Ramble about the quirks of cricket.

I just had to post this. I think it's very relevant and applicable to me.

I was taking in my usual dose of Psych related blog articles from my bookmarked PsyBlog, when I came across an entry about basking in reflected glory.

"Here in England we have a strange tradition called 'test cricket'. It's a ridiculous game that goes on for five days, stops for tea and bad light, has impenetrable rules, weird names for fielding positions like 'silly-mid-on' and 'short-backward-leg' and which frequently ends, after the aforementioned five days, with neither side victorious.

Every two years England and Australia compete for 'The Ashes' (a tiny urn which usually stays in England no matter who wins) in a series of five grudge-matches dating back to 1882. Those who follow cricket, and I count myself amongst these, take this biennial pantomime-in-white very seriously. Sometimes so seriously I can't bear to watch it. This year England won and I, as a proud Englishman, celebrated the vanquishing of the old enemy.

As usual I suddenly find myself telling others how 'we' won the cricket, and I'm not just telling other fans, but trying to weave it into conversations with people who have no interest in it whatsoever. This is odd because, as I know all too well, even most English people think cricket is dull and anachronistic."

Well, what can I say,except that I relate 100% with the writer. I am one of those who take their cricket very seriously. Yes cricket can be stubborn and old-fashioned and slow and time consuming and test cricket even more so, but maybe that's precisely why I adore the game so much. Why else would I travel to a different continent with my family to watch a 5-day game?

Maybe it's because I love the fact that this crazy game actually halts for TEA. That fielding positions are called nonsensical names like "silly point" and "square leg" and deliveries can be called "googlies" and "chinaman". That it can move populations of 1 billion and stir up patriotism to a fever pitch. That there is no roughing it out here, and that it's referred to as the gentleman's game. That it can last for five days and have no winner and yet leave spectators satisfied. That despite it's draggy nature, it can keep you at the edge of your seat until the last ball. That cheerleaders are considered a novelty and that there are debates about whether they should be part of the game or not. That technology is looked upon with suspicion and inspires debates amongst fans and officials alike. That commentators have so much time that they can celebrate each others' birthdays in the commentary box. That there are crazy rules, some of which are difficult to even get one's mind around.

There's all this and so much more to this game which I love, and I'm sure other cricket lovers will agree with me. And as much as I complain about some of the more archaic aspects of the game, I have to say it reflects so much history and tradition. And makes me adore it all the more.

And with that I shall go back to my match. :)