Things that matter

[dales]

Oh, Good Lord

[Crackpot]

let me get this straight one team could be pummeling another and the game would be called a draw because time ran out?

[Sean]

Not at all CP. If one team is pummelling the other it means that they are scoring the runs or taking the wickets required to win.

[Lord Jim]

Also, I'd love to see you standing with a bat in front of a wicket trying to score these "easy" runs...

Oh I don't know Sean...

I think I could stick a 2X4 out in front of me and have a fair chance of making contact with the ball...even with my eyes closed....

Especially if I got nearly endless chances to do it....

The batsmen score runs Jim, not the bowlers, although I do believe that you actually knew that you cheeky little monkey...

...

I fully understand that Sean, perhaps there was some confusion here...

I understand that the fellows hitting the ball with their 2X4s are the one's who "score" all these "runs"...(at the pitcher/bowler's expense)

In Baseball, after hitting the pitch, one becomes a "runner''...

Seems like there's very little if any "running" involved in Cricket... (perhaps it's considered ungentlemanly to break a sweat)

Just swatting away with the 2X4, racking up 4 or 6 runs every time they make contact with the ball, while occasionally having to trot down the one and only base path...

This also explains why the fielders in Cricket have so little to do...

Liberated from the need to stay dialed into the dynamics of runners on three base paths, they can practice yoga positions, swap recipes, play solitaire on their cell phones, or just catch a few Zs while they wait for their "innings"...

(Not a bad life really...)

the Lord's Test

Oh my....

I had no idea He was fan....

Perhaps I need to re-think this....

On the other hand, that would explain a lot....

[Gob]

I think I could stick a 2X4 out in front of me and have a fair chance of making contact with the ball...even with my eyes closed....

Especially if I got nearly endless chances to do it....

But you do not, you can be out in any number of ways, curtailing your innings.

Top 5 reasons why cricket is a more difficult sport to play than baseball:



5. Running With Protective Gear

In both baseball and cricket, the batsman has to physically run to score (home runs and boundaries aside). The fundamental difference, though, is that the cricketer has to do his running with the weight from all of his pads. We're talking leg pads, thigh guard, helmet, arm guard, gloves, box (that's a cup, to all you Americans), and, of course, the bat itself—all of which make running a difficult task.

In baseball, the batsman just hits the ball and makes a mad dash for first base - usually only wearing his helmet and box. And uniform, of course.

The maximum number of times a batter would have to run off one hit in baseball is four times—from home plate to home plate. In cricket, the batsman keeps batting (and running) until he's out—one run, or 300, all the while carrying the weight of his protective gear.

Trust us, it ain't easy going.
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4. Number Of Ways To Be Given Out

There are twice as many ways to get out in cricket as there are in baseball, which means that a batsman has to be constantly on his guard.

In baseball, there are five ways to get a batter out—a strikeout, groundout (running a batter out), forceout (when a batter is attempting to steal base), flyout (getting caught), and tagout (tagging a batter between bases). So there are five things a batter has to be aware of when he's stepping up to the plate.

In cricket, there are ten ways a batsman can be dismissed. Getting bowled, caught, LBW (getting struck on the pads in front of the wickets), stumped by the wicket-keeper, hit wicket (accidentally striking the wickets with your bat), hitting the ball twice, obstructing the path of a fielder, handling the ball, or being timed out (taking too long to get out to bat). The batsmen need to keep all of this in mind while trying to score as many runs as possible.

Try doing that when you've got someone bowling at you at 96mph (154kph).
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3. General Playing Conditions

Not only do cricketers have to contend with the rules of the game, they also have to contend with different playing conditions that can have a dramatic affect on the game.

An overcast day, for example, can change the way a game will be played by giving the ball more 'swing' through the air, making life tough for the batsman. Playing all day in the hot sun can drain a player, especially if he's out batting all day. A lot of cricket is played on the sub-continent, where temperatures during games regularly soar into the 40s (around 110 deg. F).

Remember all that gear from point five? Yeah, it makes us sweat just thinking about it too.

