What Am I? Celebrating a commonplace item Print a “What Am I?” sign. Add a clue in the text box, print, and post on your bulletin board. Post a different clue every day or so and see who can identify the mystery item. Then plan a “What Am I?” discussion and other related activities. Do you know what I am? Here are some clues: 1. My origins date back to the 13th century. 2. I was founded in England. 3. Both men and women have equal access to me. 4. I started out with a stone. 5. Tree stumps were essential to my development. 6. My bowling style can be described as “round about.” 7. Patience is one of my virtues. 8. I am loved in such diverse places as Barbados, India, and New Zealand. 9. Some people find me complex and often confusing. 10. I measure success in centuries. 11. Twenty is my lucky number. 12. People tend to associate me with aristocracy. 13. My ashes were taken to Australia. 14. My rules date back to 1744. 15. I am particularly fond of the Olympic Games. 16. The term “sticky wicket” is attributed to me. ©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket – Page !1 of !5 17. Some of my matches last up to five days. 18. Come watch me at my World Cup in 2019. 19. I am a bat-and-ball game played primarily in England and the British Commonwealth. 20. I share my name with an insect that chirps. Can you guess what I am? Well done! You are on the ball—I am the game of cricket. Print a copy of the pictures to pass around as you share and discuss the information in the article with your group. If possible, bring in a cricket bat and ball. Print copies of the Understanding Cricket Terminology Word Match for participants to play. Introduction Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams on an oval field over a period of several hours or days. Founded in England and considered its national summer sport, cricket is currently played around the world primarily in countries within the British Commonwealth. The Origin of Cricket Cricket is thought to date back to the early 13th century when this provincial game was played in open fields amid tree stumps. As the game evolved, hurdle gates replaced the tree stumps since they were more resilient to vigorous play. Known as wickets, the hurdle gates consisted of two upright stakes and a crossbar, called a bail, resting on slotted tops. The ball used in the game has changed very little since the 17th century. Although it was originally a stone, the weight has always hovered between five and six ounces. A tree branch, resembling a modern-day hockey stick, was used as a bat. With time, the bat was shortened and became flatter to improve the strength and accuracy of the batter. The rules of cricket date back to 1744. While its popularity was limited to the rural counties of southern England, the game soon became known in London, where spectators enjoyed wagering on the outcome of the matches. At the time, cricket was viewed as a gentleman’s game since it lacked the physical demands of other sports of the era. It could be played without much exertion. Men representing the upper levels of society engaged in the sport and all the rituals it entailed, from luncheons and parties to afternoon tea. The British exported the game to their colonies throughout the Commonwealth, where it became wildly popular in such far-flung places as India, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. ©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket – Page !2 of !5 The game of cricket has evolved over time, much to the delight of its fans. The style of bowling (akin to pitching in baseball) transitioned from an underhand lob to a rotating-arm release, which not only increased the pace of the game but also the excitement with which the games were played. Additional modifications were implemented in the 20th century to further hasten the tempo of the game, which typically lasts for up to five days for Test matches. When rain forced the cancellation of several days of Test play, fans embraced the resulting single-day cricket match, which was limited to 50 overs (six consecutive balls bowled or pitched by a single bowler) per side. In 2003, a version of one-day cricket called Twenty20 (T20) was introduced. This abbreviated version of the sport featured just 20 overs per side and has since become more popular than Test matches outside of England. Discussion Starters • Cricket was invented using simple equipment that one could find on a country estate or farm. Can you think of other games that share some of the same qualities? (Potential responses: baseball using sticks and stones, soccer using a ball made of newspaper, basketball using bushel baskets and balls, etc.) What games did you play when you were a kid? • In your opinion, what sport or game has the broadest worldwide appeal? (Top 8 sports according to World Atlas: 8. Baseball – 500 million fans, 7. Basketball – 825 million fans, 6. Table Tennis – 875 million fans, 5. Volleyball – 900 million fans, 4. Tennis – 1 billion fans, 3. Field Hockey – 2 billion fans, 2. Cricket – 2.5 billion fans, 1. Soccer – 4 billion fans) Please provide justification for your answer. • What modifications have been made to other sports in order to increase their appeal? (Potential responses: three-point line and shot clock in basketball, instant replay and challenges in football, etc.) Do you think these changes improve the game or just make it more popular? Why? Cricket Fundamentals Cricket is played with a bat and ball between two competing sides or teams of 11 players each. While the field has an oval shape, there is a rectangular area in the middle known as the pitch that measures 22 yards long by 10 feet wide. The wickets are two sets of three sticks each set into the ground at each end of the pitch. They are topped with a horizontal piece called a bail, which the bowlers (or pitchers) try to knock down by hitting one of the wickets. The opposing sides take turns batting and bowling during what is called “innings” (Note: this word is always plural). Depending on the type of match to be played, each team has one or two innings in which to score the most runs to win the game. A bowler has the opportunity to deliver (or pitch) six balls at one wicket in order to complete an “over” before a different player from the same team (or side) gets a chance to bowl his six balls to the opposite wicket. Two batsmen are up at once, each trying to defend their wicket from the bowls while trying to score runs by running to the opposite wicket. If the bowler is successful in hitting the wicket, the batsman is dismissed or “put out.” This is similar to being struck out in baseball. If there is enough time, the two batsmen are able to repeatedly cross back and forth between the wickets to earn runs for their team. ©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket – Page !3 of !5 Additional points can be earned by hitting the ball beyond the outside boundary around the cricket field. A ball hit to or beyond the boundary scores four points if it touches the ground before hitting the boundary. Six points are awarded if the ball reaches the boundary from the air, such as a fly ball. The team with the highest number of runs wins a match. It is not uncommon for cricket scores to go into the hundreds. When both teams are unable to complete their number of innings before the time allotted, the match is declared a draw. Discussion Starters • The rules of cricket appear incredibly complex to newcomers. Can you think of another sport or game that seems similarly confusing? In your opinion, what is the best way to learn and understand the rules? • Which do you prefer: watching sporting events on television or experiencing them live? Please describe the pros and cons of each. • Do you have a competitive streak? Do you dislike competitions that end in a tie? Why or why not? • Based on what you know about cricket, how would you describe it to someone who has never seen it? Is there another sport that has something in common with cricket? • When learning something new (such as a sport, pastime, or craft), what strategies work best for you? Is it best to read about it or get some practical, hands-on experience? Why? • What makes for a successful athlete: natural skills or consistent practice? Explain your answer. Other Interesting Cricket Facts • Idiomatic expressions from cricket have begun to seep into everyday conversation in the United Kingdom. For example, someone who has lived a long, fulfilling life is said to have enjoyed a “good innings.” Similarly, when someone is said to do something “off their own bat,” it means they have taken initiative. When someone is “stumped,” they are facing a problem for which there is no apparent solution. A difficult or awkward situation is often referred to as a “sticky wicket.” When someone is surprised, they could be “hit for six” or “bowled over.” Outwitting someone is often called “catching one out.” • While cricket rules have changed considerably throughout history, the dimensions of the pitch (the rectangular area at the center of the field) has remained constant at 22 yards by 10 feet.