Cricket - willow and leather

[Smithy]

I know this is mostly an American forum but I was wondering how many Commonwealth FLers here love cricket and it's one of the things they look forward to in summer. I've loved cricket since I was a nipper, my Dad was on the NZ Cricket Council and I played school and 9 years club cricket (only stopped after doing my rotator cuff in - makes it difficult if you're a fast bowler). I love watching all matches, from eating sammies and a thermos of tea in a little pavilion for a school or local club match right up to the huge stadia for a test or one dayer. Still got all my Wisdens, and linseed oil makes me quite misty eyed.

Just wanted to start a thread for the cricket lovers where we can discuss current series, history, who was the best, if you still play, etc, etc.

Got tickets to the Boxing Day Ashes Test here at the MCG which I can't wait for.

 

[lolly_loisides]

I know this is mostly an American forum but I was wondering how many Commonwealth FLers here love cricket and it's one of the things they look forward to in summer.

Me Me Me!

On a personal note I remember playing backyard cricket with the family on Christmas day & watching the test matches during the late 70's with Dad. I never really played (in an organised competitive sense) as cricket wasn't a girls sport when I was young, so I was mostly a spectator. I must say I think cricket is a fabulous spectator sport.

Very jealous that you are going to the Boxing day match Smithy!

 

[Smithy]

Those kind of memories of chucking a bat around with your family are priceless Lolly. Sunny day, a bat, a tennis ball and a bunch of family/mates, can't go wrong!

I have very fond memories of the same, and my Dad taking me down to the nets when I was very young to teach me.

I'm going to the test in a group of Aussies, Brits and another Kiwi, which may prove to be fairly rowdy Should be fun!

 

[LocktownDog]

I love the game, but don't get to see it here much. I make sure to catch the highlights online, when I can. Prefer the Euro leagues myself ... Go Oranje!

 

[Smithy]

I love the game, but don't get to see it here much. I make sure to catch the highlights online, when I can. Prefer the Euro leagues myself ... Go Oranje!

Good man Rick! I must say I haven't met too many Americans who have followed the game but it's good to hear there are some

The Dutch are apparently getting better, they obviously haven't reached test match status but I believe that they are improving. You'd know more about them than me I'm sure!

 

[Dav]

Thanks for starting this thread Smithy. I'm very jealous of your boxing day tickets, should be a great day out. I've been struggling to stay awake listening to Test Match Special on the radio, I love listening to Agnew and the team, if only Henry Blofeld was there I would fall asleep in absolute heaven.
When Strauss was out third ball at the Gabba I thought we were heading for the usual England performance, how wrong I was. Should be a good match at Melbourne, I see Australia have bought in five new players.
Come on the England

 

[Dewhurst]

I don't take in a lot of Cricket but I can admit this:

I LOVE TEST MATCH SPECIAL!

That has to be the single best sports related radio program in the world. Fascinating and fun.

 

[Smithy]

Thanks for starting this thread Smithy. I'm very jealous of your boxing day tickets, should be a great day out. I've been struggling to stay awake listening to Test Match Special on the radio, I love listening to Agnew and the team, if only Henry Blofeld was there I would fall asleep in absolute heaven.
When Strauss was out third ball at the Gabba I thought we were heading for the usual England performance, how wrong I was. Should be a good match at Melbourne, I see Australia have bought in five new players.
Come on the England

Blowers is possibly my favourite commentator Dav. He used to come over to NZ and do his bit fairly often back in the late 80s/early 90s. Doesn't seem to travel as much as he used to but then he must be getting on a bit now.

Aussie is in a bit of a pickle at the moment. Papers are full of it over here and Ponting is copping a bit of flak along with the usual suspects. To be honest, I really don't think Oz has ever fully recovered from the departure of Warne and McGrath.

I'm enjoying watching Cook. How old is he? 24, 25 and he must have 16 or 17 tons under his belt already. If he keeps batting til he's 35 or so and keeps it up he could be nudging the record for test runs at this rate. And he's a Gray Nicholls man

Shaping up to be a very, very interesting series.

Dewhurst, good to have another cricketing American on board.

 

[AntonAAK]

Big cricket fan here.

The first test series I remember was when the Australians toured England in 1975 when I was 10. Despite Lillie and Thompson skittling us out for very little on a regular basis I was hooked and have been a fan ever since.

Very much enjoying the current Ashes series, obviously.

I used to play a lot too. Saturday and Sunday all summer for about fifteen years until an injury stopped me. I still miss it but am too old to go back now...

 

[PADDY]

Love it!! played at school. Smithy, may I send my heart felt condolesences 'down under.' (*jumping wildly up-and-down* - about time too!!).

