the tournament so games looked better for television viewers around the world.

Prior to the start of the tournament, St Lucian’s had expected the vast majority of supporters to come from England but the consensus is that having spent a small fortune on the recent Ashes tour of Australia not as many fans would be able to afford the journey to the Caribbean.

The situation has left many feeling frantic about what the immediate future holds. With St Lucia scheduled to host a semi-final match on April 25, many will have considered themselves to have missed out if there is no change before then.

President of the T&T Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association Barry Bidasee confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago had not seen the flood of visitors expected for the Cricket World Cup.

“We predicted 100 per cent occupancy from the cricket business and we expected more fan arrivals. Our membership said their occupancy was high but it was a combination of cricket and the normal business travelers and conference groups," He said.


SUPER 8S
Managing director and CEO of Cricket World Cup Chris Dehring told The Voice of Sport: “Remember when you have a 47-day tournament not all fans can stay for the duration, so they will pick and choose when they come.

“I don’t think anyone, including ourselves, would have expected the first round games to have good attendances, especially the games involving non-traditional cricket playing nations. That is how it has been with every World Cup.

“As we move to the Super 8s stage, attendances will get better because there will be a larger influx of fans as well as the traditional rivalries between the stronger cricketing nations.

“As a tournament, we have sold four times more tour and travel packages in the official programme than the last World Cup. Ticket sales from a revenue perspective are two-and-a-half times more than the revenues for the last World Cup. So things will get better and no one should worry.”

Published: 19 March

[KristianJ]

“I don’t think anyone, including ourselves, would have expected the first round games to have good attendances, especially the games involving non-traditional cricket playing nations. That is how it has been with every World Cup.

“As we move to the Super 8s stage, attendances will get better because there will be a larger influx of fans as well as the traditional rivalries between the stronger cricketing nations.

Sort of sums up what I think, really - I'd want to pay for a quality game of cricket against genuine powerhouses. It's common that if your games either do not feature the home team nor a quality team, your attendances will suffer. It's not only been a cricket World Cup trait (it is a bit different in the other World Cups though, I've noted) but in the international series in Australia, they don't get the same crowds as they would if Australia wasn't playing.

The crowds will pick up later on...

[bill bolton]

India Beats Bermuda by Record Margin; Windies Win (Update2)

By Ryan Mills

March 19 (Bloomberg) -- India maintained its challenge for a second World Cup title with the biggest winning margin by runs in one-day cricket against Bermuda in Trinidad. West Indies beat Zimbabwe to reach the Super Eight phase.

The Indians became the first team in nine tournaments to pass 400, smashing 18 sixes as they reached 413-5 in their 50 overs. Bermuda was all out for 156 in 43.1 overs as India won by 257 runs. In Jamaica, the host nation won by six wickets.

India, rallying from a defeat to Bangladesh in its opening contest, surpassed the score of 398-5 that Sri Lanka made against Kenya in 1996. The winning margin also bettered Australia's 256-run victory over Namibia in the 2003 World Cup, the previous biggest in all one-day international cricket.

``We needed a big performance after the disappointment of the last game and the boys came out and played really well,'' India captain Rahul Dravid said at the post-match ceremony. ``We had a good all-round batting performance. Hopefully we can take this confidence on into the next match.''

Virender Sehwag set India on the way today with 114 from 87 balls, Sourav Ganguly made 89, Yuvraj Singh 83 and Sachin Tendulkar got 57 not out. David Hemp hit an unbeaten 76 for Bermuda, which lost to Sri Lanka by 243 runs on its World Cup debut and virtually exits the tournament with its second defeat.

Sehwag Slog

Sehwag's innings included three sixes and 17 fours. Yuvraj hit seven shots over the ropes and another three boundaries in his 46-ball knock and Tendulkar's half-century took 29 balls, including a six that brought up the fifth score of 400 in one- day internationals.

``This innings was due a long time,'' Sehwag said after being named man of the match. ``Today my aim was to play for 30 overs and if I stayed in we would be in a good position.''

India fell short of the highest score in any one-day international, the 443-9 that Sri Lanka racked up against the Netherlands.

Bermuda, the smallest country to play at cricket's showpiece, lost its first wicket without scoring when Oliver Pitcher was bowled by Zaheer Khan, who then dismissed Steven Outerbridge with the score on 18.

Delyone Borden and Hemp provided early resistance until Borden was given out leg-before-wicket to Munaf Patel in a debatable decision, leaving Bermuda on 47-3.

Hemp, 36, a former England `A' player, went on to top-score for Bermuda and was one of only three players to reach double figures. Together with 300-pound Dwayne Leverock, he added 44 for the ninth wicket.

Windies Advance

At Jamaica's Sabina Park, Zimbabwe made 202-5 against West Indies, who replied with 204-4 to reach the second phase having already beaten Pakistan.

