It was with great excitement that I recently discovered there's a cricket team here in Ibiza.
I love cricket, be it a limited over match or an international test series. I used to live close to a cricket ground and would spend many a happy hour sat listening to the sound of leather against willow.
Nothing in sport can put a bigger smile on my face than England winning a test series, especially 'The Ashes'. The team I followed in England have been out of sorts recently with some mixed results. Cricket teaches you how to lose with grace and honour and how to accept the umpires decision, whether right or wrong.
I mentioned to my Spanish friend Miguel that I was planning to watch a game of cricket. He had helped me with my parking ticket and I wondered if he wanted to come along.
"But I know nothing of the game" he said.
In hindsight, I should've left it at that. However I thought an explanation of the rules to my Spanish pal was required. Inviting him to watch a sport he couldn't understand, well, it just wouldn't be cricket, would it?
Borrowing a pen and paper from the waitress, I drew a large circle on it.
"I want you to imagine this is a famous cricket ground in London" I started.
"What's it called?" he enquired.
"The Oval" I replied.
"But that's a circle" he helpfully pointed out." why's it called The Oval?"
Not a good start.
"OK," I continued, pointing at the paper with my pen "this is called the field and in the centre is a rectangle about 22 yards long called the pitch. This central part of the rectangle is called the square." I continued drawing as I did so.
"There are two teams of 11 men. One team stands out in the field and then two men from the opposing team stand at either end of this rectangle, called the crease. These two men, the batsmen, are said to be in. It's their job to defend the wicket with a bat when the bowler for the other team throws a ball towards it. If the ball hits the wicket the batsman is out and another batsman comes in "
I drew an image of the wicket on the crease and looked up, expecting Miguel to be following my every word.
He was scratching his head with a face of total bemusement. In fact I'd say he was completely stumped.
"So it's a bit like baseball then?"
"Not really", I replied." That pitch is a diamond shape"
"So where do Ibiza play cricket?"
"At the football ground in San Jose" I answered.
"But that ground is square so is neither a circle nor an oval"
"Miguel" , I pleaded. "Ignore the geometrical shapes for the moment. I am trying to explain the rules of cricket not the laws of physics " I was however starting to think that the latter might be easier.
"So" I continued, completing my diagram. "When a batsman hits the ball they both sprint the length of the pitch and one run is scored. It's the job of the team stood out in the field to catch the ball, or get the ball to the wicket before the batsman reaches it. If they do then that batsman is out, and yet another batsman comes in."
Taking a deep breath, I soldiered on.
"When all the batsmen that have come in are out, the team that are out in the field come in too, as it's now their turn to bat. The batting side, which was in and who are now all out, go out into field and try and get the side that are now in, out. Tea and cucumber sandwiches are generally taken at this time too. It's all very civilized"
I looked up again. If I can use another cricketing idiom here, Miguel looked like he had been knocked for six. My explanation of a simple game had not gone to plan.
"So, would you like to come?", I asked hopefully.
He paused for a second or two to consider his response.
" You said the pitch was 22 yards? What's a yard?"
Think I'll be going alone.
Just a minute!
Next Matches - San Jose Football Ground
Sat 15 June 2013 Ibiza CC v Crossbats CC (Twickenham)
Sun 16 June 2013 Ibiza CC v Crossbats CC (Twickenham)
