When the word ‘pitch’ stirs a feeling of a freshly manicured green, earning a high test average has nothing to do with academics, and hearing about a ‘beamer’ has you looking around for an umpire instead of a German automobile, face it, you are a cricket fan. Moreover, you likely reside in a country that was once part of the British Empire, owing to the fact that the sport which originated in Britain in the 1600’s spread rapidly throughout its colonies, primarily in the 19th century.
Cricket is played on a field where the pitch is in the center, surrounded by the infield and outfield. Eleven teammates typically dressed in white occupy positions with the goal of fielding the ball. They rotate in the position of bowler, throwing an over of six balls striving to hit the wicket before an opposing player can hit it away with the bat. Depending on the quality of the hit and the way a ball is fielded, a team scores points.
Today, the sport of cricket rivals soccer as one of the most played team sports and its popularity continues to grow. It boasts millions of fiercely passionate fans around the world that may ardently follow games via telecast, but are also known to travel great distances to see a live match, especially a Test Match, and value cricket tickets for these outdoor events as prized possessions.
The fervor with which fans follow the sport may seem a bit surprising given the fact that matches can take hours if not days. Different levels of the game, and changes such as the ‘limited overs’ variant introduced in the 1960’s have helped the sport maintain its popularity by making it more accessible to a wider and more diverse audience.
For those that feel being a fan and spectator isn’t enough and they truly want to get immersed in the sport, joining a cricket team is the answer. The camaraderie of bowling, batting and fielding the ball with teammates can create a familial atmosphere and develop into a lifelong passion. Parents can share their love of the game with their kids, who can benefit in many ways from a team sport.
Enjoying the game is as much about the unpredictability of the action as it can be about the rivalry of the teams. With a 360 degree playing field, the drama of a well played match can rival that of a Shakespeare play in the round. From the style of a bowler to the possibility of scoring six points with one hit of the ball, cricket is like no other sport.. The anticipation with every bowl can be thrilling.