Well, I'm English and I don't get it either. Maybe this explains why:

Cricket 'was invented in Belgium'
By Chris Mason

BBC News, Brussels

New academic research claims cricket is not English, but was imported by immigrants from northern Belgium.

A poem thought to have been written in 1533 has been uncovered, which suggests the game originates from Flanders.

In the work attributed to John Skelton, Flemish weavers are labelled "kings of crekettes", according to Paul Campbell of the Australian National University.

The discovery challenges the long established theory that the sport evolved from English children's games.

The first definitive references to the game appeared in England in the 1600s, when fines were handed out for those missing church to play.

A game played by the masses in the country was taken into public schools and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the century that followed.

The first cricket club was formed in Hambledon in the 1760s and the world-famous Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was founded in 1787.

'Flemish phrase'

But German academic Heiner Gillmeister and his Australian colleague, Mr Campbell, say the discovery proves the quintessential English pastime is anything but English.

THE IMAGE OF IPOCRISIE
O lodre of Ipocrites,
Nowe shut vpp your wickettes,
And clappe to your clickettes!
A! Farewell, kings of crekettes!

Poem attributed to John Skelton
Mr Campbell has uncovered an apparent reference to cricket in the 16th Century work, The Image of Ipocrisie, attributed to the English poet John Skelton, which refers to Flemish weavers who settled in southern and eastern England.

They are described as "kings of crekettes"; "wickettes" are mentioned too.

It is thought the weavers brought the game to England and played it close to where they looked after their sheep, using shepherd's crooks as bats.

Mr Campbell's research was based on earlier investigations by Mr Gillmeister, a linguist from the University of Bonn.

He is certain cricket cannot have started in England.

"There is no way to relate the term to any existing English word," he told the BBC.

"I was brought up with Flemish children and I know the language well. I immediately thought of the Flemish phrase 'met de krik ketsen' which means to 'chase a ball with a curved stick'."

In response, cricket historian David Frith said: "It is hard to deny that this is a breakthrough. This discovery points to an addition to the great history of cricket. It's exciting we haven't yet written the final word on it."

He added: "It does make you wonder why Belgium isn't playing test cricket though, doesn't it?"

But Mr Gillmeister's research does not end with cricket.

Earlier studies of his suggest that whilst the spiritual home of golf might be Scotland - records indicate the Belgians were also playing a recognisable form of that sport before people in Britain.

The Queen is there today- if only she was there yesterday, Charlie could have asked her when he is going to be knighted!

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Adrian-L
Jimmy Anderson's on fire!

they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring!

The look on Ponting's face when he was given out....Priceless!

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Svartmer
Cricket...I was in an English pub yesterday. This is in Stockholm, Sweden. There is cricket on the big screen. A man throws a ball. Another one tries to hit it. Fails. A long interlude follows. Discussions with the referee, protests. Some kind of drama is evidently going on, totally beyond me. Five English gentlemen in the pub, red faced and sweaty, are so excited by this they seem to be on the verge of a collapse. Me and a few other people in the pub look at each other and shake our heads in disbelief. Who invented cricket and why?

you are obviously not English or Australian....

perhaps I say this, if you are a soccer fan: 100,000 people (plus the billions watching on TV) watch guys kick the ball off the ground, without using their hands, backwards and forwards for 80 minutes, nil all draw...who the hell invented soccer?

The Rules of Cricket
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Simple!


"As we say in England, it can get a bit trainspottery"

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nanker phelge

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Adrian-L
Jimmy Anderson's on fire!

they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring!

The look on Ponting's face when he was given out....Priceless!

and the fact that he actually wasn't...even more priceless

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still ill

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nanker phelge

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Adrian-L
Jimmy Anderson's on fire!

they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring!

The look on Ponting's face when he was given out....Priceless!

and the fact that he actually wasn't...even more priceless

Yeah your right!! (although could have been lbw)

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nanker phelge

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still ill

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nanker phelge

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Adrian-L
Jimmy Anderson's on fire!

they don't like it up 'em Mr Mainwaring!

The look on Ponting's face when he was given out....Priceless!

and the fact that he actually wasn't...even more priceless

Yeah your right!! (although could have been lbw)

Definately,but the umpire only referred because he thought he hit it,lbw didn't enter his mind

Either way haha,let's hope we capatalise for once

England celebrated avoiding losing the last test. Sad. What kind of loser mentality is that?

Took 22 English batsmen to score what 7 Australian batsmen did. Yeah I'd be proud as punch......"quick call for the physio"....

come on Jimmy- let's get that ball swinging!

jimmy's got nothing....

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squando
England celebrated avoiding losing the last test. Sad. What kind of loser mentality is that?

Yep,the Aussies would never stoop to that level

Oh..

cheerio Ricky

This thread is even duller than cricket.

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Deltics
The Rules of Cricket
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

Simple!

Uh-Huh

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"

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Adrian-L
cheerio Ricky

Love Andersons face in that pic

Did anyone hear Gimme Shelter under that clip?

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Svartmer
This thread is even duller than cricket.

Mick & Charlie wouldn't think so..

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Adrian-L
cheerio Ricky

Great photo!!

They're back today. Their legendary status with me keeps growing.

