h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Cricket - an Apology - A834941
Author: Gladly, the cross-eyed bear - U199840

More stuff about cricket, primarily for my American friends.

Hi Gladly, hope you're enjoying your time on h2g2

This is a good start on a subject which really needs covering in the guide. I suggest you take a look at <./>Writing-guidelines</.> tho'. This page tells you what you need to know about writing for the Edited Guide. The most obvious problem for your entry is it's in the first person, so all those references to 'I' will need re-wording.

I'll come back later when I've got more time, and go through it more closely, but until then, writing out those 'I's would be good.

Don't be disheartened tho'- this is great start to an entry, and I look forward to seeing it in the edited guide.

Hi Gladly,

This has the makings of a good entry but does need a bit of work.

You say the field of unspecified dimensions. This is true. However, the distance between the stumps is important and is well documented - as is the distance from the stumps to the crease. Admittedly the distance to the boundary is variable.

You use of the word wicket to describe both the stumps and the ground between the stumps, while technically correct, only serves to confuse the uninitiated even further. I little bit of re-wording would help.

You description of the teams bing in and out, while amusing to those familiar with the game of cricket, does nothing to help the uninitiated understand the game.

I think you have to decide wether you want to write an amusing article that will be appreciated by those familiar with cricket, or an informative one for those not familiar with cricket. It can’t be both.

Yellow on white is extremely difficult to read. Could you change it to a more contrasting colour please.

Regards

Stuart

Yes, yellow on white = cross-eyed reader, Gladly.

I agree with all the remarks made above. This entry has parts that are very tongue in cheek, eg:

'Boxes- to protect the Balls from the Balls.'

which made me laugh, but isn't at all well explained.

In fact, lots of the parts of this made me laugh. It reminded me of a very old monologue on cricket by someone I can't quite remember, like Hoffnung (can't have been him, can it?).

The section of this entry headed 'The Game' is very similar to *that* tea towel - 'Cricket as explained to a foreign visitor', the one that goes along the lines of "You have two sides, one out in the field and one in.", and ends "That's the end of the game. Howzat!", which may or may not be very heavily copyrighted by the MCC or Lords or some similar organisation.

Thanks for the input. I think the Person and colour issues are quite easily fixed.
The whole article really grew out of many (unsuccesful) attempts to explain the game to my friends here in SC where football rules. It is intended to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek but to be based in reality. I'm sure that had some influence.
I've put a few more numbers in.
The comments on "The Game" section concern me. Though I am not aware of a similar piece that certainly doesn't mean there isn't one- the potential for play on words is almost irresistable. I'll leave it in for now and do some more research.
In "The Field" section I originaly included an attempt at a position diagram but took it out in favour of the current version. The diagram is still on my Personal Space. Any opinions on it's inclusion/exclusion?

Gladly.

Looks like Gosho and I had the same thing in mind (although I couldn't remember where I had heard it [many years ago]). Care to explain a bit more, Gosho?

http://members.tripod.com/oncc/services2.htm

This is a link with a picture of the actual tea-towel, but it might get modded on the basis that it's selling the thing...

http://www.capint.com.au/artofcricket/itemshtml/ms051.htm

Here's another link in case that one is removed. You'll have to scroll down to the bottom.

http://www.cricketer.com/asp/the-game/formats.asp

Neither of those two have any ghastly Tripod popups

The second link would be a really good link for this entry in any case, Gosho!

I agree with that Zarquon. Maybe replace the the section with a link and some more (as yet undefined ) verbage.

I certainly don't want to mix it with the MCC considering what happened to Doug and Dinsdale.


Gladly.

And then there's a rather good entry on hat-tricks in test cricket you may wish to comment upon A848856

(well someone has to plug it)

How big are your balls? 9" diameter

<< a special central section of manicured and nurtured grass >>
Often more like mangled and tortured

A very worthy topic for inclusion in the Guide and I like the intentional ambiguity although I think that a (shortish) preface full of ambiguity followed by a (more detailed) clarification would be a good idea

Some other thoughts ...

a mention of the term *crease*

7. Boxes - to prevent the (inanimate) Balls from hitting the (animate) balls. << small b >>

*perpendicular* (rather than *horizontal*) might more clearly describe *square*

I like the *leather covered bricks* but I think some mention of legitimate bowling action instead of (or preferably expanding upon) stating that they are simply *thrown* at the Batter

Although using *stumps* to differentiate between the two *wickets* would remove some of the hilarity, it might make for more clarity


six7s
*42 not out*

I really like this entry, however it sounds like there are a couple of changes that still need to be made before it can be recommended. (I know nothing about cricket, but is a cricket ball really 23 cm (9") in diameter. )

Also, you have a wonderful table on your personal H2G2 space that it would be nice to have in this article.

Cheers!

I really liked this entry - a very good look at the game

I agree with Stuart about the wording of Wicket - it confused me (although it is only 7am ) and I have *some* sort of an idea on how the game is played! I like the tongue-in-cheek-ness of the entry, but think that if you really do want to explain the game clearly you'll have to reword some parts.



Incidentally - on the tv here (Australia) the other day - "And in the news tonight - the English Cricket team has won a game!"

Surely not? Who were we playing? The Brisbane under-12s?

no, they were all out sick so they got the girls under 9's netball team to fill in

Honestly, I hadn't heard any good news about the Aussie tour, but then I'm out in Canada and only the tests and one-day internationals have appeared in the paper.

They were playing Sri Lanka tonight (on tv...whether it was live or not I don't know), and that's who they beat the other day to end their 11-match losing streak!

I must have missed that. Seems unfair on Sri Lanka, but why are we incapable of beating any Australian team?