Being a die hard sport enthusiast and having spent most of the past four years from the sidelines cheering on Zach and Micaela in their various athletic events, be it football (American football, that is) soccer (British football, that'd be), baseball, softball and basketball - and let's not forget those years of cheering on and coaching the cheerleaders (my girls) - I have been at a bit of a loss here in Britain without any sport to watch or attend. Not having the slightest idea of how to find any sport to watch, either live or on television, I definitely was feeling out of whack.
Mel, of course, came to the rescue here on this front as well. Her son, Mark, a recent "graduate" of Fairfield is an avid cricket player, and her husband is a sport enthusiast as well. During a recent visit to their home it was revealed that Mark would be playing in his last cricket game of the season this past Sunday - 6th September. I was eager to attend to watch and learn about this game. I was warned that cricket can last all afternoon and that I should be prepared with a book or something to read. The enticement, of course, was the promise of a visit to yet another English pub, as is the tradition following an afternoon of cricket.
Micaela and I prepared to be dressed warm and headed out the door for our first introduction to cricket. As it turns out it will probably be our last cricket match experience also, as the season is now over and we will be gone before another begins.
Cricket, is an interesting game, and to describe it as "long" may be an understatement. This match began at 1:30 p.m. and it ended about 6:30 p.m. This match was a "village" match, basically the US equivalent of two local "town" teams playing in intertown play. This was a "limited over" match, and these can last anywhere from 3 to 5 hours.
During my "cricket" education I was able to dispel a long standing myth... cricket and baseball have much in common...NOT. The only thing they have in common is that they use bats, balls and the object is to get as many runs as possible; after that...nothing. Oh - well, maybe the length of time it takes to play. EXCEPT - traditional cricket played at the "test" level lasts for five days. I have yet to see a five -day baseball game.
I would not classify cricket as a "spectator" sport, as we know them to be in America. Its pace would not be conducive to this, although the larger, and very important test matches here in the UK sell out by the thousands, especially the traditional Ashes tournament where the UK and Australia fight to take home a little pot of ashes each year and retain bragging rights as the best cricket team. This year, when I arrived in the UK, this event was being played. I did not see any of it played, but England won! Cricket is the kind of sport where people interested in the village matches can relax on the lawn for the afternoon, have some tea, indeed, between innings, of which there are only two, tea and sandwiches are served to players and spectators. It's all quite civilized.
There are moments of high excitement where many runs are made for one team, or a wicket and/or "over" is made by the fielding team and the spectators cheer and whoop. While I was not quite acclimated to when these moments had taken place, I appreciated being able just sit in the crisp, autumn air, with people enjoying watching their husbands, sons or boyfriends all participate in this game.
As far as the specifics of this game are concerned I won't even attempt to explain it. Suffice it to say that a "bowler", what we may know better as a pitcher, "bowls" to a batter and the batter hits the ball and the object is for the batters to run up the pitch and touch each batter box to score runs. The bowler attempts to get a "wicket" by knocking the wicket sticks out of place behind the batter or get overs by having the batter miss the ball.
Mark, Mel's son, was a top notch bowler. Watching him "bowl" did remind me a bit of watching Zachary pitch a baseball and the strain on the shoulder must certainly be the same.
Cricket match -CHECK. Rugby, Football (soccer), Netball and Basketball all yet to come!
Pictured above: Mark Williams warming up to bat, Behind him is are the "wicket" sticks; The cricket bat - it is somewhat flat, as opposed to round like a baseball bat; The ball - the one in the middle is a new, shiny ball. They are somewhat hard like a baseball; The scoreboard. \
The video above is Mark bowling...
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