Man-of-the-match Sean Williams top-scored with 70 not out and Brendan Taylor made 50 as the Africans, who tied Ireland in their opening match, rallied from 59-4.

West Indies opener Chris Gayle hit three straight sixes off Tawanda Mupariwa as he advanced to 40 off 48 balls, Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 21 and Marlon Samuels got 28.

Dwayne Bravo, on 37, and captain Brian Lara, with 44, added 75 in an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand. Zimbabwe had their chances, Elton Chigumbura dropping a hard chance from Lara, and Gary Brent spilling a skied shot from Bravo.

``Chasing is always calculated stuff and we started pretty good but lost a few wickets in the middle,'' Lara, who struck a six to complete the victory, said at the presentation ceremony. ``We had to consolidate and just got the runs.''

The top two teams from four groups at the 16-nation tournament advance to the second round, another group phase from which the top four of eight advance to the semifinals.

Players from all four teams today wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach who died yesterday after being found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica. Flags at both stadiums also flew at half-mast.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills in London at at Rmills5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 19, 2007 19:29 EDT

[bill bolton]

Ireland's Historic Success at the Cricket World Cup

Cricket: Despite Ireland's historic success at the cricket World Cup, the game is still a mystery to most of the country's sports fans.

At 2.30pm today, as Ireland's opening batsmen stood to face the West Indies on the sun-baked pitch in Kingston, the television in Kiely's bar in central Dublin was showing the racing at Lingfield.

Despite the extraordinary success of the Irish team in the World Cup, cricket remains a minority sport in the Republic.

"I don't understand the game," said a youth who was admiring a fresh pint of Guinness and busy texting on his mobile. "There's too many rules. It's hard to follow."

Paul Barry, a barman, had enjoyed the "great buzz' on St Patrick's Day when Ireland beat Pakistan. "There was an Australian who tried to explain the rules to us. Without him it would have been difficult to know who was winning the match," he admitted.

Ireland's qualification for the World Cup has nonetheless triggered a new found enthusiasm for the sport. An Post, the Irish postal service, is offering to deliver letters to the squad free of charge; Kenny Carroll, one of its postmen, is in the team.

'Cricket virgins' have been spotted in bars assimilating cricket's arcane rules and such terms as "silly mid-off" and "Yorkers". At least 1,500 fans have flown out to Jamaica to follow the national side.

The unexpected victory over Pakistan means members of what has been dubbed the "Blarney Army" may now have to stay in the West Indies for several extra weeks.

Many of the team, who are all amateurs, will have to hope their employers are understanding when the squad heads off to Guyana for the next stage of the World Cup tournament.

Cricket, like rugby, is played on an all-Ireland basis; several of the Irish squad come from Belfast. Brought over by English regiments in the early 19th century, the game was initially taken up in garrison towns.

The first England v Ireland match was held in Dublin as long ago as 1855. Cricket's popularity suffered, however, during the "land wars", when the Gaelic Athletic Association was formed and banned members from playing "foreign games".

Relaxation of those rules has allowed more people in the Republic to come into the game and helped it lose its reputation as an "English" sport.

Ireland's record against the West Indies is by no means one-sided.

Twice before - in 1969 at Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, and three years ago at Stormont - Irish teams have triumphed against the cricketing superpower.

In Balrothery, north of Dublin, the game never lost local support. The Balrothery Inn has a Merry Cricketer's bar where the walls are covered in team photographs dating back to the 1950s.

"We've had the Irish team in here. They're great crack," said the owner, Brendan McCormack. "They didn't behave like Flintoff, but they know how to work hard and play hard.

"We are in the Pale here, where the English taught the poor Irish so they would have someone to play against. Hopefully, the tide will turn and we will beat them in the super eight competition.

"At least 100 people have gone from the village out to Jamaica, including several of my bar staff. Personally, I like watching motor racing but the enthusiasm for cricket has got everyone going. I watched the whole match last Saturday and it was riveting."

Across the road is the North County Cricket Club, where four of the Irish team play. Its new indoor nets are where the national side practised throughout the winter.

"Around here they eat, drink and sleep cricket," explained the caretaker, Eddie Whelan. "All the towns around here - Malahide, Skerries, Balbriggan - have teams. But now people who never previously watched it are screaming and shouting at the television screen."

Mary Uzell, the club secretary, said: "I moved out here 11 years ago and the game just grows on you. A lot of overseas players have moved to Ireland recently and that's improved the skill levels."

One club member in the Irish team is Andre Botha, originally from South Africa.

Aidan Gaffney, who used to be the club team's wicketkeeper, said the game had been preserved for a long time by local families, passing it down the generations.

"The father of the Mooney brothers - Paul and John, who are in the Irish squad - dropped dead of a heart attack on a local cricket pitch," he said. "There's dedication to the game here."