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[snaildog]

As an American, I've gotta admit I've always been curious as to what Cricket actually looks like when played. All most of us know about it is that it was a precursor to baseball and has a bat and ball but that's about it. I've tried to read some things online about the rules and such, but they often use so much terminology that it's hard to get a solid picture in my head of what goes on.

I don't know what the TV coverage is like where you are, but you should really just try to watch a one-dayer and see how you like it. I get bored of most sports after long exposure, but I like cricket more every time I see it, and it's the only sport I can watch no matter who the two teams are. It's very much a test of individual character; you won't get much just from reading the rules.

So you have guys that pitch, and you try to bat the ball and then run back and forth between the 2 bases scoring points before they can take the ball and smash those thingies off the wickets or whatever? Also the guy can keep scoring runs over and over until they can get him out? Games last days and have dinner breaks?

I guess you sort of have the basics, mixed with cute baseball terms. Running someone out (smashing the wickets before the batsman gets there) is actually pretty rare though and definitely not the main aim; it's mostly just bastman vs bowler. Yeah the guys can keep scoring runs until he gets out which is where a lot of the depth comes in - there's variation of attack and defense stragey from both teams all throughout.

The two main types of game are one-dayers, which last about 8 hours, and test matches which can last 5 days.