[Cricket] Sorry. Put In A Decent Shift At Cricket. Still Don't Get It

[Icy Gull]

To appreciate cricket I think you need to have played it yourself. I don't think it's the sort of sport you can suddenly just start watching.

When I was young just about everyone played cricket in the summer term at school but as I understand it this doesn't happen in most schools these days. So by learning at school I was interested enough to go on to play village cricket and understand the game even though I wasn't good enough to play at any reasonable level.

Not true, I played for a number of years and was good enough to be in the school team, not a great standard I accept but I know the rules but cannot get into watching others play at all. I went to a 20/20 at the Oval a couple of years ago to watch Surrey play Kent as I was told I’d enjoy it as it was a quicker game but it still bored the arse off me and I couldn’t wait for it to finish. This was in a hospitality box on a nice day too so I did all the drinking, socialising and eating too. Spent the best hours of the afternoon talking football

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

Not true, I played for a number of years and was good enough to be in the school team, not a great standard I accept but I know the rules but cannot get into watching others play at all. I went to a 20/20 at the Oval a couple of years ago to watch Surrey play Kent as I was told I’d enjoy it as it was a quicker game but it still bored the arse off me and I couldn’t wait for it to finish. This was in a hospitality box on a nice day too so I did all the drinking, socialising and eating too. Spent the best hours of the afternoon talking football

You misunderstand me. I didn't mean that just because you played cricket at school you would enjoy watching it now. I played hockey at school but certainly wouldn't bother watching it now, it doesn't do anything for me.

What I meant was if you hadn't played cricket at some stage it is probably quite difficult to pick it up either on TV or watching it live.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

What I meant was if you hadn't played cricket at some stage it is probably quite difficult to pick it up either on TV or watching it live.

One of the more head-mental aspects for me - which seems to get filtered out on the telly/radio somehow - was the inane 'goal music' blared out whenever the ball got belted over the boundary. Which in the early stages of Thursday's game was about every other ball. Make. It. Stop.

 

[Easy 10]

Baseball (rounders but really complicated & with hours of man throwing ball into other man's glove with nothing happening) I REALLY want to like Baseball actually, but I don't get it.

Easily my 2nd favourite sport now. As with most things, it just takes a little time and investment to understand what you are watching, and your enjoyment and appreciation of it will flow from there. For me, the first thing to get to grips with was the 'count' between pitcher and batter, and what constitutes a ball, or a strike. Once I had that straight, the rest of it all fell into place and it makes it infinitely more absorbing.

It still might still not be for you, but that was my starting point, and I love it now. When there's no football on, I quite often have it on down our local. Some of the barflys took a mild interest and started asking me about the rules, once I explained a few things they actually got quite into it as well. Now I'm not the only one who asks for a bit of BT or ESPN if theres a game on.

 

[Geestar]

Draws are pretty rare in modern test cricket. Some want to make tests 4 days.

Unless there is a drizzle of rain.... can't get wet!

Sent from my TA-1020 using Tapatalk

 

[Cadiz Seagull]

One of the more head-mental aspects for me - which seems to get filtered out on the telly/radio somehow - was the inane 'goal music' blared out whenever the ball got belted over the boundary. Which in the early stages of Thursday's game was about every other ball. Make. It. Stop.

I couldn't agree more!

 

[Icy Gull]

Easily my 2nd favourite sport now. As with most things, it just takes a little time and investment to understand what you are watching, and your enjoyment and appreciation of it will flow from there. For me, the first thing to get to grips with was the 'count' between pitcher and batter, and what constitutes a ball, or a strike. Once I had that straight, the rest of it all fell into place and it makes it infinitely more absorbing.

It still might still not be for you, but that was my starting point, and I love it now. When there's no football on, I quite often have it on down our local. Some of the barflys took a mild interest and started asking me about the rules, once I explained a few things they actually got quite into it as well. Now I'm not the only one who asks for a bit of BT or ESPN if theres a game on.

One of the reasons so many people don’t like rugby Union is because they don’t understand the rules too. My favourite International sport, yes even over football.

 

[timbha]

One of the more head-mental aspects for me - which seems to get filtered out on the telly/radio somehow - was the inane 'goal music' blared out whenever the ball got belted over the boundary. Which in the early stages of Thursday's game was about every other ball. Make. It. Stop.

Completely agree but sadly when you look around there are loads of fans smiling and joining in as if it’s the first time it’s ever happened - bit like those craps football songs about libraries, local teams and being by far the greatest team the world has ever seen

 

[GT49er]

I don't know why they don't start every game at 99-ALL and just play for 5 minutes.

No time for ad. breaks?

