Sports Random, Random

[ashkor87]

the two women in the photo on top are Smriti Mandhana, India's leading batter and former captain, (on the right as we look at the picture) and Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain.

[ti-amie]

I wish I understood cricket.

[ptmcmahon]

Of all the sports I don't follow, I've always found it the hardest to figure out just from watching casually without trying to put in effort to figure it out.

[ashkor87]

Of all the sports I don't follow, I've always found it the hardest to figure out just from watching casually without trying to put in effort to figure it out.

yes, you have to grow up playing it on the streets.. I did, all Indians do. Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies (Jamaica, Antigua etc play as one team), South Aftrica, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, all play very intensely.. what is common is they are all former British colonies.
What abut the US then? Actually, a world team made up of stalwarts from all over, went to the US once and was destroyed by an American fast bowler called Bart King. .. so there is some history there. The main reason is it not popular in the US is that it takes too long - 5 days for the usual 'Test' matches, the modern version's 'Twenty twenty' takes about 4 to 6 hours, much more manageable. The Cricket authorities are desperately trying to promote the game in North America, but when they do, it is all Indians and Pakistanis who show up, which is natural but not what is intended.

[ponchi101]

When I understood it, it is truly fascinating. It is a very cerebral game, and the statistical aspects are incredible.
But it is not meant for the American mentality. It is not fast paced; you need to cultivate patience.

[dryrunguy]

Ashkor, I am pleased to inform you that India's World Cup win made the NY Times Morning newsletter this morning--not one of the sports newsletters I receive--the general, overarching NY Times Morning newsletter that covers everything. I thought you might appreciate that.

[ashkor87]

Ashkor, I am pleased to inform you that India's World Cup win made the NY Times Morning newsletter this morning--not one of the sports newsletters I receive--the general, overarching NY Times Morning newsletter that covers everything. I thought you might appreciate that.

thanks.. but not so surprising - an Indian is about to become Mayor of New York tomorrow! Zohran 's father must have played cricket in Mumbai like the rest of us..

[ashkor87]

an interesting sidelight - there is a video circulating of a South African player bemoaning the fact that, while great players of the past and present, like Tendulkar (one of the greatest of modern cricketers) and Rohit Sharma (captain of the men's team) had come to support the Indian women, there was not a single such South African player or official, past or present, there to support them when the South African women played. The support the Indian women's team got from men who have never appreciated them in the past - was quite astonishing.. good to see it happening.

[Fastbackss]

I wish I understood cricket.

In college my university club went on a trip to compete in Australia. (Wasn't tennis )

I met a young lady from one of the Australian teams.

She was lovely and we fancied each other. She showed me all over Melbourne - we stayed up all night talking. We were in this cafe. Cricket was on the Tele - I said how I knew nothing.

She spent 90 minutes explaining, me looking deep into her beautiful eyes, and by the end, the sun had risen.

We met up the following night, to begin our brief ritual of talking through the night, and I had to fess up - I remembered none of it.

PS - I remember her name though.

[ashkor87]

Aussies are very passionate about cricket, and very good at it too..

[Suliso]

You can earn a million pounds by winning World Darts championship

[ponchi101]

It takes considerable skills. I say 1MM is fair.

[Suliso]

Every sport is a skill, but most don't offer this much money.

[dryrunguy]

You can earn a million pounds by winning World Darts championship

Do we get to throw the darts at real people?

[Suliso]

You can, but no million for you