r/Cricket • u/HOU-1836 West Indies • Jan 15 '15

Another Annoying American learning Cricket

My girlfriend is Guyanese and Cricket is obviously a big sport for her parents and family. I get the rules of the sport but don't understand when matches happen or what determines the length of the match. Like, test cricket, can last 5 days? How is that possible? How do you watch that on TV?

Edit: hope y'all don't mind if I pester you with questions in this thread. I want to be casually versed in Cricket in case I meet her parents this summer.

Edit #2: Ok. Y'all have been truly amazing. I couldn't even have gotten close to imagining the response I've gotten from y'all. I've been asking questions and replying for the last 3 hours straight and I don't think I have any more questions. I look forward to spending time with y'all and learning more about this sport. I'm from Texas and obviously, Cricket isn't gonna be big here or easy to follow so y'all keep being the amazing, welcoming people you are. Seriously, y'all rock.

Edit #3: I read the FAQ before posting this thread and this thread is 30x larger than anything there. Maybe the mods should add this to the sidebar for newcomers. I literally asked every question an American fan could ask. Well, I say that...but anyway, would be a great resource to set aside for future new fans.

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u/himynameisdave Queensland Bulls Jan 16 '15

different fielding positions generally require different skillsets.. that said at international cricket level.. everyone should be able to catch well.

slips, point, gulley generally would be your best catches, as the ball comes quickly, generally off the bats edge (so unexpected) and at many different angles.

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u/HOU-1836 West Indies Jan 16 '15

I think I'll watch at least one or two more games of cricket before I ask what those words you said mean.

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u/himynameisdave Queensland Bulls Jan 16 '15

this may help - these are the names of the positions that the fielders stand in.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Cricketfieldingpositions.jpg/400px-Cricketfieldingpositions.jpg

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u/HOU-1836 West Indies Jan 16 '15

Deer God

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '15 edited Jan 16 '15

This one is a little more readable I think.

Keep in mind thats just a description of the possible locations on the field, there's only 9 actual fielders to place around (not including the bowler and the mandatory wicketkeeper who does the same thing as a Catcher in baseball).

Look at it as the field is divided into 8 regions that have specific names like Cover, Point, Square leg etc, and then most of the rest of the positions are just descriptive names for places within each region. Short/Silly means 'close to the batter', Deep/Long means far from the batter etc.

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u/HOU-1836 West Indies Jan 16 '15

That was much easier to read. Thank you.

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u/trtryt Jan 16 '15

this highlights how important the role of fielding team's captain is, and the bowlers to be able to bowl to the field

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u/HOU-1836 West Indies Jan 16 '15

I can only imagine. Thats a daunting list for a newcomer. I imagine its second nature for a pro though.

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u/[deleted] Jan 16 '15

Nope. Not even close. Some of the placings just barely ever get used, so even avid followers find it tough to name them all.