 

[Gwylan]

It's interesting reading about how people react to different sports. Personally, I'm an Albion fan rather than a football fan - rugby and cricket are way ahead of football when it comes to watching sport. I could easily spend all day watching cricket or rugby, I couldn't possibly imagine watching three football matches in a row like I have done with rugby.

It's certainly true that you need to know the rules properly, rugby is particularly hard to fathom if you're a casual spectator. I've never got into American football as it's clearly a game where you need to know exactly what's going on and I've never really been bothered (although there are sports where I do know the laws, like basketball, that also bore me rigid).

I agree about the music in cricket though - it's the equivalent of goal music in football, please make it stop.

 

[pearl]

Is there any other 'sport' where the players stop for tea and cake?

 

[LlcoolJ]

Easily my 2nd favourite sport now. As with most things, it just takes a little time and investment to understand what you are watching, and your enjoyment and appreciation of it will flow from there. For me, the first thing to get to grips with was the 'count' between pitcher and batter, and what constitutes a ball, or a strike. Once I had that straight, the rest of it all fell into place and it makes it infinitely more absorbing.

It still might still not be for you, but that was my starting point, and I love it now. When there's no football on, I quite often have it on down our local. Some of the barflys took a mild interest and started asking me about the rules, once I explained a few things they actually got quite into it as well. Now I'm not the only one who asks for a bit of BT or ESPN if theres a game on.

Yep. As I said, I really want to like it.

Went to the states and Canada with my Mum when I was 6 and stayed in Seattle for a bit with a friend of hers. The family were massive Seahawks fans so I got the whole NFL thing and still love it. At the time NOBODY in England liked American Football but I studied it like a geek and even did a school project on it when we were allowed to choose whatever subject we liked (got an A as the teacher said I'd massively increased his knowledge and interest in the game, I'd basically copied the best bits out of my favourite books but hey, plagiarism is best learned early).

So I'm not averse to learning and persevering with complicated sports. Actually, going back to the OP, I didn't really get into cricket until I was in my 20's and went out with a stunning posh bird from a ridiculously rich, North Yorkshire farming family. It was her who introduced me to the idea of watching a sport ALL DAY while getting leisurely pissed as opposed to just an hour or two. I was immediately hooked and once I got the whole gist of the game again (having ignored it since enjoying playing it at school all too briefly) I loved it for much more than just the drinking.

So much so that, many years later, my son has been playing cricket since he was about 3 and at a club (Sheffield Collegiate, Vaughn, Root etc) from 6. Has played for South Yorkshire for the past 3 seasons and last year opened the bowling for Yorkshire U10's B team. Cricket defines our life now (no holidays in the summer, driving hundreds of miles, loads of new friends and amazing days out at beautiful places) and I absolutely love it.

I'm going to give baseball a better try.

 

[Icy Gull]

Yep. As I said, I really want to like it.

Went to the states and Canada with my Mum when I was 6 and stayed in Seattle for a bit with a friend of hers. The family were massive Seahawks fans so I got the whole NFL thing and still love it. At the time NOBODY in England liked American Football but I studied it like a geek and even did a school project on it when we were allowed to choose whatever subject we liked (got an A as the teacher said I'd massively increased his knowledge and interest in the game, I'd basically copied the best bits out of my favourite books but hey, plagiarism is best learned early).

So I'm not averse to learning and persevering with complicated sports. Actually, going back to the OP, I didn't really get into cricket until I was in my 20's and went out with a stunning posh bird from a ridiculously rich, North Yorkshire farming family. It was her who introduced me to the idea of watching a sport ALL DAY while getting leisurely pissed as opposed to just an hour or two. I was immediately hooked and once I got the whole gist of the game again (having ignored it since enjoying playing it at school all too briefly) I loved it for much more than just the drinking.

So much so that, many years later, my son has been playing cricket since he was about 3 and at a club (Sheffield Collegiate, Vaughn, Root etc) from 6. Has played for South Yorkshire for the past 3 seasons and last year opened the bowling for Yorkshire U10's B team. Cricket defines our life now (no holidays in the summer, driving hundreds of miles, loads of new friends and amazing days out at beautiful places) and I absolutely love it.

I'm going to give baseball a better try.

Nothing beats watching your kids playing sport. We spent most weekends travelling around the South Coast watching our son play mini rugby and then all the way through school rugby to county representation and on to England trials, where he missed out to Joe Worsley. Fantastic times.

 

[Mackenzie]

Well cricket isn’t for everyone. I love the game myself but I don’t like tennis, golf, car driving or biking....we’re all different.