But it's not only the weather that can have an effect—the pitch conditions also have a major impact on the game. The groundsmen can prepare a pitch to be fast, slow, offer something to the swing bowlers, or give the pitch some turn, which helps out the spin bowlers.

And then there's the outfield. If it's dry and fast, the batsmen won't have to run as much—but the fielders will. If it's damp and slow, the batsmen have a long day of running ahead of them.

The conditions don't play nearly as big a part in baseball as they do in cricket—just ask a cricket side that's had to field for 3 straight days in India.
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2. Catching

Why do baseballers wear catching mitts? Is it that hard to catch a baseball in you're bare hands?

We don't think so, especially given that a cricket ball is heavier than a baseball. A standard cricket ball weighs between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams), while a standard baseball weighs in at 5.25 ounces (142 and 149 grams).

A cricket ball is also smaller (22.4 -22.9 cm circumference) than a baseball (22.9 - 23.5 cm circumference), which means cricketers are catching a smaller and heavier ball, without the use of gloves—and they still make incredible diving catches.

If they can do it without the use of gloves, why can't baseballers?
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1. Batting And Bowling Conditions

We've already mentioned the fact that batsmen have to run covered in protective gear. But, they also have to deal with batting for (if all goes well) extremely long periods of time, varying pitch conditions (which, during a five day Test, can change every day), and facing up to world class bowlers.

A cricket batsman can't just walk out and smash the ball—if you try, you'll be out in a second. And then it's the long (trust us—it's looong) walk back to the pavilion.

Also, batters in baseball bat once per innings, just as they do in cricket - but they don't face nearly as many deliveries as a cricketer does. Oh, and they can be walked to first base, too.How nice.

And the bowlers—they don't have the luxury of standing in one spot to deliver the ball. Fast bowlers run in, on average, 25 yards (22m) every delivery. In a day where a bowler sends down 15 overs (with 6 balls in each over), they've run 2250 yards (1980m). And it's not just a jog, either—every ounce of energy the bowler has goes into each delivery (see the slow motion clip below for the perfect example...). Need we mention the 3 days in the Indian sun, again?

Both batting and bowling require a lot of patience, perseverance, guts, and a huge amount of skill—and for that reason, we believe that cricket is a much, much harder game to play than baseball.

These two videos show cricket from two perspectives. The first clip shows the effort, passion and intensity that goes into every single action in a cricket match. The second clip shows the speed and skill required to catch a cricket ball— without a glove.

I think you should stick with baseball Jim, it's much more suited to Americans...

[dales]

I think you should stick with baseball Jim, it's much more suited to Americans...

And Canadians, South Americans, Central Americans, Cubans, Mexicans, Japanese.....so there!

[Crackpot]

Speaking of which you guys complain about all the padding in American football and then go all gaga about a non contact sport that requires you to dress up in a blast suit?

[oldr_n_wsr]

Running out of the basepaths and interfering with a fielder will get you called out also. Also missing a bag when rounding the bases will get you called out (if soemone notices it) but that might be covered by being thrown out.
Also, you can foul out. Bunting on the third strike and having the ball go foul.

[Daisy]

Speaking of which you guys complain about all the padding in American football and then go all gaga about a non contact sport that requires you to dress up in a blast suit?

Of course you'd love to get hit on the hand, shin, face or god forbid in the nutsack by a fast spinning rock hard ball travelling at 75mph?

[Lord Jim]

hard ball travelling at 75mph?

I'm sorry, is 75 mph supposed to be fast? In baseball a pitch going that slow is called a "change up"....A "fastball" is typically delivered at a speed of between 90 and 100 mph....(And of course the pitchers don't get a running start, the way they do in cricket)

And the only protection baseball batters wear is a batting helmet...not all that gear that makes a cricket batter look like a monster from a low budget 50's scifi movie...

But then perhaps cricket players are more fragile and delicate then baseball players...

[dales]

In the old days, batters didn't even wear batting helmets. Just soft baseball caps. They were expected to get out of the way of brush backs and beaners.

