CRICKET (PART I)

Cricket as a bat ball game for kids
Started in SE England counties
Economy had risen in 16th century
People finding time to play a mystery.

Cricket is played between wickets
Earliest ball game by shepherds
Over a period, it took many forms
And spread across the regions.

Hockey is hitting ball towards goal
Golf is hitting ball towards a hole
Base ball is hitting out to run to base
Ball games took many a face.

Whole of England cricket spread
So popular that betting was permitted
Rich gentry provided full support
It then became a national sport

 

Wherever British set up colonies
They took with them their sports
Cricket became popular as a game
In tropical countries, it earned fame.

Not only England, now we have many
That have popularised game largely
Australia India West Indies Pakistan
Others besides Sri Lanka Afghanistan.

Initially, they played till all got out
Runs scored declared winner no doubt
The game lasted 5 days with 2 innings
Live matches began TV streaming.

People enjoyed watching from home
Crowd started thinning on their own
Now we have matches curtailed
20 and 50 overs matches prevailed.

Cricket is a funny game to play

If one makes a hundred runs in a day

He can get out for a duck

When he plays next as per his luck.

 

Each time the ball comes differently

As per his gauge he swings swiftly

The hit the direction and the speed

Will tell how many runs to concede.

 

It's definitely a unique skill to judge

Which ball when hit will budge

Towards boundary for a four or six

With the fielders in a fix.

 

Same is the case with a bowler

He may have got 3 wickets in an over

But next time he may give many runs

To the opponent with fours and sixes.

 

 

There are fast bowlers who dare

There are spin and swing bowlers to spare

Batsmen have to face all of them

With courage and pluralism.

 

Fielding is also a skill that counts

One should stop ball going to fours

Or manage to catch the ball

That comes in air before it's fall.

 

All teams agree to play matches

And abide by the decision of umpires

And also follow the spirit of the game

In strict sense of sporting frame.

 

Overall, the game depends on factors

That includes besides skill of players

The condition of pitch the field

The weather and ball to be bowled.

 

In the recent 2023 world cup contests

India played well to win nine matches

Unfortunately destiny played it's part inter alia

In the finale India conceded defeat to Australia.

We are highly emotional in mind

If we had won the world cup in kind

We would place the cup on a pedestal

We dare not keep our feet on its skull.

 

Women also play cricket with same  vigour

They also have the aggression and rigour

There are now 8 countries for Women's World Cup event

Australia holds maximum wins in this too at present.