by Cosmicwhodini

Created on: June 21, 2008

Some say cricket is slow and boring. Some think cricket is simply hilarious. I mean how many games have a silly point or a square leg? I must admit although I do enjoy the game I do get confused as to what position is where, so I do sympathise with these people who can't grasp the unusual names for fielding positions.

Now if you are American you are going to wonder what on earth this game of Cricket is. If I said third man to you - you might think that is odd because you were sure there were more than three men on the field! Nooooo ofcourse you wouldn't! This is of course yet another funny name for a fielding position. I wonder why this game has not made it to the US as you guys play baseball is very close..in concept of course to cricket. Perhaps it is because of it's almost lazy like play or the fact a game can take 5 days to play. This can be contradicted as golf is not exactly an adrenalin rush type sport.

The British invented the sport and ironically over the years the Aussies had dominated the sport for the most part. I have been informed by someone I live with who is Australian that the reason for them being so much better is they play a lot more cricket than the English do. Last time the Ashes was played between Australia and England; the Aussies thrashed them 5-0. Saying this the time before England won; but I think they got lucky.

I said at the beginning cricket can be dull, which I agree with too, to some extent. So can a bad football match and so can a bad tennis match, so it is all relative. Cricket is going to be slow paced for the most part and like in baseball where you wait for a home run; a batsman hitting a 4 or six is definitely worth waiting for. If one watches a one day game then it is of a quicker pace, and even though I do enjoy these games I think the best batsmen make their name playing the long game.

If we think about a player batting to reach 100 - he could be at the pitch for hours. That player has to have the physical and mental stamina to keep focusing on that small red ball which is coming at him at around 80mph. The fielder has to stand out there for hours too, sometimes he won't get the ball for ages - he too has to keep his eyes and ear open. Then there is the bowler who has to keep bowling in the right area, otherwise he will get hit for 6.

I think sport in general needs people who mentally strong as well as fit too. If we take a captain of any game and his team is losing he needs keep his team believing they are going to win no matter what the score. I think in cricket there is probably a need of this strength more than in most sport.

However we think of cricket one thing is certain it is hugely popular. It is never going to be the number one sport in Britain, but when the world cup starts or they play the Aussies in the ashes The English cheer their team on. Football will also dominate; I once was watching a world cup match where England was playing and I was in the pub. We lost on penalties and someone through his glass at the TV! That will never happen when we lose a cricket match, but then a different type of person will support cricket to football. It is as if we went to a rugby match; supporters from different teams can sit together, but if this happened in football OH BOY! I dread to think what would happen.

Cricket is relaxing; and remember what 10cc sang?..."I don't like cricket, I love it!"

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