Guy Clifford - The Game Of Cricket: All You Need To Know About The Summer Game

Doctor Roland Rotherham, or Roly to his friends, has been addicted to cricket from an early age. First to realise that he had no natural aptitude for the game, he still managed to enjoy it to its full at many levels including umpiring and then later scoring, which remains his first love. With an outrageous sense of humour Roly makes friends wherever he goes and has also earned great respect from other scorers and umpires.

Since winning a cricket bat in a comic competition aged four, Guy Clifford has loved the game. Encouraged by his parents he has striven to play as often and wherever he could. He played his first game for Colwall 2nds aged 10, playing for many clubs as his family moved around the Midlands. During his first spell with Milford Hall C.C., he became a committee member at the age of 14.

The Game of Cricket

Published by:

Greatest Guides Limited, Woodstock, Bridge End, Warwick

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ePub ISBN 978-1-907906-61-9

We dedicate this book to all lovers of the Summer Game. To all our friends, past and present, with whom we have crossed bats (and pens), and to our dear friends Brian and Marion Littlewood, who have given us so much support and friendship over many seasons.

It gave me great pleasure to be asked to write the foreword to The Game of Cricket. I am not sure how qualified I am to do this as I was mainly a batsman and therefore do not know much, for instance, about bowling or wicketkeeping. During my career, however, I thought I knew a little about fielding in all positions, although some who saw me in my later years, including one or two Warwickshire players, maybe wouldnt agree! In my early years, though, I thought I had both pace across the ground as well as an accurate arm for return to the keeper or bowler.

As a batsman, there is a tip of my own I would like to give you put everything out of your mind and focus hard on the bowlers hand at the moment he releases the ball. This will help you to pick up the ball early and tell you whether to come forward or play back. Also watch Ricky Ponting. He had the best batting technique of any player in the world. Watch his first trigger movement, where his feet and head are and where his bat is at the moment the ball is released from the bowlers hand. You cant go wrong if you practise this but it must first of all be in the nets.

Anyway, this is a marvellous book with splendid cricketing tips for all ages players and fans and should be always kept either in the cricketers bag or in the coat pocket. It covers all areas of the game from playing to umpiring, scoring and groundsmanship. There is something here for every cricketing player and fan of the game. I promise you, when reading this book you will often say to yourself Well, I didnt know that!

Good luck and best wishes for a successful season.

Dennis Amiss MBE

To me, it doesnt matter how good you are. Sport is all about playing and competing. Whatever you do in cricket and in sport, enjoy it, be positive and try to win.

Ian Botham

AIMS OF THE GAME

Even in this day and age, cricket, whether it is a friendly, league, cup or evening limited-over game, is a game played in a competitive but gentlemanly manner! The game of cricket is played worldwide, and gives enjoyment to men and women, boys and girls of all races and creeds, participants and spectators alike. At grass roots level, there is a camaraderie between players who see each other maybe only twice a year; and stories are told about previous encounters, legendary characters of the game, cricket stories from days gone by, all taking precedence over the troubles of the day and of course that dreaded subject the football season.

This wonderful game of cricket in all its different forms is based upon laws (not rules!) which are set by the games governing body, the ECB (the England and Wales Cricket Board).

WHAT IS CRICKET?

Basically the game of cricket is contested between two teams of eleven players. The game is officiated by two umpires and recorded by two scorers. One side bats first, against the other sides bowling and fielding, accumulating a number of runs in a set amount of overs. The roles are then reversed, with the side who bowled first trying to overhaul the other sides total of runs with their batting. Each sides total of runs is called an innings.

OR THE DEFINITION OF CRICKET AS EXPLAINED TO A FOREIGNER

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man thats in the side thats in goes out, and when hes out he comes in and the next man goes in until hes out.

When they are all out, the side thats out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.