Whilst most of the eyes of the cricketing world are turning to the 2009 Ashes Series between England and Australia how many of you known that in the past our American cousins played the game of gentleman?
As early as the 1700s, American cricket clubs were established and this was not long after they first appeared in England. Cricket quickly became established as a leisurely pastime. Not long after, eastern Canada developed their own clubs. This acted as a catalyst to both the US and Canadian cricket clubs to go in search of regular competition and it soon led to the first international cricket match.
The first Canada vs. USA cricket match has been played annually since the 1840s, and brings upwards of 10,000 fans to New York. Believe it or not it is one of the oldest international sporting events in the world today. The Canada vs. USA cricket match was to prove be the first of what would eventually lead to a far reaching international sport.
The 20th century saw cricket in America go into terminal decline. Whilst In the late 1800s, cricket remained an amateur sport, at the same time both England and Australia were on the verge of launching a professional system for their cricketers. Internationally, a real effort was put into improving cricketing standards but many North American cricket clubs chose to remain elite preserving their amateur status. Who now has heard of Town ball? A sport developed out of cricket and was played in small town and city squares. This was easily played in urban areas. More importantly a select number of cricket clubs went on to sponsor the first American baseball teams, as they came to be called .In the 1900s, the game of baseball became so popular in the USA that it all but put to death the game of cricket that gave it life. Within a few short decades, cricket in the USA was nothing but a distant memory.
Some 30 years ago in the back in the 1970s, the USA turned once again to cricket as populations increased with a corresponding interest in cricket. Disney even looked at the potential profits that could be gleaned by bringing cricket back to the United States. The jury is still out as to whether a new cricket association should be re launched or if the sporting American public would spend money investing in first-class cricket matches and watching international cricketers in their own cities and towns. With down turn in the global economy, the time is possible not quite right to reintroduce the game to the North American shores but who knows what the future holds for this potentially lucrative market. The face of cricket continues to evolve and as you watch the bitter rivalry played out between the English and Australian cricket players for the 2009 Ashes series this summer, dare to believe that one day a the USA cricket team will visit these shore to contest an inaugural first test between the two nations.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Is the Popularity of Test Cricket on the Wane?
It must be remembered that there are several types of cricket currently being played at many different levels even internationally. These include test cricket, one-day cricket and most recently, Twenty-twenty cricket has ceased the imagination of even those who do not traditionally follow cricket. It has been suggested that it would be much better to have fewer international matches, a smaller ICC with less money at stake and that this would rekindle the interest in test cricket to make it a truly special event.
To examine the reason for the seismic shift in cricket is to those outside the traditional cricket world, consider for a moment how Cricket is played. Two teams of eleven players each, which take turns to bowl a hard-leather ball. It follows a complicated system of 42 rules difficult to the outsider to understand. Traditionally test cricket is played in white clothes and with red balls. In the limited over form of the game more drama is brought to the spectacle by the wearing of brightly colored team kits. Test cricket seems inordinately long, up to six hours a day with breaks for refreshment whereas the shorter versions of the game can be all over within a day and sometimes within hours. Little surprise therefore that these limited over games are marching onwards.
Test cricket is the highest regarded form of the game despite the inroads being made by the new forms but it has to be conceded that one-day international cricket is now more popular amongst the wider sporting world. The sport of cricket has been played around the world in one form or another for 800 years. It has emerged as the universal common language of South Asia an ambassador if you like to a world beyond cricket.
Cricket has to be prepared to embrace change in order to appeal to a broader audience it already spans the generations, with a little more flexibility it can ensure that the traditional battles like the 2009 Ashes Test series continues to flourish for many decades to come
To examine the reason for the seismic shift in cricket is to those outside the traditional cricket world, consider for a moment how Cricket is played. Two teams of eleven players each, which take turns to bowl a hard-leather ball. It follows a complicated system of 42 rules difficult to the outsider to understand. Traditionally test cricket is played in white clothes and with red balls. In the limited over form of the game more drama is brought to the spectacle by the wearing of brightly colored team kits. Test cricket seems inordinately long, up to six hours a day with breaks for refreshment whereas the shorter versions of the game can be all over within a day and sometimes within hours. Little surprise therefore that these limited over games are marching onwards.
