Cricket made simple

By Candy Reid, SI.com

There are two words I hear most often among non-fans when the subject of cricket comes up -- "slow" and "boring."

Now, of course, the cricket fan would heartily disagree.

They can appreciate the fundamentals -- for example, a batsman hitting a difficult ball to the boundary or a bowler creating wicked spin or bowling pace in order to get a batsman out.

Most fans who are knowledgeable about the game prefer "test" cricket -- the version that can last up to five days. In tests, each team has a maximum of two innings and batsmen usually need to keep their wicket and slowly build the run-rate.

It requires patience of the highest order, since a batsman could theoretically be in for days while his team sits in the pavilion and waits for a turn at bat.

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While test cricket may be the cricket lovers' game, the other version -- one-day internationals -- is a good way to get into the sport.

One-day internationals are limited-overs cricket, so each team will have only so many overs in which to get as many runs as possible. Usually it's 50 overs (one over = six balls). Sometimes it's less because of inclement weather or bad light.

Therefore, in this version of the game, batsmen can't hang around at the crease and play "safe" shots; they know they have to score runs because when 50 overs are up, or your team is all out, the other team will come in and try to beat your score.

It's a fascinating game and well worth a watch. ODIs are like a soccer match turned into 15-minute halves, or a best-of-five-games tennis match. There's no time to waste; you have to get going straight away.

If you'd seen the opening game of the Cricket World Cup between host South Africa and the West Indies, you'd understand why ODIs are so fun to watch.

The West Indies went into bat first and finished with 278 for 5. So South Africa needed to score 279 to win. The co-hosts were docked an over for slow bowling and finished up their 49 overs three runs short. It was a frantic finish and felt to me almost like a watching a soccer team hitting the post in a last-ditch attempt to win the match -- so near but yet so far.

So if you've never watched a cricket match, don't be put off by the time they take or the fact that after watching for five days the match can end in a draw.

Start by trying an ODI; it's fast, it's furious and most of all it's fun.

 

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