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The 2007 cricket World Cup begins shortly, which means further incomprehensible cricket posts. Here’s a brief instructional video that will only increase alienation and confusion among non-cricket readers.
Okay,
I’m going to try and educate myself on this sport so be patient with my questions…..
It just doesn’t seem right to give the “bowler” is it? a running start. I’m trying to picture a Major League pitcher getting a running start, man a wild pitch would hurt…...
Posted by Old Tanker on 2007 03 12 at 11:43 AM • permalinkOh for crying out loud. The NCAA has just issued the 65 team bracket for the college basketball tournament. (The University of Cincinnati just missed the cut). Both Ohio State and Florida were issued #1 seeds, creating a possibility that both schools will remeet for a second national championship (the first being the ass whooping the Florida football team issued to the Buckeyes).
And just what are the chances we’ll be getting good blog coverage of the tournament here? Zilch. Because of ......... cricket. Is there a more mamby pamby game in existence?
That’s disturbing man.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 03 12 at 12:35 PM • permalinkhis fastest bowl ever recorded was just over 160kph
Impressive. Then again, Nolan Ryan could do that, and better, without a running start. And he did it for more than 30 years. While he wasn’t allowed to bounce the ball on the way to home plate, the fact that batters had no clear idea where the ball was going to go instilled a fear of God in them…
;^)
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 03 12 at 06:09 PM • permalinkGuys like Akhtar and Lee and have never struck the sort of terror in the hearts of batsmen that Thommo did at his peak. Fast bowling is more than just about speed. Its also about the ability to extract a lot of bounce from a good length and make the ball rear up (or “kick”) at ferocious speed. This is what made Thomson a handful. Akhtar and Lee are by comparison more “skiddy” bowlers and as a result get tonked around a lot more.
I would assume then, that Thomson was putting a lot of topspin on the ball. I think I’d want to be wearing a lot more padding if someone were throwing that at my feet.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 03 12 at 06:25 PM • permalinkPeople shouldn’t be throwing fastballs at other people like that, someone could get hurt…
I for one would enjoy learning something about cricket.It looks like it takes some athleticism to play and one doesn’t have to be a genetic freak to compete at top levels. Unlike modern basketball and football.What’s a small (basketball) guard these days 6’5” and 220 lbs? Not to mention forwards and centers that block out the sun. And don’t get me started on the proportions of football players.I was a serious baseball and tennis player in my distant youth by the way.
Shit he was fast- puts the likes of Brett Lee in perspective (and no helmets, chest and forearm pads either- like facing up to a bloody cannonball).
Admittedly Thommo used to spray them around a bit, but when he was accurate he was virtually unplayable. Where’s all the other pace bowlers as well? The West Indies haven’t produced a decent quick for twenty years- I believe they all get snavveled by US baseball/basketball/football sides etc and cricket’s the poor cousin there these days.
When Thommo got clocked at 160kmh, by his own admission he was an unfit pisspot with a crook back. No one’s come close to him in his prime.
There’s a few ripper stories about him bowling sandshoe crushers at Sri Lankan’s and them running to meet the stretcher bearers to get away from him. Plus if you’ve ever heard him speak uncensored, he’s as mad as a cut snake with an infected arse.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 03 12 at 09:32 PM • permalinkShit he was fast- puts the likes of Brett Lee in perspective (and no helmets, chest and forearm pads either- like facing up to a bloody cannonball).
Just as much as I’d never want to bat against Nolan Ryan or Randy Johnson, there ain’t no way I’d want to be out there with Jeff Thomson hurling those at my feet. Christ!
I was once a pretty fair baseball player myself, but some things are just nuts…
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 03 12 at 10:11 PM • permalinkThe West Indies haven’t produced a decent quick for twenty years- I believe they all get snavveled by US baseball/basketball/football sides etc and cricket’s the poor cousin there these days.
I wouldn’t be surprised: for instance, IIRC, the Dominican Republic as more current Major League baseball players, per capita, than any other country.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 03 12 at 10:20 PM • permalink#3. “A wild pitch would hurt ...”
Yep. Cricket balls are smaller and harder than baseball balls. OTOH (1) cricket balls lose some speed bouncing off the pitch and (2) bowlers have to keep their arm straight, which greatly reduces the delivery speed.
The real danger to the batsman is the “beam ball” or “beamer”, which goes straight from the bowler to the batsman without bouncing. It’s highly illegal, for good reason.
Posted by Chris Chittleborough on 2007 03 13 at 04:22 AM • permalink#21
That was enough vocabulary for 1 day, I got yorker, full toss, etc…
And people think hockey is hard to follow…..
Posted by Old Tanker on 2007 03 13 at 08:59 AM • permalinkAaaahhhhh cricket. The world’s greatest game.
How I miss it. It’s enough to make me want to emigrate again, this time to Oz or NZ.
Posted by Kim du Toit on 2007 03 13 at 03:28 PM • permalink
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I say that we make cricketeers watch the World Cow Chip Throwing Contest.