 

[Edward]

I'll never quite understand the game. I did play it at school.... well, ish. Mainly I picked it in the Summer season for games lessons because it involved an awful lot of standing around not having to actually run anywhere, which I appreciated. I don't have much of a grasp of the rules these days, but it gets my vote for being an unusually civilised sport, particularly one which encourages proper attire. No grown man has any business doing anything that involves the wearing of short trousers. Cricket does, I find, make a wonderful backdrop for afternoon tea. (Jinkies, listen to me - I'm going native!).

 

[Smithy]

Lillie

My one cricketing claim to fame was being picked for a special bowling coaching class with Dennis Lillee. I can remember I was terrified of meeting him as he always looked so aggressive and unyielding on the pitch when you saw him on telly playing. As it happened, he was one of the nicest chaps you could meet. He improved my bowling no end from that one day session. Fantastic bowler, one of the greats. I still enjoy seeing video of him bowling, lovely action.

Thompson is one I've always wondered what he would have been recording if they'd had radar back in the day when he was letting fly. I honestly think he was one of the fastest at his height and would have been bowling over 100mph.

Great to see all the cricket fans here. It's such a wonderful way to spend a day.

 

[Aether]

Another Cricket fan here.

Either taking in a County match with Pims (or Cider !) in hand or a friendly little match in some sleepy village, there isn't a nicer way to spend a Summer's day. And like Edward I enjoy the spirit that Cricket is [generally] played in, with traditional values like good-sportsmanship, respect and honesty. Not much of that in Football (Soccer)! Cricket is sport for Gentleman, so the perfect game for all you Loungers!

Thanks for setting up the thread Smithy.

Looking forward to Ashes coming home...

 

[dhermann1]

I've been wanting to see more of the game for years. An English pal here at work has explained it to me, and I almost . . . almost . . . understand what's going on.
Here in New York City I think you'd be surprised by how much cricket gets played. In Van Cortland Park, up in the Bronx, every weekend you'll see about a square mile of games being played, mostly by Indian, Pakistani and Jamaican players. There are couple of other parks around the city where there are organized leagues.
I remember my distant English cousins visiting here in 1960, when I was 13. We played a crude version of Cricket, "The Yanks versus the Limeys!" on the beach at Lake Erie, using a tennis ball, and driftwood for a wicket. We just drew a line in the sand for the crease. Much fun, if rather chaotic.

 

[Dav]

I know what you mean about it being complicated to follow, alot of people here are of the same opinion. I personally can not follow whats going on in a Baseball game, I watched one on television once and I remember thinking to myself at the time that I understood every word that was spoken but I had absolutly no idea what he was saying or what was going on.

 

[Missy Hellfire]

I will confess to never having played cricket except for 'a bit of fun' (My ham fisted legspin has been politely described as 'deceptively slow'!) as I went to an all girl's school and hockey, netball and rounders were the sports de jour. I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket though and any sport that stops for lunch and tea is my kind of game! My nephew is trying out for County next year, so fingers crossed for the talented little blighter!

 

[Smithy]

I will confess to never having played cricket except for 'a bit of fun' (My ham fisted legspin has been politely described as 'deceptively slow'!) as I went to an all girl's school and hockey, netball and rounders were the sports de jour. I do enjoy watching a good game of cricket though and any sport that stops for lunch and tea is my kind of game! My nephew is trying out for County next year, so fingers crossed for the talented little blighter!

All the very best for your nephew's try out Missy. First step towards a possible England cap!

Which county is he going for if you don't mind my asking? I keep an eye on the County Championship. Mainly follow Kent as a sizeable chunk of the family are from there.

Once again fingers crossed for the "little blighter"

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Ashes going well. Can't see the Aussies erratic selections doing them much good. Very much a team on the decline.

5 days of bouncers coming up at the WACA, I guess … It'll all be over by Boxing Day, Smithy.

bk

 

[Smithy]

It'll all be over by Boxing Day, Smithy.

bk

I'm hoping not BK. This will be my first live Ashes match and I'm hoping it's not a done deal. Really would be nice if there's a good contest.

As I mentioned earlier I'm going with a large bunch of Brits and Aussies and I'm getting it from both sides. My Aussies mates are saying "you live here now so you have to support Oz" and my English mates are saying "you're grandparents are English so you have to support us"! Maybe I'll dig out the old Kiwi "Beige Brigade" gear and do a Switzerland!

I'm thinking the Aussie selection board has been verging on desperation with some of the scrambling but saying that Victoria have looked good today against England.

It really is shaping up to be an interesting Ashes.

 

[Aether]

I'd have to agree with the Baron, it doesn't look good for the Aussies. Too many big shoes to fill and nobody seems keen to step up. But how do you replace a Warne or Gilchrist? As an Englishman I can't say I'd exactly be losing sleep over it though!

Not very keen on this 3rd umpire referral, it's just not Cricket. Maybe for the One day or 20/20, but not the tests.

Missy, best of luck to your Nephew. Trying out for a quality County like Somerset I hope?!