The fact that it is played when football isn’t (generally speaking) is a bit of a bonus too, it means I’ve got something to watch/listen to/play all year round.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Is there any other 'sport' where the players stop for tea and cake?

Judging by the state of Kemy, then yes, yes there is.

 

[The Large One]

One of the more head-mental aspects for me - which seems to get filtered out on the telly/radio somehow - was the inane 'goal music' blared out whenever the ball got belted over the boundary. Which in the early stages of Thursday's game was about every other ball. Make. It. Stop.

With you on that one.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's certainly true that you need to know the rules properly, rugby is particularly hard to fathom if you're a casual spectator. I've never got into American football as it's clearly a game where you need to know exactly what's going on and I've never really been bothered

Well, it is and it isn't. Like cricket, watching a game of baseball live is an experience that takes you into the heart of the national psyche. Went to watch an Oakland A's game once. Tho the rules seemed pretty impenetrable, I've never forgotten it. The standing for the anthem, the conspicuous consumption (but couldn't buy a beer as I couldn't show a driving licence!), the seven-and-stretch, the astoundingly good levels of customer service. Quite an eye-opener. And I was lucky enough to be in Oz last autumn when the finals of the Aussie No Rules Football were taking place. Rivetting, hilariously daft game. The referee takes the kick-off by bouncing the ball high in the air. The linesmen take the thrown-ins - by turning their backs to the field of play and hilariously LUZZING the ball infield while doing an extravagant comedy leap in the air. Forwards start the game in the opposition goal area where they openly exchange punches with the opposition defenders before the game's even started. During the match itself, games don't stop for injuries, the magic spongemen just wander on to the pitch to treat the fallen. Wandering over the pitch at any given point are also drinks bearers, agents, novelty salesmen, just about anybody that fancies a fair go, it would seem. It's quite daft and quite magnificent. Tho best watched on telly. Loses a bit of the attraction when watched live, as the field of play seems to be about five miles across and the action frequently disappears from view into the far horizon.

 

[PeterOut]

So. (as the smart kidz start every statement nowadays).

Went to Sussex v Aussies on Thursday.Put in a SIX hour shift til all me bets went down and Salt was out for 62. Game over.

Realise I'm a spoilt brat who lives just down the road, loads of far-flung fans would have been GAGGING to be there. My bad.

But even so...

Jeez it's a long and thankless day out! Where's the urgency? How can you miss multiple wickets while you queue for a pint? Why does the loud and lairy entitled Sussex Cricket cheap seat wanker think he's hard done by by being asked to leave the ground for loudly and lairily abusing the young kids having a fun day out whose only crime was/is to be Aussies having a fun day out? Why does everybody get encouraged to invade the pitch at half time only to be ordered to leave aforesaid pitch about five minutes later?

You can tell the longtime cricket wankers. They sit there doing the crossword and only look up when they've missed the hot wicket taken action and have been alerted by the increase in crowd noise.

Seriously, it appears to me to be a mild form of autism, akin to the strange men who take train numbers at the far end - away from all the people - end of Clapham Junction station.

What Gives?

After all these various replies, I am still struggling to understand the point of this post.

You went to see a sport.
You didn't 'get' it.

Are you asking for help to understand why millions of others do 'get' it? Do you just need the world to know (or at least NSC) that you don't 'get' it? If so, why the need?

Thankfully there are 100s of sports to watch. We are in a privileged age where we can watch many, many sports live, from around the world or on our doorsteps.
Surely it is better to be thankful that we have a top-quality team on our doorstep, playing other top-quality teams at the Amex? I see no need to trash other sports.
Trashing the Nigels up the road, is, of course, a different matter....

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

After all these various replies, I am still struggling to understand the point of this post.

You went to see a sport.
You didn't 'get' it.

Are you asking for help to understand why millions of others do 'get' it? Do you just need the world to know (or at least NSC) that you don't 'get' it? If so, why the need?

Just seeking a little bit of enlightenment my friend. Oh, and killing a bit of time til the World Cup starts. Not trying to trash cricket as a sport which obviously has millions of followers worldwide, so can't be all bad. But struggling to see the attractions of watching it live. Hoped somebody might offer some insight, beyond having some beers in the sun with yer mates. Sadly, not seen any such insight yet.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Just seeking a little bit of enlightenment my friend. Oh, and killing a bit of time til the World Cup starts. Not trying to trash cricket as a sport which obviously has millions of followers worldwide, so can't be all bad. But struggling to see the attractions of watching it live. Hoped somebody might offer some insight, beyond having some beers in the sun with yer mates. Sadly, not seen any such insight yet.

You are Scottish, no explanation needed.