C'mon Aussie...how can you people stand all that rain over there?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-07-17 17:22 by OneHit.

live ball-by-ball scorecard here:-

[www.cricinfo.com]

Let's face it England have been an international cricket embarassment for 30 years.

Remember what the Aussies did to you last time? And that was them pounding the poms into the ground on autopilot.

They're still the greatest side on the planet even tho they lost more than half of their great side. And the best England can do is call for drinks and physios cos they're sore and thirsty.

Pathetic.

Ironic really that Ponting has overseen a side that has pushed the boundaries of sportsmanship more than any other.

There is no doubt that McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden and Langer were wonderful players and the game is poorer for their retirement.

However with Ponting at the helm the Aussie team has been universally disliked, at times even in Australia. Given the calibre of the players it is sad to note the lack of sportsmanship that Ponting has allowed to prosper.

They have never received the widespread acclaim that the great West Indian or Indian sides did and the blame for that can be laid soley at Ponting's door.

With a smile on your face and a tear right in your eye

Is Mick wearing make-up?

Aussies in deep strife
Sportal - July 18, 2009, 6:20 am

Australia's 75-year unbeaten record at Lord's is under enormous peril after a string of false shots and an inspired spell of bowling from England paceman James Anderson turned the second Test on its head on Friday night.

The tourists were in desperate trouble at stumps on the second day after an uncharacteristically rash stroke from Simon Katich sparked a flurry of Australian wickets in the final session.

When bad light stopped play on the second day 14 overs early, Australia was unenviably placed on 8-156 in pursuit of England's imposing first-innings total of 425, still requiring a further 70 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Following the loss of two early wickets, Katich and Michael Hussey lifted Australia to 2-103 after tea but the visitors then lost a stunning 6-49 in 16 overs against an England attack inspired by Anderson and a fiery Andrew Flintoff.

Perhaps it was the enormity of playing at Lord's, or meeting the Queen at lunch, but Australia erred by deciding to meet a swinging ball with a swinging blade.

Of the eight wickets to fall, five were the result of pull shots as Australia responded to England's interrogation with cross-bats rather than caution.

Armed with his most dangerous weapon - swing - which was missing in Cardiff where he resembled a trundler rather than a game breaker, Anderson ripped the heart out of Australia's middle order.

Anderson, who earlier in the day made 29 in a 10th-wicket partnership worth 47, has the stellar figures of 4-36 from 17 overs.

He pocketed the wickets of Phillip Hughes, who was caught down the leg side pulling, and Ricky Ponting then returned in the final session to remove Michael Clarke and Marcus North.

It capped off an excellent day for Anderson, who stood firm with the bat against a fierce onslaught from Australia's attack in the first session, which saw England lose three wickets from the opening three overs.

England appeared destined to be dismissed for less than 400 - a total it would not have settled for after a 196-run opening stand - after losing its ninth wicket with the score on 378.

A thorn in Australia's side on the last day in Cardiff, Anderson's much-improved batting was again on show.

Along with Graham Onions, he flayed Mitchell Johnson, whose waywardness again cost his side plenty of runs.

Australia's innings started disastrously, losing Hughes and Ponting before lunch.

The captain fell in controversial circumstances, adjudged to have been caught at slip despite replays showing the ball hit his pad and not his bat.

England fans, however, will argue Ponting was also out lbw - a view supported by Hawkeye.

Hussey and Katich, whose concentration did not waver despite two rain delays, added 93 runs to calm Australia's nerves before the opener was superbly caught in the deep by Stuart Broad for 48 off the bowling of Onions.

It heralded a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the two sides.

Hussey shouldered arms to a fired up Flintoff, who was clocked regularly above 90mph (144 kmh), and was bowled for 51.

Clarke departed in the next over, clipping an inswinger from Anderson straight to Alastair Cook at mid-wicket.

He was joined six overs later by North, who played a pull shot onto his stumps after 33 scoreless minutes at the crease.

The same stroke also resulted in the demise of Johnson and Brad Haddin, the latter losing his wicket in the penultimate over before stumps after his appeals for bad light fell on deaf ears.

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squando
Let's face it England have been an international cricket embarassment for 30 years.

30 years ago I was in Australia playing a different sport and England played a Test Match in Adelaide. Their Captain was Mike Brealey or Brealy? I did a photo shoot with him and an Aussie who played the same sport I did. Brealey used to play the same sport.

Being from North America, I did not know much/anything about cricket but it was a lot of fun doing the shoot and he was very nice and accomodating. Was he known as a good captain? I am guessing he has been retired from the sport for a number of years?

I got to watch a lot of cricket while down there and started to get hooked.

He was a good captain george and they've pretty much had a captaincy problem ever since. I think this has a great deal to do with their lack of success generally since because they can never appoint and keep a captain.

And when you have geniouses such as the great Botham and Gower, England really needed to groom a young bloke for the job so players like the two afforementioned could have got on with being brilliant and winning matches for England instead of being lumbered with the stress of captaincy.

The same happened with poor Flintoff in the last Ashes series in Australia. Their best player and he's saddled with more responsibilty.

Anyways they're looking good for this test anyways which will make the series that much better.

Wouldn't mind a bit of 'Rain Fall Down' at the moment.

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Harlem Shuffler
Is Mick wearing make-up?

maybe, but his wig is in fine form though

Cricket or paint drying - which do I choose???