Test cricket is the highest regarded form of the game despite the inroads being made by the new forms but it has to be conceded that one-day international cricket is now more popular amongst the wider sporting world. The sport of cricket has been played around the world in one form or another for 800 years. It has emerged as the universal common language of South Asia an ambassador if you like to a world beyond cricket.
Cricket has to be prepared to embrace change in order to appeal to a broader audience it already spans the generations, with a little more flexibility it can ensure that the traditional battles like the 2009 Ashes Test series continues to flourish for many decades to come
Top Five Wicket Keepers in Cricket
The World Cup is without question the final word in cricket worldwide. And like the Olympics, there are teams from all around the world. But there is more than just watching the matches. And just because one team wins or looses, individual players can have a better or worse day than their teammates. Below are the numbers for the top five wicket-keepers in tests. And some are pretty amazing.
With amazing results, five wicket-keepers in test who are among the best in the field are listed below: 1. Mark Boucher with 475 dismissals, an average of 0.95, 4,693 runs and an average run of 29.89. Boucher is known for his swiftness with the gloves and is also a very good batsman. As a result he has always been a very good all round support for South Africa.
2. Adam Gilchrist with 416 dismissals, an average of 0.86, 5,570 runs and a runs average of 47.61. A lot of Australian cricket victories are due to untiring efforts of Gilchrist.
3. Another brilliant wicket keeper, batsman on the list is, Alec Stewart with 277 dismissals, an average of 0.67, 8,463 runs and a runs average of 39.55. Alec Stewart is from England side.
4. Yet another Aussie player to break all the records, Ian Healy with 395 dismissals and an average of 1.03, 4,356 runs and a runs average of 27.4.
5. Last but not the least, Rodney Marsh with 355 dismissals, an average of 1.3, with 3,633 runs and a runs average of 26.52.
Of course, like any player, the wicket-keeper must be a good batsman too. And it is very often a tough choice between two keepers, with one being the better batsman, and the other being the better keeper
With amazing results, five wicket-keepers in test who are among the best in the field are listed below: 1. Mark Boucher with 475 dismissals, an average of 0.95, 4,693 runs and an average run of 29.89. Boucher is known for his swiftness with the gloves and is also a very good batsman. As a result he has always been a very good all round support for South Africa.
2. Adam Gilchrist with 416 dismissals, an average of 0.86, 5,570 runs and a runs average of 47.61. A lot of Australian cricket victories are due to untiring efforts of Gilchrist.
3. Another brilliant wicket keeper, batsman on the list is, Alec Stewart with 277 dismissals, an average of 0.67, 8,463 runs and a runs average of 39.55. Alec Stewart is from England side.
4. Yet another Aussie player to break all the records, Ian Healy with 395 dismissals and an average of 1.03, 4,356 runs and a runs average of 27.4.
5. Last but not the least, Rodney Marsh with 355 dismissals, an average of 1.3, with 3,633 runs and a runs average of 26.52.
Of course, like any player, the wicket-keeper must be a good batsman too. And it is very often a tough choice between two keepers, with one being the better batsman, and the other being the better keeper
Twenty-20 Cricket - A Game For Specialist Cricketers
Twenty-20 is the compact version of cricket that has taken the World by storm. The shortened format means the onus is on entertainment. The games are intense affairs that are fast paced with lots of drama. Initially T20 was not welcomed with open arms especially by lovers of test cricket. However, whether people like it or not the 20 over brand of cricket is here to stay.
Because of the short duration Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers. There is simply not enough time to adapt to playing conditions. Players need to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. To be successful in Twenty-20 matches, players need to be able to improvise and think on their feet. A good cricket brain is a must and will help to outthink opponents.
In test cricket batsmen have the luxury of playing themselves in. This gives them a certain amount of time to see the ball. In many ways, the 5 day format is the opposite of Twenty-20 cricket. There is no time to adjust the eyesight as batsmen are expected to score runs quickly rather than merely occupy the crease.
