Читать книгу Boy's Own War - G. S. Willmott - Страница 9

Melbourne, 2014

Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players each on a field at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. Each team takes its turn to bat, attempting to score runs, while the other team fields. Each turn is known as an innings.

The bowler delivers the ball to the batsman who attempts to hit the ball with his bat away from the fielders so he can run to the other end of the pitch and score a run. Each batsman continues batting until he is out. The batting team continues batting until ten batsmen are out, or a specified number of overs of six balls have been bowled, at which point the teams switch roles and the fielding team comes in to bat.

In professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 20 overs per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals.

Cricket was first played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had developed to be the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international match was held. ICC, the game's governing body, has 10 full members The game is most popular in Australia, England, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies and Southern Africa.

Wikipedia Definition

November 21^st 2014

Exams were finished. Joshua and Cameron were waiting for their results with bated breath, grateful cricket season had begun so their minds were occupied with thoughts of fast bowling and playing with a straight bat.

The students had turned sixteen in the off-season with selection for the ‘open’ team based on ability, irrespective of their age. Unlike football season both boys played cricket for the same team, Moorabbin. With an average age of 20 years among the team, Josh and Cameron knew their work was cut out for them if they were to play with the ‘big boys’. Moorabbin was currently the reigning premiers so finding a place in the side would be difficult but not impossible.

Neither boy expected to be chosen now, at the beginning of the season, but serendipity played a hand.

The coach, Phil Montgomery approached while they were practicing in the nets. Joshua was classified as a fast bowler and Cameron a batsman. Despite the pace Joshua was bowling, Cameron was hitting every ball to both leg and offside.

‘Boys, could I have a word with the two you please?’ said their coach. ‘I’m impressed with you both, not only your obvious skills but your work ethic too. I’ve just heard that Dennis pulled a hamstring earlier, while bowling in the nets. Apparently it looks bad so he’s been taken off to hospital to have it assessed.

Joshua, how would you feel about stepping in for Dennis when we play St Kilda on Saturday?’

‘Wow I’d love to Phil. As long as you think I’m up to it.’

‘Son, I wouldn’t have asked you if I didn’t think you were ready.’

‘Well done Josh.’ said Cameron, giving a congratulatory pat on his mate’s shoulder.

‘That brings me to you Cam. Ian, our number five batsman, has a nasty flu and had to withdraw. How would you like to replace him in this week’s match? And if you prove yourself on Saturday, well you never know.’

The boys grinned at each other as they returned to the nets. An equal mix of excitement and nerves kept them practicing until the coach finally urged them to go home.

October 25 2014

The game was to be played on the St Kilda oval, giving Moorabbin’s adversaries a home-ground advantage.

The two captains approached the umpire in the centre of the ground for the coin toss. The St Kilda captain won the toss and elected to bowl. He assessed the pitch as being green, which would aid his spinners and give his fast bowlers some reverse swing.

The weather was unseasonably hot hovering around thirty degrees, the oval had been watered thoroughly leading up to the game. The outfield would be very fast enabling many boundaries.

The opening batsmen walked to the crease and took their positions. The bowler ran in from the beach end at great speed delivering a beautiful ball, which took the batsman’s off stump. The score was one wicket for no score.

The Moorabbin side were four wickets down with only sixty runs scored at tea; not a great start. After tea the batsmen only scored ten more runs when another wicket fell. The game was becoming a farce, Moorabbin were being slaughtered.

It was Cameron’s turn to walk to the centre aware the team’s fate was resting squarely on his shoulders.

At the end of the days play, Moorabbin were 5 wickets for 200 runs.

The following day, Sunday, Moorabbin added one hundred runs to their score before declaring at 8/300, Cameron still at the crease with a score of 175.

St Kilda were 2/180 so Moorabbin needed to do something significant if they were to win this game.

After forty overs had been bowled, the captain called on Joshua. Finally it was his turn to prove himself with the ball.

Josh claimed five wickets for fifty runs. St Kilda were dismissed for 280. Moorabbin had won and now their coach faced some difficult decisions choosing next week’s team.