Cricket

[finnbogi]

I try to follow Test matches (I would really have wanted to be in England for the Ashes last summer), and also English county cricket to some extent. This is not easy; cricket is generally not played in Iceland and none of the local television programmes broadcast it. We can sometimes persuade pub owners to show cricket via satellite, but only if there are no football matches going on at the same time.

I also play a bit, usually no more than 10-12 times a summer, as summers are both short and rainy in Iceland. I am not particularly good at it, though.

[Dan Schultz]

I was in England for a spell last summer and had the opportunity to study the game of cricket a bit. It's really fascinating and quite involved. I wish there was a club where I live in the States. I might enjoy playing.

I'm sure you'll get some responses from our English friends on the forum. ANDY?

[tubiker]

Its been the high spot of the sporting summer watching the Aussies get rolled over by Flintoff + co



I am sure however that the boys down under are already plotting revenge



And my nomination for the most picturesque cricket pitch

Audley End, Essex

http://www.ridgewell.net/Audley%20End/Cricket.html

Andrew Murray

[TMurphy]

Is there anyone who can explain this game to me??? I've been interested in trying to understand exactly how it is played, but from everything I've read, I cannot get my head around it. Or is this something I'll have to see to understand???

[AndyCat]

Yep!

It's my favourite team sport. Any sport that for half the time you stand around chatting is on my list!

It's one of the most interesting yet complicated games going, but even tho it can last 5 days a game, is still exciting. For instance, even though scores can be in the 500-600 runs per team per 5 day game, there is always chance of a draw!

The "new" England hero, Andy "Freddie" Flintoff is a native of my city (Preston) and is rightly gaining a bit more coverage compared to the soccer stars.

This years Ashes (Aus vs Eng) was the best series I've ever watched! And it is England, not Britain or UK. Cricket as a national sport is very English, with other national (Scottish, Welsh etc) teams being in the main non existant or very unsuccessful.

And it's one of the most polite and sportsman like games there is. Check it out if you can!

EDIT:
Link below is the basis of the game (for the very interested only!):
http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/hosking/ ... nation.htm