The all-rounder is a valuable commodity in the shortest form of the game. The ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes these players important members of the team. Some of the best teams have now recognised this. Including several all round performers will give the side strength and balance. It also gives the captain plenty of bowling options in the field.
Bowlers are just as important and some would say they earn their money more than the other players. A maiden over is a rarity in the hectic Twenty-20 arena but the ability to bowl dot balls or keep the run rate down to a run a ball makes the difference between winning and losing. By bowling a consistent line and cutting out the odd poor delivery, bowlers can make it difficult for the batsmen to score sufficient runs.
Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers and most cricket playing nations have now realised this. Players who are regulars in their countries test or one day squads can no longer expect to be included. In twenty over cricket, only players that can make valid contributions should be included.
Because of the short duration Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers. There is simply not enough time to adapt to playing conditions. Players need to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact. To be successful in Twenty-20 matches, players need to be able to improvise and think on their feet. A good cricket brain is a must and will help to outthink opponents.
In test cricket batsmen have the luxury of playing themselves in. This gives them a certain amount of time to see the ball. In many ways, the 5 day format is the opposite of Twenty-20 cricket. There is no time to adjust the eyesight as batsmen are expected to score runs quickly rather than merely occupy the crease.
The all-rounder is a valuable commodity in the shortest form of the game. The ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes these players important members of the team. Some of the best teams have now recognised this. Including several all round performers will give the side strength and balance. It also gives the captain plenty of bowling options in the field.
Bowlers are just as important and some would say they earn their money more than the other players. A maiden over is a rarity in the hectic Twenty-20 arena but the ability to bowl dot balls or keep the run rate down to a run a ball makes the difference between winning and losing. By bowling a consistent line and cutting out the odd poor delivery, bowlers can make it difficult for the batsmen to score sufficient runs.
Twenty-20 cricket is a game for specialist cricketers and most cricket playing nations have now realised this. Players who are regulars in their countries test or one day squads can no longer expect to be included. In twenty over cricket, only players that can make valid contributions should be included.
How to Bet on Cricket - Your Ultimate Guide
Have you ever speculated on how to bet on cricket? Well, doing if you have experience on betting on other kinds of sports like horse racing and motor sports, then you have probably taken into account the tedious work involved with these other kinds. Researching, data gathering together with a complete and thorough analyzing of each racer and comparing each racer with each other is quite the hard task. If you do not find this kind of work like tasks fun and enjoyable, then you should try betting on cricket. Unlike other sports, it is much easier to bet on cricket because of a few differences.
Cricket, like other sports, has its own specific rules that must be followed. As such, it is important to know these rules by heart. A basic mastery coupled with advanced study of this rules is very much recommended in order to fully utilize these rules in making your bet. It is important to stress that in cricket, you can make "draw" bets. The reason for this is that cricket games can go for as long as one day to up to three days, There are even some cricket games that go on for as long as five days. As such, draw bets became distinctively popular in this kind of sport. Many online cricket betting enthusiasts and fanatics have double their money by making draw bets.
Another key factor to take note of in online cricket bets is that you can make bets based on the "series scores". International cricket teams will eventually play with each other in test matches. These test matches can go on for as long as three to five test matches. In international day matches, it can even go as long as a week. Making a bet based on this series scores is simply placing your bet on how many expected wins you are waiting for with regard to the team that you have put your bet on. If you have great analytical skills then you could put these skills into good use here. You can rate each team on there best and worst capabilities and then make a prediction with a higher chance of success. Then use this prediction in making your bet in order to earn that money that you so desire for.
You can even bet on the top batsman in this cricket sport. Making this kind of bet is simply placing your money on who you think will be the top scorer for the game. You can place your bet accurately by using historical records as basis. Research on each team's top scorer or ace and then rate each one of them. Based on this comparison, you should be able to come up with a result that has a high probability of winning you that cash that you yearn for.
