Cricket – England’s National Pastime

I know, I know, far more Englishmen are football fans than cricket fans, but only cricket represents the maddeningly confusing, reserved, joyful charm that I love so much about England. Here’s a perfect example – Brian Lara, Captain of the West Indies Cricket team, set the all time record for runs in an international match yesterday, breaking the record previously held by Matthew Haden. Here’s the report:

Lara equalled Hayden's score by lofting Batty over long-on for six and then topped the mark with a swept four past fine leg.

I mean, only the English could create a sport where you could say that and not be joking. Then, to top it all off, they have a pitcher named Batty. But, like England, this story isn’t just about quaint customs. Imagine the FUN it must have been to score 400. Lara was batting, representing his country, with the best of England trying to get him out, and he stayed there for 2 and ½ days, scored 400 runs, then just stopped without them ever getting out to make sure that the West Indies had enough time to get all the English batters out for less than 400 runs. Now THAT’s a good way to spend 3 days. Take me out the ball game, sure, but take me out to the pitch as well, mate.
- posted by Tom Sawyer @ 11:29 AM