Why does cricket stop for rain?

[scz4]

Never understood the attraction of cricket, looks amazingly dull and just a glorified game of rounders. Stopping for tea and biscuits, not really a sport is it!

Anyway, how come cricket can't be played in the rain?

[Graham E]

You'd get wet. Where's the fun in that?

[HereBeMonsters]

They'd get all wet.

[johnfm]

Mods, should this be moved to the 'trolling idiots' section?

[scz4]

Why? It's a genuine question, can you explain it? I was looking for a technical reason, but no one can give it I guess.

The reason I asked is I've just watched a "play-off" on the news because a game was rained off for three days. The play-off involved taking 10 throws each at un-guarded bit of wood, for which one team only managed to throw a ball and hit it once out of ten. Surely it's in the interest of cricket supporters that the players man up and get on with it?

Edited by scz4 on Thursday 30th July 18:42

[Asterix]

You never have a slippery wicket?

[johnfm]

The game is played on rolled turf - not an artificial surface. Tbowling and batting require a decent footing.

Wet conditions affect the pitch, the footing of bowlers and fielders, the condition of the ball. In a nutshell, you play in very light rain, but heavy wet conditions make the game unplayable to a decent, safe standard.

[scz4]

Thanks.

Could they not wear studded shoes like footballers, rugby players, golfers etc?

[johnfm]

we do wear spikes. Half spikes for batting and fielding - bowlers wear full spikes.

The ball can become very slippery when wet = can make the game farcical if bowler can't grip the ball.

[Dave^]

it's a gentleman's game, not a thuggish idiots/girlie kickabout.....

[Podie]

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

[johnfm]

Podie said:

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

^^ what he said!

Though the county circuit has, IMO, bred a swathe of average cricketers who think they're something becasue they have a sponsorship deal.

[Dave^]

Podie said:

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

humour just misses some people.....

[Podie]

Dave^ said:

Podie said:

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

humour just misses some people.....

It was for the benefit of the OP more than anything. Your gave it away for me!

[Podie]

johnfm said:

Podie said:

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

^^ what he said!

Though the county circuit has, IMO, bred a swathe of average cricketers who think they're something becasue they have a sponsorship deal.

Sounds about right. Always amused me that as a bowler I got a lot of batting gear though

[Dave^]

Podie said:

johnfm said:

Podie said:

Dave^ said:

it's a gentleman's game...

Having played at county level (2nd XI), I can assure you it couldn't be further from the truth.

^^ what he said!

Though the county circuit has, IMO, bred a swathe of average cricketers who think they're something becasue they have a sponsorship deal.

Sounds about right. Always amused me that as a bowler I got a lot of batting gear though

to be fair, there's not a lot of kit you can get for a bowler.....

spikes..... check....

ball..... check....

erm... sod it, give him a bat and some gloves too.....

[Podie]

[CJS.]

Very dangerous for a batsmen if its raining and there is a bowler running in getting the bowl flying at you at great speed and you can't see it properly. It's hard enough without the rain. Bowler can slip and ball can go anywhere, fielders can slip and tear/break things.

Etc etc

[johnfm]

Too many 'first class' cricket teams in the Uk - which is why your test side is where it is in the rankings.

THe two divison system has helped concentrate the betetr players, but there's still too big a pool, with the associated watering down it brings.

I remember watching a county match once years ago and once the overseas quick bolwers came off, it was 70 overs of military medium trundlers a la Ian Austin.

Most county bowlers would never have forced their way into a Sheffield Shield team.

[Podie]

johnfm said:

Most county bowlers would never have forced their way into a Sheffield Shield team.

Agreed. The Yorkshire leagues are tough... with some good standard of cricket being played.