26. Cricket trivia

Phrases with Cricket origins

Meaning of Cricketing phrases
PHRASE MEANING HISTORY
Hat Trick! 3 in a row A bowler was once challenged if he could take 3 consecutive wickets. A hat was passed around for the bets. Amazingly he succeeded and the name stuck.
Bowled Over! Knock over
Stumped! Bewildered
That's not Cricket! Unfair Cricket is the Gentleman's game, fair play is a part of the game.
At sixes and sevens! Is lost
Batting on a Sticky Wicket! In a tight Spot  

Origin of Cricket Words

Origin of Cricketing Terminology
WORDS ORIGIN
Wicket A small door or gate, which served as the stumps in the old days of Cricket.
Bails The part of a gate used as stumps.
Stumps In old cricket, the wickets were tree stumps.
Chinaman The left arm finger spin. A Chinese immigrant, Ellis Achong to the West Indies was the first to bowl this variation in the 1940's.
Duck A player once used to bring his pet duck to his matches. Now his fate was such, that each time he brought the duck to the ground he got out for zero. Hence the name.
Popping Crease In the old days there was no stumps, instead there was a small pit, and the fielders had to 'pop' the ball into it to run a batsman out.
Third Man (fielding Position) In the early days of cricket, a bowler used to have 3 slips, and the area between gully and slips used to be vacant. When shots were played in that area, the 3rd slip used to be transferred there, and hence became "Third Man"
Doosra Urdu word for "the other"

Did you Know?

  • Cricket had its origins in AD 700
  • It was widely played in the 1300's
  • It was banned in the 15th century.
  • Baseball is derived from cricket and rounders.
  • Played in the 1900 Olympics. UK won, France got silver.
  • USA vs. Canada test match (1846) was the first international sport ever played.
  • Cricket comes form the French "Criquet".
  • The most famous international series, is the "Ashes", between England and Australia.
  • The official cricket magazine is the Wisden.
  • The Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) first published its rules in 1788.
  • There were only two stumps in old cricket.
  • Underarm bowling was allowed in old cricket.
  • Sir Don Bradman (1908-2001) Aus., is still considered the best batsman ever.
  • He has a impassable average of 99.94.
  • In the old days 5 runs were scored in place of today's 6.
  • One Day cricket first made its appearance in in 1961
  • All countries in the world have a cricket presence.
  • Second largest spectator sport after football (soccer).
  • It is watched by almost a billion people.
  • One of the early sites dedicated to cricket was founded by Mick Jagger of "Rolling Stones" in 1996.

Movie Time

Unfortunately there aren't many Hollywood movies featuring Cricket. Here are some which have a cricket theme.

  • Lagaan (2001) IND (Oscar Nominee 2002)
  • Bodyline (mini) (1983)AUS

The following just have a single scene of cricket.

  • The Beach (2000)
  • The Road to Avonlea (TV) (1990) (single episode)
  • Bend it Like Beckham (2002)
  • Master and Commander: Far Side of the World (2003)
  • Vertical Limit (2000)

Famous non sportsmen related to cricket:

  1. Russel Crowe's two cousins are the former New Zealand cricketers Martin & Jeff Crowe.

  2. Shaggy started out his career singing for a Test match.

  3. Christian Vieri, the Italian football (soccer) player used to play cricket for his school in Australia.

Computer Games:

  • Cricket 2004 - EA Sports
  • Brian Lara Cricket