Cricket questions

[GIMH]

Okay, I confess to being far from knowledgeable about the game of cricket. Football is where I have expertise. While most of you seem to have been fans from a young age, I drifted in and out of watching the game from 97 onwards until Hurricane Harmison in 2004 (when I was 19). I've never even been to a match, though that is changing this summer . So there is a lot I don't know about the game and a lot I don't understand. Thing is, sometimes I've wanted to ask certain questions but have maybe been a little embarassed that I might get a whole lot of abuse for it being a silly question

I would bet there are others who maybe don't understand little things that maybe they should. So i thought perhaps we could have a thread where people ask questions about the game for others to answer, whether dead simple, or more complicated. Of course, I might be exposed as a compelte moron when noone else bothers with this thread

But if there is anything you have always wondered or are wondering, then I think you should ask it here

My question is: why does the white ball behave differently to the red ball, and why are some bowlers better at using it than others?

 

[pasag]

Good thread.

 

[Autobahn]

My question is: why does the white ball behave differently to the red ball, and why are some bowlers better at using it than others?

Well i've heard one theory that because the white bit is put on top a normal red cricket ball, it changes the weight and physics of it, but i have no idea if that's true.

As for controlling the ball that could be down to a number of factors e.g. bowling under pressure knowing you could be hit out the ground, losing your line when being hit around etc.

 

[GIMH]

Makes sense. Thankyou.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Who's Willow and who's Stumpy?

 

[pasag]

Why do you have to knock a bat in and how do you do it? (having just bought a nice bat for the first time)

 

[shankar]

Well i've heard one theory that because the white bit is put on top a normal red cricket ball, it changes the weight and physics of it, but i have no idea if that's true.

More than the weight it's due to the lacquer on the white ball which alters the surface roughness of the ball - making it smoother than the leather surface of a red ball. This in turn affects how the layer of wiind close to the surface of ball behaves and causes it to swing more.

 

[deeps]

Why do you have to knock a bat in and how do you do it? (having just bought a nice bat for the first time)

English willow is naturally very very soft. You need to compress it, to make it tougher. You also need to use some linseed oil to 'bind' the fibres together better, and give it a bit of 'flexibility' so that it doesn't crack.

That's the simple answer, i cbf writing out a long and detailed one, but if you google, you will find answers no doubt

 

[Jono]

Why do you have to knock a bat in and how do you do it? (having just bought a nice bat for the first time)

Strengthens the bat face by compressing the willow together which protects the bat from the ball. Vital really.

You can knock in your bat using an old cricket ball (basically lightly hitting it over the bat face (and edges) and then increasing the velocity of the strikes over time), however the most efficient way to do it is buy a bat mallet. Costs something like $5 from a cricket store, and allows you to smash the crap out of the bat until its ready to go.

 

[steds]

Who's Willow and who's Stumpy?

They're cartoon characters designed by Sky for the purpose of patronising young children and non-cricket fans and reminding people why we kept cricket on terrestrial tv for so long.

 

[SJS]

Why do you have to knock a bat in and how do you do it? (having just bought a nice bat for the first time)

The 'breaking in' is done basically to increase the durability of the bat. It 'beats' the surface down a bit compressing the bat surface if you please. I am told the bats dont need it anymore but slight knocking with an old ball in a sock or with a ball at the end of a booden stick (the kind used to roll the blades on the handle) cant do any harm.

Bradman recommended rubbing the blade with rhe shin-bone of an ox as an alternative.

I remember an old Delhi cricketer who insisted that he always played with a new bat without any knocking in. All he would do was pour cold water down the back of the new bat before going in and it would serve the purpose. This is from the late nineties/early seventies and I never dared to experiment with this technique with my new bat though I found it intiguing.

 

[Jono]

Bradman recommended rubbing the blade with rhe shin-bone of an ox as an alternative.

Yeah, you can also use a basin/sink... which is pretty weird.

 

[pasag]

Thanks alot chaps. Ill have a go with bat mallet, I think I saw one at Rebels the other day.

 

[Jono]

Try to get the one without the ball. They're both good, but the ball mallets obviously have a seam and when you're knocking the bat in early (when the willow is fairly soft) you can get lazy (since its a tedious task) and start hitting it with the seam on the bat. It'll create seam marks which aren't cool.

If you can get the normal bat mallet like this:

you'd be better off.

 

[pasag]

Thanks champ.

 

[silentstriker]

Why does Chris Gayle look so cool, while Kaif looks like a child molestor on the loose?

If that Kaif demon-grin doesn't send chills down your spine....nothing will.

 

[deeps]

rofl

 

[silentstriker]

Also, why does Owais Shah look like a little gremlin when he's in his batting stance?

 

[adharcric]

Why does Chris Gayle look so cool, while Kaif looks like a child molestor on the loose?

If that Kaif demon-grin doesn't send chills down your spine....nothing will.

Kaif ... after watching Russell Peters, I don't trust anyone from anywhere around Jamaica with children

 

[Matt79]

gayle looks shady to me as well...