Balls ... Runners

[joggerjayne]

Okay, so err ... cricket.

I went to a cricket match a couple of years ago.

I may have spent more time drinking bubbles than watching balls, but ... at least I went.

(Sussex were rubbish, and got whupped by whoever it was ... Hampshire I think).

Anyway ... just a couple of things I heard mentioned on the radio today, which I don't understand.

(1) "the New Ball"

Why is the new ball such a big deal? Is a new ball good for the bowlers, or good for the batters?

(2) "a Runner"

Well, as I understand it, a batter with a gammy leg could have someone to run for him, yes? But then ... the batter and the runner would be at different ends of the pitch. So does the batter have to walk down to the other end, or something?

[jackthehat]

Google.aus would explain about Bosies (nothing to do with Oscar, in this case). :o)

[jno]

I expect in deference to Beijing's sensitivities it doesn't explain how to throw up a Chinaman, though.

[scotman]

JJ

If you had asked how the Large Hadron Collider works it would have been easier.

[Buenchico]

A quote from Geoff Boycott (who has both batted and bowled for England, and who certainly isn't known for his modesty!) only this afternoon on Test Match Special:
"After all these years I've still not got a clue how to get the ball to swing late in its flight"

So even the 'experts' are baffled by the way that cricket balls move through the air, and off the pitch ;-)

[jno]

Boycott only ever took 7 test wickets; he wasn't really an expert bowler, and not a fast bowler either. If Dennis Lille said the same thing I'd listen.

[joggerjayne]

scotman ...

I think I might have understood that one a bit better !

I thought "crikey" when Chris described a ball travelling toward you at 90mph.

But then I thought ...

Surely a LaX ball travels at the same sort of speed.

And yes ... it does ... or maybe even faster ...

http://wiki.answers.c...A_lacrosse_ball_speed

[Buenchico]

I'm certainly not a Boycott fan, anyway, Jno. He likes to think of himself as an 'expert' though (which is why I've loved it when, on a few occasions, Michael Vaughan hasn't held back from telling GB that he's been talking utter b0ll0cks!

[jno]

JJ, did you know lacrosse was introduced to American Indians by the Vikings? Bill Bryson reckons so, anyway, and has quite a convincing case for it.

[jno]

I didn't hear him today, Chris, as I was at Lord's sitting in the rain. It wasn't raining before the cricket season started.

[joggerjayne]

Golly, no jno ... I didn't.

Most of us just thought the native Americans invented it.

[Buenchico]

The traditional English rain-making ceremony (only to be carried out after weeks of sunshine):

Step 1: Two men, wearing white coats, leave the mystic building, each carrying three long magical sticks and two short ones. A tiny white cloud appears in the sky.

Step 2: Each of the rain makers places their three long magic sticks vertically into the ground. Lots more white clouds appear in the sky.

Step 3: The two rain makers place the short magic sticks on top of the long magic sticks. The clouds instantaneously darken.

Step 4: One of the rain makers shouts the short, but effective, magic incantation: "Play". The heavens open, summer ends and the rain makers hastily retire to the mystic building.

;-)

[joggerjayne]

LOL Chris

[DTCwordfan]

Bet you enjoyed the bowlers rubbing their balls against their crotches.......leaving the red marks behind. Its why they call them swing bowlers.

[jno]

you're not wrong, Chris. I believe wearing of mysterious egg-and-bacon-coloured garments is important in weaving the spell.

JJ, I think it was in his book Made in America. Apparently there's a Scandinavian game that shares several significant and highly unusual similarities to lax - I haven't got the book to hand at the moment, but it's most interesting.

[joggerjayne]

You've got me interested, jno.

I might have a sniff around for any books on the history or origins of the game.

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.google.co....y6Bg&ved=0CDEQ8wIwAw#

You will realise Jayne that the Pakistanis were mere amateurs when it came to gambling and the fixing of matches......but fun.

[joggerjayne]

Thanks, DTC. But ...

I was thinking of the history of LaX, rather than Cricket.

I'm not sure I could plough through a book on Cricket.

[DTCwordfan]

I believe that the roots of that are Indian, Jayne. (a hazy recall from US days)

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.amazon.com...-Fisher/dp/0801869382

[joggerjayne]

I wonder if Donald Fisher might be going down the "started by the American indians" line?

(and overlooking the possible Viking element?)