[Guinevere]

To be fair LJ, baseball players wear, what was that quaint name, boxes, as well. And these days occasionally arm guards or even shin guards. And batting gloves, don't forget the batting gloves, 'cause they really help when a 95 MPH heater hits you on the hand.

I have been a baseball girl as long as I can recall, I love going to games, I love that my boys play (and are damn good), I love listening on the radio or watching in TV. It's a great great sport. And I have zero interest in cricket.

[Gob]

[Gob]

Yes!! Three best seats in the house...

The Prime Ministers XI is an iconic summer event and the number one summer sporting event each year for the ACT community.

Come and watch the old enemy England take on the Prime Ministers XI under lights at Manuka Oval on Tuesday 14 January.

International stars such as England’s Kevin Petersen, Alistair Cook, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Matt Prior and Graeme Swan will be on show.

This match is a fantastic opportunity to bring the family along and experience top quality entertainment at Manuka Oval under lights.

MATCH DATE*:
Tue 14 Jan - Manuka Oval, ACT

[Lord Jim]

Great news Strop! Canberra's clinched the division!

But being a season ticket holder, of course you already knew that...

http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/inde ... 5&sid=l595

ETA:

And Daze, you're in luck as well:

http://www.britishbaseball.org/page/sho ... federation

[Lord Jim]

Or if you prefer, Strop:

http://www.welshbaseball.co.uk/

[Gob]

Great news Strop! Canberra's clinched the division!

But being a season ticket holder, of course you already knew that...

http://web.theabl.com.au/standings/inde ... 5&sid=l595

Jim, you didn't seriously think Canberra Calvary or whatever, sold tickets for their matches did you?

[Gob]

Lord's in numbers

BBC Test Match Special statistician Malcolm Ashton presents Lord's Cricket Ground's Ashes records:

Ashes Tests: 34 (England won 14, Australia won 6, with 14 draws - including the drawn Centenary Test of 1980 when the Ashes were not said to be at stake)

First Ashes Test: 21-23 July 1884. Two years after the famous "obituary for English cricket" was published in the Sporting Times, England won by an innings and five runs.

Highest Ashes total: 729-6 declared by Australia in 1930, in reply to England's 425, setting the tourists on their way to a seven-wicket win.

Lowest Ashes total: 53 by England in 1888, when WG Grace was the only Englishman to reach double figures in both innings as the hosts were skittled for 53 and 62.

Highest individual Ashes score: 254 by Don Bradman in that epic Aussie innings in 1930. The next highest came eight years later, as England captain Wally Hammond made 240.

Most Ashes runs: 551 in eight visits to the crease by Bradman. As well as that 254 on his first visit in 1930, he hit an unbeaten 102 in 1938 and 89 in his final Test knock at Lord's in 1948.

Best Ashes bowling (innings): 8-38 by Australia seamer Glenn McGrath on his first visit to Lord's as England were skittled for 77 in the rain-affected second Test in 1997, which was drawn.

Most Ashes wickets: 26 by McGrath, who took full advantage of the Lord's slope in his three Test appearances there - 1997, 2001 and 2005.

Ashes runs scored: 30,467, for the loss of 1,007 wickets at an average of 30.26 runs per wicket.

Ashes boundaries: 2,830 (2,763 fours, 67 sixes)

[Daisy]

Exciting.

Test Match Special on the radio and a really good coffee. Sat in the garden it's already 22c, perfect Cricket listening weather.

[Gob]

THE QUEEN ARRIVES AT LORD'S
The Queen has just arrived at Lord's, five minutes later than planned. She is now making her way through the famous Lord's corridors, down the steps and on to the outfield. She is wearing a blue hat, blue dress and white jacket with blue trim.

Her Majesty is being introduced to the Australian team by skipper Michael Clarke, then it is on to the umpires before the Queen is greeted by Alastair Cook and meets the England squad.

The Queen is given three cheers and then applauded from the field. A moment to remember for players of both sides, who then head to the dressing room to finalise preparations for the 1115 BST start.


Paul Thompson: If play didn't start until after 11am due to the players meeting The Queen, would it be classed as a reign delay?