Cricket World Cup!

[Smithy]

I know that the majority of posters here are from the USA where to the vast majority cricket is a bizarre and over complicated example of British looniness

But I'm wondering how many members from the UK, the Commonwealth, and the other cricket playing nations are excited about next months World Cup and what's your predictions for who's going to win the big mug. I'll admit I'm a cricket nut and am champing at the bit for this to start.

Being a Kiwi we're all on a bit of a high after beating the Aussies 3 zip in the Chappell-Hadlee, but I think Aussie will be dangerous and always are when they get their tails down. It'll be an interesting WC and I personally think anything could happen with lots of upsets. But I'm pretty sure we'll make the semis.

My picks for the semi-finalists are:

Aussie
NZ
South Africa
India

So other cricket fans, what's your predictions?

 

[Harp]

WC

Cricket's a sticky wicket allright mate, but I'll lay a few quid on the ANZACS
to decide matters.

 

[Roaring Days]

It is not looking good for us in the World Cup, but as the true form of cricket is the Test, I would prefer to talk about that issue to anyone for a while . I would also like to try to explain the game to some of the US loungers, as it is a wonderful game.....

 

[Smithy]

Actually for confused souls the Wikipedia entry on cricket isn't badly done, it's illustrated and relatively clearly written...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket

 

[Orgetorix]

Actually for confused souls the Wikipedia entry on cricket isn't badly done, it's illustrated and relatively clearly written...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket

I'll second that. I've been listening to a recording of P.G. Wodehouse's Psmith in the City, in which cricket features prominently. I knew nothing about cricket except that it was played with a funny-looking bat, but the Wikipedia article helped me make sense of some of what was going on in the book. Mind you, I still wouldn't say I understand the game, but it's somewhat less of a fog than it was before.

 

[Smithy]

Although it is a very complicated games ruleswise, I think the major problem for those who haven't grown up with it - watching and playing from a young age - is the fact that there is a lot of arcana and history associated with the game which is inherently known by someone from a cricket playing nation.

For those who are interested in learning a little more about cricket I'd suggest that you have a read of the Wiki page and watch a few games of the World Cup. The WC is also based on the "one day" or "limited overs" form of the game and will be slightly more straight forward for the uninitiated than "test match" cricket.

Orgetorix, I love Wodehouse although admittedly I haven't read one for years.

 

[cookie]

World Cup

It will be interesting. The NZs just beat the Aussies well in NZ eventhough they did not qualify in the 3 corner contests vs Poms.

Aussies have a lot of injuries and no Shane Warne any more.

Aussies to win!

 

[Miss Sis]

Cricket?

Yawn!

Someone tried to explain it to me once but I think I glazed over after the opening sentence.

From Miss Sis (A Kiwi)

 

[Roaring Days]

I have always claimed the to understand cricket, you need to have played the game or had some member of your family play the game at least to a 'grade' cricket level. To those who have played or had that exposure, it is the most wonderful game to play and be a part of, and one of the funniest. I have heard some wonderful 'sledges' on the field, none that I can remember or repeat but it is a very funny game to play.

This does not seem to reduce its appeal. Cricket is huge in place like India and the region. It also has inroads into places like Netherlands, Canada and even Afghanistan are rebuiding there cricketing stocks.

It truly is becoming a global game...

Cheers

 

[Spitfire]

Like Roaring Days, I had the same feeling about Football - The american thing, that is.
I found it extreemly boring and uninteresting untill my son started palying.
It then got really interesting when his team won the danish junior championship. And even more when they won again the year after.
Of course we started to follow NFL as much as we could over here.
So now I enjoy to watch football. The more you know of any game, the rules, the players, the stories and the myths - the more you can enjoy it.

