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What Am I? Celebrating a Commonplace Item

What Am I? Celebrating a Commonplace Item

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 . 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 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 . 14. My rules date back to 1744. 15. I am particularly fond of the Olympic . 16. The term “sticky ” is attributed to me.

©ActivityConnection.com – – 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 played primarily in England and the British Commonwealth. 20. I share my 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 a period of several hours or days. Founded in England and considered its national summer , 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 , 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 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 , 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 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 , Australia, New Zealand, , and the islands of Barbados, , and .

©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 ) 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 (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, 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 – 875 million fans, 5. – 900 million fans, 4. Tennis – 1 billion fans, 3. – 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 , 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 . 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 and bowling during what is called “” (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 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 around the . 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 ? 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 . 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 “,” 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. • The first century (100 runs scored in one innings) in was scored by Australia’s Charlie Bannerman in 1877. • Test matches between England and Australia are affectionately known as “.” The name comes from a satirical obituary published in the British newspaper The Sporting Times in 1822, after Australia beat the English team on their home turf. The obituary stated that English cricket had died, and “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” Thus, began an enduring cricket rivalry. • Canada won the first-ever international cricket match, which took place in New York in 1844. • The next will be played from May 30 to July 15, 2019, in England and . • Women have been playing since the 18th century. In 1926, the Women’s Cricket Association was founded. The main differences between men’s and women’s cricket are: 1) the size of the boundary, 2) the weight of the ball, 3) the maximum number of days in Test cricket, and 4) the number of overs per hour and day.

©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket – Page !4 of !5 Additional Activities 1. Watch the YouTube video The Basic Rules of Cricket Explained to learn how the game of cricket is played. 2. Read ’ 2016 book, Merv Hughes’ 104 Cricket Legends: Stories, Mostly True, About the Game’s Greats, which profiles the greatest cricket players, teams, and games ever played. 3. Watch , the 2010 award-winning British documentary about the West Indies cricket team of the 1970s and 1980s that was the most feared team on the planet. 4. Watch Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, the 2001 Oscar-nominated film about a small Indian village that stakes its future on a game of cricket against its British rulers during the Victorian era.

©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket – Page !5 of !5 ©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket (Pictures) Understanding Cricket Terminology Word Match The game of cricket is filled with many terms and expressions that can be baffling, especially for those new to the sport. To explore how much you know about cricket (or how good a guesser you are), review the list of terms below and try to match each one to its definition.

1. All-Rounder _____ 11. Full Blooded _____

2. All Out _____ 12. _____

3. Batting Collapse _____ 13. Half Volley _____

4. Beamer _____ 14. Howzat _____

5. _____ 15. Maiden Over _____

6. Cafeteria Bowling _____ 16. Night Watchman _____

7. Century _____ 17. Reverse Sweep _____

8. Chinaman _____ 18. Shooter _____

9. Chucker _____ 19. Twelfth Man _____

10. _____ 20. Yips _____

©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket (Puzzle) A. Batting stroke executed with full physical power B. An emergency fielder C. Illegal by a bowler (pitcher) when he throws the ball instead of the regulation round-arm bowling D. When a batting side has no more players to bat, signaling the end of the innings E. Mediocre bowling (pitching) F. A kind of leg-break delivery bowled (pitched) by a left-handed bowler G. When a batsman switches the hand used to sweep (bat) to catch their opponent off guard H. When many batsmen are dismissed in rapid succession for very few runs I. A bowling delivery aimed directly at the body or head of the batsman J. A scored by the batting team when the ball has not been hit by the batsman and the ball has not hit the batsman’s body K. When a batsman scores 100 runs in one innings L. When a batsman is called out without scoring any runs M. A pitch that does not produce a bounce as high as expected, causing the batsman to struggle hitting it N. A bowl (pitch) that lands so close to the bat that the batsman must hit the ball immediately O. A pitch of six consecutive legal balls by one bowler in which no run is scored by the batsman P. A psychological condition in which the bowler is unable to deliver (pitch) the ball with any precision or strength Q. An appeal made by the side to the asking for the batsman to be dismissed R. A less-skilled batsman who plays remaining overs of the day to protect a more valuable player for the next day’s play S. A bowl (pitch) delivered with considerable spin that makes it hard to hit, especially for a right-handed batsman T. A batsman who is skilled at both batting (hitting) and bowling (pitching) ©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket (Puzzle) Understanding Cricket Terminology Word Match (solution)

1. All-Rounder T 11. Full Blooded A 2. All Out D 12. Googly S 3. Batting Collapse H 13. Half Volley N 4. Beamer I 14. Howzat Q 5. Bye J 15. Maiden Over O 6. Cafeteria Bowling E 16. Night Watchman R 7. Century K 17. Reverse Sweep G 8. Chinaman F 18. Shooter M 9. Chucker C 19. Twelfth Man B 10. Duck L 20. Yips P

©ActivityConnection.com – Cricket (Puzzle) ©ActivityConnection.com

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