Questions on Cricket? Ask Here!

[Craig the Aussie]

Is there an "idiot's guide to cricket" site out there?

I think this is it - whaddaya wanna know ?

[BhoysFC1995]

killedelvis,

if you have any questions, feel free to ask 'em here. you can check http://www.abcofcricket.com
more specifically
http://www.abcofcricket.com/cfb1/cfb1.htm

[killedelvis]

I think this is it - whaddaya wanna know ?

Everything.
I seriously have no clue.
I've watched a little, but it's like watching a movie in Ancient Egyptian.
Mostly I see highlights on FSC now and I can't follow what the announcers are talking aobut. I'll try the site BhoysFC1995 posted and see if I can start to get a working knowledge.

So, I can come back here and ask questions to clarify what I read.
Otherwise, you all would be typing a book, get sick of me, and destroy my reputation. ;)

[Craig the Aussie]

Check this out:

http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/CKTBASX1.html

[killedelvis]

killedelvis,

if you have any questions, feel free to ask 'em here. you can check http://www.abcofcricket.com (http://www.abcofcricket.com/)
more specifically
http://www.abcofcricket.com/cfb1/cfb1.htm

[QUOTE=Craig the Aussie]Check this out:

http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/CKTBASX1.html [/QUOTE (http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/CKTBASX1.html [/QUOTE)]

Ahhhhh.....much better.
The combination of those sites (and a quick readthrough of the Laws) makes my brain hurt less. :D

Repped you both.

[OldFanatic]

Everything.
I seriously have no clue.
I've watched a little, but it's like watching a movie in Ancient Egyptian.
Mostly I see highlights on FSC now and I can't follow what the announcers are talking aobut. I'll try the site BhoysFC1995 posted and see if I can start to get a working knowledge.

So, I can come back here and ask questions to clarify what I read.
Otherwise, you all would be typing a book, get sick of me, and destroy my reputation. ;)

I appreciate that a person of your background comes here wanting to know more (as opposed to some others I've encountered who are ignorant but bash the sport, without having any idea what they're bashing.)

Tell you what: The India vs. Pakistan series is coming up very soon. This is an intensely passionate rivarly. It has a perpetual derby like atmosphere. Take Celtic vs Rangers, and multiply that by 1000. I don't know where you're physically located. But do you happen to know any South Asian friends (Indian, Pakistani, I don't care) who are communicative and will be watching this series? My best advice would be to tag along with them for some time. Of course, this will be a very biased approach but you'll get a quick introduction to all the nuances this way.

Similarly, when the Ashes tour happens (England vs. Australia), try watching it with cricket fan(s) you may know. That rivalry isn't as intense as above derby, in my opinion. But it has a longer history and tradition behind it.

[Craig the Aussie]

[QUOTE=Craig the Aussie]Check this out:

http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/CKTBASX1.html [/QUOTE (http://usa.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/CKTBASX1.html [/QUOTE)]

Ahhhhh.....much better.
The combination of those sites (and a quick readthrough of the Laws) makes my brain hurt less. :D

Repped you both.

Cheers mate

Any questions, let us know ...

As Chandu says, both India v Pakistan and England v Australia coming up will be huge. If you can watch some of these games with a native of one of these countries you will pick it up pretty quickly - that's how I came to understand a bit about NFL football.

For getting a feel for the game, the limited over (called One Day International at the top level) format will probably be the easiest for you, but the 5 day Test matches are the real deal.

[NashRambler]

I'm an American who has become interested in cricket as a result of a former co-worker from Sydney who did his best to explain the game to me. One of the hardest things for me to understand is why deliveries must be bowled with a straight arm.

I've been reading about the ICC's new 15 degree rule and the new process to deal with bowlers who have suspect bowling actions. My question is why not remove this restriction and allow bowlers to throw and remove the pressure on the officials to be on the lookout for arm straightening during deliveries?

Is it a question of disturbing the continuity of the game as it has existed since overarm bowling was allowed beginning in the 1860's or is it believed that allowing bowlers to throw would give them too great of a competitive advantage over batsmen?

Thanks for any replies to my questions.

[Craig the Aussie]

To be flippant, because it is "bowling". Basically throwing would completely change the game. It would make fast bowlers faster and allow spin bowlers to deliver more spin on the ball.

A similar question to a baseball person would be "why not make it that the batter can hit the ball in any direction, or not have to run if he hits the ball straight to a fielder, or why not get rid of gloves?"

The "15 degrees" ruling is basically to bring technology into line with the human eye. By that I mean that anything under about 15 degrees looks straight to the naked eye - that amount of flex can only be picked up by slow motion photography. At lower levels of the game it is not an issue, as the technolgy is not in place.

[NashRambler]

Thanks for the response. I saw the news that Brett Lee bowled a 160 kph delivery against New Zealand. What speed do you speculate a bowler like Lee could deliver a ball if he were allowed to throw?

