I just don't 'get' cricket?

[Le Pop]

I just don't 'get' cricket, never have.

I played cricket at school, I've been aware of it - obviously - all my life, I even went to a day of a county championship game in the seventies (because you could buy beer all day).

Specifically, how can a team (England) of ostensibly the same players manage to suddenly become completely inept, and vice versa for Australia?

I confess I'm a footy fan and I really don't understand the appeal of cricket...

[z4chris99]

I don't understand football, why do they dive, fein injury etc?? why can't you drink in the stands, football hooligans etc.

cricket is a great game, different pitches, home advantage and an England team who is past it ..

need to cull about 5/6 players, blood some youth, put buttler in

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Le Pop said:

Specifically, how can a team (England) of ostensibly the same players manage to suddenly become completely inept?

As an England football fan you should be well used to this. (Like every time we stand 12 yards from the goal with just one opposition player in front of us )

[Vocal Minority]

Le Pop said:

Specifically, how can a team (England) of ostensibly the same players manage to suddenly become completely inept, and vice versa for Australia?

I confess I'm a footy fan and I really don't understand the appeal of cricket...

Not everyone can be a fan. I love cricket, but there is no shame if you don't!

With regard to your question, the simple answer is that players are not machines. They are people. They get older, the suffer drops in form, they are susceptible to problems in the squad etc. The same goes for the Australians - form can go up.

I sense that England isn't a happy camp at the moment. I think Cook's batting has suffered under the captaincy, and the fact that Trott left with a stress related illness and Swann flouncing off mid-series show England isn't a happy ship right now. In addition to this, I think Anderson has peaked and is now coming down the other side, and England's reliance on him in previous series is becoming clearer.

Australia have also found new direction under Lehmann - who's changes are now starting to come into effect. Previously they were a shambles.

Also, conditions in Australia are very different to England as well, with the ball usually coming with a lot more pace and bounce, which the Australians are better adapted to than the English. England tend to have slower, lower, swingier pitches - which England are better adapted to.

[Le Pop]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

As an England football fan you should be well used to this. (Like every time we stand 12 yards from the goal with just one opposition player in front of us )

Thing is, England's football team wouldn't beat their biggest rivals (let's say Germany) 5-0 then lose to them 5-0 six months later in fully competitive matches? I understand dips in form, but not that extreme...

[Le Pop]

z4chris99 said:

I don't understand football, why do they dive, fein injury etc?? why can't you drink in the stands, football hooligans etc.

They dive to gain an advantage and feint injury to either waste time or get an opponent into trouble.

You can drink in the stands these days (up to 15 min before the game and at half time) but in fairness pissed fans are even more belligerent than sober ones. The hooliganism is due to the extreme passion in the game and the partisan support, plus the fact that a fair proportion of footy fans can be knuckle-draggers when they start losing. I don't condone it, but I do understand it and I've been known to get quite wound up myself at footy.

I'm not trying to wind up cricket lovers, I just can't see the appeal of cricket, there just isn't remotely the same level of excitement or thrill that football generates. Last summer's playoff final at Wembley was one of the best days of my life not just because my team won, but the camaraderie and general merriment from first thing in the morning until last thing at night was just fantastic. Cricket is never going to match that...

[GadgeS3C]

Le Pop said:

I'm not trying to wind up cricket lovers, I just can't see the appeal of cricket, there just isn't remotely the same level of excitement or thrill that football generates. Last summer's playoff final at Wembley was one of the best days of my life not just because my team won, but the camaraderie and general merriment from first thing in the morning until last thing at night was just fantastic. Cricket is never going to match that...

I enjoy cricket (hard to say today...) but wouldn't describe myself as a massive fan - haven't been to that many matches, don't follow any team religiously, etc.

But I've had fantastic days out at cricket matches (50 over) that I'd describe as very similar to what you wrote. The difference being that the actual match is going on all day, the game can ebb and flow. Best of all is the banter between the supporters of each team. Having watched England vs the Windies with a row of Windies supporters sat in front, we had some fantastic banter. A great day out of sport.

[z4chris99]

Le Pop said:

Last summer's playoff final at Wembley was one of the best days of my life not just because my team won, but the camaraderie and general merriment from first thing in the morning until last thing at night was just fantastic. Cricket is never going to match that...

thats because you support football, not cricket, or any other sport.. of course you are going to like it more.

20/20 finals day, although the sabres lost twice two years running its a great day out..

england storming through a team during a test match, fantastic atmosphere with the barmy army, dressed up in fancy dress getting on it.

rugby, any game really, a great day out, loads to do round the stadium, friendly, very boozy, sit next to opposition fans, no heavy police presence etc etc

i've been to a fair few chelsea games, and some england games at wembley. its frankly st, a load of thugs, st loads of police, no drinking at your seat, separated fans, cheating players, loads of swearing on and off the pitch.

[obob]

Why has this turned into a thread about how st football is, whenever someone criticises a sport why do it's fans criticise football.
Anyway I'm a fan of both, there's nothing like football in how fast it is and how fast a game can change. I enjoy going to cricket but its more like a day out with mates, 20/20 is frigging awesome though. Watched Chris Gayle bludgeon a century is just awesome it is. Footballs just more edge of your seat.

[cheddar]

Cricket?
Brilliant.

Corey Anderson, last Wednesday, Blackcaps vs West Indies 20/20 in Queenstown, new world record, 100 off of 36 balls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve64SU2ImIw

[XCP]

obob said:

Why has this turned into a thread about how st football is, whenever someone criticises a sport why do it's fans criticise football.
Anyway I'm a fan of both, there's nothing like football in how fast it is and how fast a game can change. I enjoy going to cricket but its more like a day out with mates, 20/20 is frigging awesome though. Watched Chris Gayle bludgeon a century is just awesome it is. Footballs just more edge of your seat.

Each to their own. I quite enjoy cricket but I find soccer mind numbingly boring....

[obob]

XCP said:

Each to their own. I quite enjoy cricket but I find soccer mind numbingly boring....

And...?

[Genks]

obob said:

Why has this turned into a thread about how st football is, whenever someone criticises a sport why do it's fans criticise football.
Anyway I'm a fan of both, there's nothing like football in how fast it is and how fast a game can change. I enjoy going to cricket but its more like a day out with mates, 20/20 is frigging awesome though. Watched Chris Gayle bludgeon a century is just awesome it is. Footballs just more edge of your seat.

Yep, a nil-nil draw is edge of the seat stuff..................

[XCP]

obob said:

And...?

one man's excitement is another mans boredom. That is just the way it is.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

XCP said:

obob said:

And...?

That is just the way it is.

...somethings will never change..

[z4chris99]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

...somethings will never change..

that's just the way it is...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

z4chris99 said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

...somethings will never change..

that's just the way it is...

ber de lum, ber de lum, ber de lum

[Spiffing]

Cricket is superb. I have been to a day of a test and 50/50 on my tod many times due to working shifts and redundancy with friends working normal hours. Brilliant atmosphere and felt very welcome by supporters both English and of the opposing team. The first time I went I was a tad nervous being a woman on my own etc, but once I proved I was a bit knowledgeable about the game and the fact that I took a fair amount of cake and snacks people were more than willing to chat share some banter.

It's like anything if you enjoy the sport you will notice and appreciate the finer details (a good tackle/pass etc in football, a bowler troubling a batsman in cricket) along with the obvious goal, wicket, six etc...