The cricket season starts in mid-April in England, so Saltaire Cricket Club's 1st XI were playing a match in Roberts Park on Saturday. Their opponents were North Leeds CC. The match was only just underway when I was watching, with Leeds in (batting) and Saltaire out in the field (bowling and fielding). Anyone who thinks it's a pedestrian game should watch the athleticism of those bowlers! It is very pleasant to hear the thwack of the balls on bats again. Summer is coming!
For those who don't understand cricket, we have tea-towels helpfully printed with the following explanation:
'Cricket: As explained to a foreigner...
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out. When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.
When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes, there are men still in and not out.
There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. Depending on the weather and the light, the umpires can also send everybody in, no matter if they're in or out.
When both sides have been in and all the men are out (including those who are not out), then the game is finished, unless it's a game where they all have to go in twice.'
When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.
Sometimes, there are men still in and not out.
There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. Depending on the weather and the light, the umpires can also send everybody in, no matter if they're in or out.
When both sides have been in and all the men are out (including those who are not out), then the game is finished, unless it's a game where they all have to go in twice.'
NB: Women play this game too. They are just as good as the men.
Great action shots. The sound and scene of summer. Funny explanation but accurate.
ReplyDeleteExcellent action photos. I remember having a discussion with my American uncle about cricket - he said he couldn't see the attraction of a sport which took so long to complete and in which the action was so sporadic. I asked him about the stateside obsession with golf, but we failed to reach any concensus.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenny, for the photos and the humorous definition of cricket. We watch a lot of British dramas and have seen the game played, not quite understanding it.
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteThere is one cricket area here, so people do play it.
ReplyDelete