Another question I have is about the stance of the striking batsman. Batsmen seem to always have one foot behind the crease as they wait for the delivery. Is there a rule that the batsman has to have one foot grounded behind the batting crease until the bowler releases the ball or is it simply a good idea to do so in order to prevent being stumped by the wicketkeeper?

[Craig the Aussie]

Thanks for the response. I saw the news that Brett Lee bowled a 160 kph delivery against New Zealand. What speed do you speculate a bowler like Lee could deliver a ball if he were allowed to throw?

Another question I have is about the stance of the striking batsman. Batsmen seem to always have one foot behind the crease as they wait for the delivery. Is there a rule that the batsman has to have one foot grounded behind the batting crease until the bowler releases the ball or is it simply a good idea to do so in order to prevent being stumped by the wicketkeeper?

Well, I guess the same as a baseball pitcher - what do they throw at ?

The problem with that also is the workload on the shoulder. I know nothing about baseball, but would guess that they get shoulder & elbow injuries, and that is with being rotated & rested. Currently when cricket bowlers get hurt it is normally their knee or ankles, due to the impact on landing -or their lower back due to rotation.

The batsman can stand anywhere he likes, so long as he in front of his stumps. Generally if the keeper is standing up to the stumps - as for a spin bowler, the batman keeps a foot behind the crease until the ball is bowled. if he is confident he can pick where the ball is going to bounce he might then dance a few paces down the pitch to hit it. If a quicker bowler is operating, and the keeper is standing back, the batsman man bat a bit further out of his crease.

The advantage of standing back at your crease is that you get a fraction more time to see the ball. The advatage of standing forward is that you can get to the pitch of full length ball better, and reduce the risk of being given out LBW. Top batsmen also tend to vary their stance to put the bowler off a bit.

[NashRambler]

The average major league baseball pitcher can throw at 145 kph and there are some like Randy Johnson who can regularly throw as fast as 160 kph.

The reason I was asking is because I was wondering if a bowler, with the run-up, could deliver a ball even faster than 160 kph if allowed to throw as compared to a baseball pitcher who delivers the ball without a run-up.

[Craig the Aussie]

I was thinking about this, and I think it would be hard to throw after running up any more efficiently than bowling - I don't know??

[quentinc]

So, in theory, would it be an advantage to bat second? Since you would know how many runs you have to score?

Also, when you see cricket scores it might read something like:

England: 180

South Africa: 192-2

What is the number after the hyphen? I'm guessing that it is the number of wickets that a team has won by.

[Peakite]

The numbers after the score are the number of wickets lost. So in a weather affected one day game, the scores youve listed would be an eight wicket win for South Africa, if they were in a test match it would simply mean they have eight wickets in their first innings (with a slight lead).

The advantage in batting first or second can depend on the pitch/conditions/game.

A day/night one day game, it would seem to be an advantage to bat first, under natural light. Over a five day test match the pitch can wear a bit making the fourth innings more difficult for the batsmen, so batting first would be better then. Of course if the conditions on the first morning favour the bowlers, maybe batting second would be better.

Knowing the score can be an advantage, at least you have a target to aim for, but then if you bat first you know there is the fielding to come to redeem failures at batting.

[Bluto11]

ok so is the County Championship consist of 5 day matches and the Totesport League 1 day matches?

i'm confused

[Craig the Aussie]

County Championship games are 4 day (as are Pura Cup in Australia).

Totesport League is a 1 day game competition - 45 overs per team

C&G Cup is a 1 day competition - 50 overs per team ( as is Australia's ING Cup).

Playing conditions etc of the various English competitions are at:

http://www.ecb.co.uk/domestic/rules/first-class-regulations-and-playing-conditions-2005.html

[goblue05]

First off great idea for a thread!For those of us living in non cricket playing countries their are very few resources for you to learn about the game.Cricket is a very complicated game and relies heavily on statistics(simular to baseball),so it is hard to figure out what is going on ,especially since their aren't many matches televised here.Anyway on to my question,while reading through the rules on bowling and bowling deliveries on some cricket site it seemed to intimate that the bowler has to inform the umpire what type of delivery he is going to make(ie. spin,seam,etc.)and then the umpire informs the batter.Is this true or did I misunderstand?

[Craig the Aussie]

Anyway on to my question,while reading through the rules on bowling and bowling deliveries on some cricket site it seemed to intimate that the bowler has to inform the umpire what type of delivery he is going to make(ie. spin,seam,etc.)and then the umpire informs the batter.Is this true or did I misunderstand?

Misunderstood a bit.

What the bowler must tell the umpire (who informs the batsman - NOT BATTER :) ) is whether he will be bowling left or right handed, and from which side of the stumps he will be bowling (ie "over the wicket", which means that a right hander would be bowling from the left side of the stumps, or "around the wicket", where he would be bowling from the right side).

If he decides to change sides or hands, he must tell the umpire, or it will be called a "no-ball". He doesn't have to tell anyone the style of bowling that he will be doing.

[MasterShake29]

On a cricket scorecard (http://www.ecb.co.uk/stats/fixtures/fix-11971.html), what does a * and + mean next to a batter's name?