So what if we lost...

On a popular, SAP Forums, I came across a thread about "World Cup Cricket", I was surprised, to see the no. of posts on that thread, people are talking passionately about world cup, their utter disbelief of India and Pakistan not being in the WC anymore, I mean these are not just desi fans talking about cricket, there are aussies, brits, the few "cric literate" americans, so I was following it very closely every day, until yesterday, this question by Mr. O, irked me, I was relectant to reply, just becoz…but then after two days of following the thread, which got more than 2000 views since WC started, I couldn't resist and I replied to him. This is how it went on... (ofcourse this is only part of the huge thread)

Posted on: Apr 25, 2007 8:29 AM
As you can imagine, in an SAP-related forum you have all these german folks watching the thread who have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. So I would like to ask for a quick explanation of the game of cricket. I will see whether I will be allowed to award points (YES !) for the coolest and shortest explanation.

Just so you know what I know so far about the game: Two teams in white outfit (both teams wearing the same outfit ?) throw balls at each other. They must not bow their arm and have to hit a little thingy (wicket ?). After they throw they run back and forth. There is no offsite. Games take 5 days with tea-time at 3pm. The english invented the game but normally loose against the West Indies, Australia, NZ, India and Madagascar. The americans took the game, americanized it and now call it baseball.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Looking forward to learn something and also looking forward to next UEFA European Football Championships 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.

One Reply to this posted on Apr 25, 2007 3:13 PM

O,

No offence intended, but this description of cricket is among the most cheeky ones I have ever seen :-)

Makes me realise that Cricket still is a game limited to a few countties and not as universal as even SAP is...

I wish I could explain the game of cricket to you, but I just realised that the game aint as simple as it seems..


Regards
B

Another reply posted on Apr 26, 2007 1:13 AM

Hi O,

I read somewhere that cricket is a game where two teams toss a coin to see who goes out first. The toss-winning team sends two batsman in and they stay in until they are out. Then a replacement comes out and the team stays in until ten players have been in and out. Then the first team is OUT so they go in and the other team is sent out.

Then the first team attempts to get the team who is in out, and the opposing side tries to stay out and not get out. All pretty simple - but sometimes a team is sent in before the other team is out.

Regards

G

Finally i responded on Apr 26, 2007 5:31 PM

Hi O,

To add to Gareth, which ever team wins the toss, decides if they or the opposite team will either bat or field.

Usually, they play one day international aka ODI, where they play for 50 overs for each team, each Over has 6 balls, and 11 players in each team.

Which ever team plays first, tries to score as much as they can in those fifty overs, by this they set a target, and then the opposing team has to score that target to win. If someone gets out like they hit the ball and if the ball doesnt touch the ground and the fielder from the other team cathces the ball, then the batsman is out. this is just one way of being 'Out'. When someone is out, it is referred as a wicket down. Usually, the strategy by the fielding team is to take as many wickets down as they can, and the batting team is to score as much as they can while saving the wickets. So if a teams score is 320 / 9 in 50 overs. Yup, i hope you know by now what that means.

The match you were referring to that goes on for 5 days is called a test cricket, where the teams dont have any overs to play, they play as long as thier wickets are not lost. In my opinion i find this a little too long and if i may say....boring.

Cricket is pride for many countries that play, so when they hear such responses ike yours about cricket, they feel sad for people who dont take time to understand it. So the next time, someone tells you they dont know what Cricket is and people just throw balls at each other, please feel free to explain them.

Thank you !