Due to the fact that the field beside the CPA is being redone this year for the new soccer complex, the cricket game that was played last year for the first time will not be held this year for Homecoming.
When told that the game was not being held, junior Raj Harricharan-Singh, a two- year cricket player, said, “I was really looking forward to that. That sucks that there won’t be a game.”
Another cricket player, freshman Anish Brambhatt, was surprised at the availability of a cricket game. “That is surprising that a team played here. Not many people play.”
Because many people don’t know how to play cricket, an explanation of the history and the rules may help spark interest in this little known game.
Cricket originated in Britain. “When Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean people saw this game they were amazed. That is why it is big in those communities today,” Singh said.
The basics of the game are a combination of baseball and croquet. According to the website Wikipedia, the teams are made up of 11 players. “You have 10 outs to get and after that you switch and try to get the other team out,” Singh said. “There are three bails sitting on the wickets and it does not take a strong bowl to knock them off.”
Scoring is done in several ways. According to Wikipedia, one of the main ways is when the batsman hits the ball the two batsmen have to switch ends. The number of times they switch gives them that many runs. Another way is when the batsman hits the ball over the opposing team’s wickets.
“That is called a homerun and gives the team six points,” Singh said.
The ball is hard like a croquet ball, not soft like a baseball. “There are some injuries due to weird bounces. You bowl the ball down and it is supposed to bounce up at the batsman. A guy caught a ball in the face and got a nasty cut,” Singh said.
There are not that many teams to play on here.
“I have only played for two years on a team in Knoxville. The rest of the time I have played with my uncle and brother,” Singh said.
Brahmbhatt has played a little longer. “I have played for 12 years, but only five years on a team. I played because it was just the game to play. None of this baseball or football stuff,” he said.
For information about starting an intramural team call Vincent Williams at 433-3433.

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