Cricket? I guesse there are maybe two teams here i Denmark - not a big thing. But I have always liked the atmosphere around the game. Very british indeed! Maybe one should have a go at it....can't be that hard

 

[Smithy]

Roaring Days, I think you are right, you'll never understand cricket beyond a certain level unless you've played, but for most a little understanding should open a few doors to the game and lead to enjoyment. Plus the more they watch and learn the more they'll enjoy it. And Aussies sledging, surely not , I've heard a few doosies in my time but as you say nothing that can be repeated in such polite company!

I'm moving to Norway next month and I know from the last time I was living over there that there's a few teams of ex-pat Brits, Pakistanis and Indians, and I am seriously thinking of going back to play. Season's pretty short though lol

And Spitty,congrats on your son's achievements. I can't honestly say I've watched much American Football as rugby's the go here. And watch some of the World Cup cricket games - you might like it, although I expect you to put your support behind NZ

 

[Spitfire]

Smithy, you can count on my support of the Kiwi's!!!

 

[Smithy]

Good man!

 

[Roaring Days]

The population of NZ and Denmark cricket followers combined will still not even get close to the level of Aussie support for our team, so support away . I think that its a committment on the participant to look for the attraction to a sport or pursuit. Lets face it, anything that can take you away from your world for a few hours per week is needed. It helps that you have several like myself, hats, cricket (summer), Australian Rules Football (winter and you thought cricket was a mad sport, watch some AFL and then talk to me....), Aikido and Rugby (I follow the Brumbies bieng an ex Canberrian.) This may be curtailed a bit when child no:2 comes along in Sept, but we will wait and see, there will always be sport to watch...

 

[HadleyH]

Cricket is a mystery to me. I have never understood it, and I don't think I ever will. [huh]

 

[BegintheBeguine]

I'm an Anglophile

I love Cricket. I like seeing references to it in old movies like The Lady Vanishes, and television shows like The Avengers. I'm glad to see this thread; I was thinking of starting one when I got back from my trip and luckily someone more knowledgeable than I did.
My married last name, which I very seldom used, is Shane Warne's nickname.

 

[Mojito]

We were in NZ during the recent Cricket defeats, and didn't the locals let us know it! More power to them, too - look at our respective populations. All credit to the Kiwis for their well-deserved wins.

I am not the greatest cricket fan. I know one shouldn't judge a sportsman by his behaviour off-field, but I used to work as an adviser to a Sports Minister, and I know too much about their antics and arrogence behind the scenes to respect many of these men.

That having been said, my BIL was an extraordinarily talented cricketer who might have gone international if he'd decided to focus on sport rather than his academic studies. And he is the consumate gentleman.

My work colleagues said I never knew what I was missing - and while I was never very enthusiastic about the game, I do like the concept of spending a summer afternoon idled away on green lawns with something long and cool in hand and watching elegant players in their whites and the thwack of bat on ball. I used to love watching them practise in the Cherry Tree Wood playing fields when I lived in North London. It was Summer incarnate.

 

[Spitfire]

I am trying hard to find a TV station up here in frozen scandinavia, who just might transmit something of the WC.
When is the start?

 

[Smithy]

OK Spitfire, the opening is on 11th March and the first game (West Indies vs Pakistan) is on the 13th March. There are also a number of warm-up matches prior to this but they'll be used by coaches to try out 2nd line players and they probably won't even be broadcasted widely. From the 13th on though, there should be a network or sat channel which is broadcasting the group games.

On a different note when I was last living in Norway, I can remember that NRK1 (one of the state broadcaster's channels) showed a demonstration game. It was actually quite well done and they had rules explanations and graphics explaining these all through the game. And one of the teams playing was New Zealand. There was something incredibly strange about watching it in Norway with the commentary obviously in Norwegian when I was so used to watching cricket here in NZ and in English.

The World Cup will still be going when I'm back there so I'll have to find a nice ex-pat pub with a big screen!

 

[Smithy]

And they're off!!!!

Opening ceremony looked like a bit of fun with all the reggae music but the lighting looked to be a little iffy.

I would've complained to the umpire for a stop to play due to bad light