Wasn't it cool that little Ireland beat the mighty Pakistan? There is suddenly more talk of cricket going around our island.
It is a game that I do not like much, but I've tried and will maybe try again. I've watched it very slightly more often on TV in the last six months on Sky Sports HD...but that's mainly because the finer details in the grass look excellent on our 50 inch high definition plasma!
I know there are many fans out there. Do any of you remember the book written in Irish "An Dialann Deorai" (The Diary of an Exile) written by Donal MacAmhlaigh? It was on the Leaving Cert Irish course in the 1970s and was based on Donal's experiences when having to emigrate from Ireland to Britain in the 1950s and his time doing Navvy work etc. The last thing I expected this ardent Irish language speaking, GAA fanatical, quintessentially rural Ireland man to write in his book was that he liked watching the English play cricket. But he did. He liked the relaxed pace and I think the civilised behaviour etc. Ever since reading this all those years ago I've attempted to take some interest in it. I've even a fair idea of the rules etc. It also perplexes me how people can go along to the big cricket grounds where you seem to be miles away from the action and sit there and enjoy it.
I like watching snooker on TV which is slow paced but intriguing. Even bowls to some extent. I'd like to warm more to cricket.
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I understand cricket much better in the abstract than in the concrete. I've got the basic precepts, but I have no idea what some of the terms are, especially for scoring.
Everyone here tries to tell me that it's like baseball, but it's not really. I once sat through a baseball game, trying to explain it to an Indian co-worker. He enjoyed it, but agreed that except for the concept of a pitcher/bowler and a batter/batsman, they are completely different games.
Hi Ann. Actually baseball for some reason looks cooler to me. Maybe it's the better use of the grounds. It looks faster and the crowd seem nearer to the action somehow.
I have never watched a cricket match, but years of not sleeping and listening to BBC World service has given an interest in the game. Like you some of the rules escape me. The banter of the commentators is enjoyable.
Back when I had a TV I occasionally watched Snooker or Golf.
Football I refused to watch mainly because the commentators insisted in shouting over the noise of the crowd. I dislike it because the loudest noise takes over and I find it hard to follow what is happening.
Hi Grannymar. Ah, BBC World service. I wonder if it helped inspire that lovely voice for radio on your blog recodings! You sound so BBC velvet!
Silly mid-on, fine leg, long leg, mid-off, third man...
Now here's a challenge for you: complete the sequence.
One clue: this is a form of Mornington Crescent.
Right, maybe I don't know the rules THAT well(...hangs head in shame!).
You can't give up that easily...
Mmmmh. Tough one. I've looked at your sequence of fielding positions, which seem a bit random. I'm not too familiar with Mornington Cresent. But I'll venture "Fly Slip"??
Sorry that's breaking all the rules: there is no such position on the cricket field.
Now, if you'd said "first slip", I'd have had to admire your cheek.
Perhaps you're watching the match. In which case you should easily have the answer.
Clue: Mornington Crescent. Have you googled that? But watch what you find, because that is a particular underground station.
Maybe I'm being unfair? Maybe I am getting my own back after that photo of your's I couldn't identify? But it's too early to let this drop altogether.
Hi Omani. Yea I meant First Slip, I'm not sure what other slip (freudian)was surfacing there!
I'm faintly aware of Mornington Crescent as a parody type strategy game. I'm finding this tough, I'm not great at cryptic clues. I'll make a guestimate of "Extra Cover" but it's more because it sounds vaguely sensible!!
John of Dublin,
That's a very good move. You've now taken the game into a reverse Birtien. I missed the slip up, was thinking too much inside the box...
There is another way to develop the riddle:
extra cover... backward short leg... and so on until "it's a no ball!"
Ever lived in London?
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