Last but not the least, you can even bet on the total number of runs that each team can make during a game. You can either bet on "odd" or "even". If the total runs of a team come up with an odd number, then you win if you have put your bet on the "odd" and if the total is an even number, then you win that money if you have put your bet on the "even" tag. Betting on cricket is much easier than betting on other kinds of sport. As such, why not try your luck in online cricket betting?
Cricket, like other sports, has its own specific rules that must be followed. As such, it is important to know these rules by heart. A basic mastery coupled with advanced study of this rules is very much recommended in order to fully utilize these rules in making your bet. It is important to stress that in cricket, you can make "draw" bets. The reason for this is that cricket games can go for as long as one day to up to three days, There are even some cricket games that go on for as long as five days. As such, draw bets became distinctively popular in this kind of sport. Many online cricket betting enthusiasts and fanatics have double their money by making draw bets.
Another key factor to take note of in online cricket bets is that you can make bets based on the "series scores". International cricket teams will eventually play with each other in test matches. These test matches can go on for as long as three to five test matches. In international day matches, it can even go as long as a week. Making a bet based on this series scores is simply placing your bet on how many expected wins you are waiting for with regard to the team that you have put your bet on. If you have great analytical skills then you could put these skills into good use here. You can rate each team on there best and worst capabilities and then make a prediction with a higher chance of success. Then use this prediction in making your bet in order to earn that money that you so desire for.
You can even bet on the top batsman in this cricket sport. Making this kind of bet is simply placing your money on who you think will be the top scorer for the game. You can place your bet accurately by using historical records as basis. Research on each team's top scorer or ace and then rate each one of them. Based on this comparison, you should be able to come up with a result that has a high probability of winning you that cash that you yearn for.
Last but not the least, you can even bet on the total number of runs that each team can make during a game. You can either bet on "odd" or "even". If the total runs of a team come up with an odd number, then you win if you have put your bet on the "odd" and if the total is an even number, then you win that money if you have put your bet on the "even" tag. Betting on cricket is much easier than betting on other kinds of sport. As such, why not try your luck in online cricket betting?
All About Cricket Balls
Cricket balls come in different sizes and materials. For practise or indoor games you use a plastic ball, anad for official games you use a cork ball. It actually comprises of a core of cork, which is wrapped tightly with string, and covered by a leather case with a slightly raised sewn seam. Red balls are used in official day games, but you will probably use a white ball in day / night matches. This is because red balls are much harder to pick up under lights.
In men's cricket the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in circumference. Youth & women's cricket use slightly smaller & lighter balls.
For what you get, cricket balls are expensive. You have to spend about £6 on a ball (based on 2009 prices) if you want buy a decent one. Even then you won't get the best quality; you can easily spend £12 or more if you want this. This is because they are not particularly easy to make and the materials aren't cheap either.
When the cricket ball is new you will find it bounces higher, and will probably swing more than when it is old. This is why most sides will have their most explosive batsmen batting at positions 4 and 5. They want them to have the best chance of getting runs, and by batting later when the ball is worn it will be swinging less. That's the theory anyway. If the fielding team polishes one side of the ball constantly, and lets the other side get rough, this can bring into effect 'reverse swing'. This means the ball will swing the opposite way to normal, and in the hands of a top class bowler can be devastating.
In men's cricket the ball must weigh between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces (155.9 and 163 grams) and measure between 8 13/16 and 9 inches (22.4 and 22.9 cm) in circumference. Youth & women's cricket use slightly smaller & lighter balls.
For what you get, cricket balls are expensive. You have to spend about £6 on a ball (based on 2009 prices) if you want buy a decent one. Even then you won't get the best quality; you can easily spend £12 or more if you want this. This is because they are not particularly easy to make and the materials aren't cheap either.
When the cricket ball is new you will find it bounces higher, and will probably swing more than when it is old. This is why most sides will have their most explosive batsmen batting at positions 4 and 5. They want them to have the best chance of getting runs, and by batting later when the ball is worn it will be swinging less. That's the theory anyway. If the fielding team polishes one side of the ball constantly, and lets the other side get rough, this can bring into effect 'reverse swing'. This means the ball will swing the opposite way to normal, and in the hands of a top class bowler can be devastating.
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