An interesting pursuit.

I'm looking to write about cricket... by Tawaki on 2015-12-23 16:02:00 UTC Reply

...and am requesting input from a boarder in the Commonwealth. I've been doing some reading up on cricket, but resources are not plentiful in the States and I'm a little shaky on a few things that I have to get right.

Basically I'm trying to do an AU of "Casey at the Bat" where it was cricket that prevailed in the States. In order to retain the ending, I think I have to make him a bowler trying to save the match, and describe him as an professional grade all-rounder to make that plausible.

With nine wickets down (the ninth being Flynn's final ball in the previous over), and the other team needing six more runs to win, Casey "accidentally" chucks the ball (that's five penalty runs, right?) to show off his ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and then spread-eagles the batsman's stumps--"But there is no joy in Mudville/Casey's foot went o'er the crease"; and IIRC, a no ball (in addition to adding that winning run Casey doesn't want to allow) means that run out, handling the ball, hitting it twice, and obstructing the field are the only dismissal methods available, and moot if the ball is unhit. Is this correct for the 1880's (when CatB is set)?

An interesting pursuit. by W. G. Scapegrace on 2015-12-23 16:23:00 UTC Reply

I played cricket at school and was actually pretty alright at it until I got my arm knackered. The problem that you have is that cricket is a very, very, very poor choice for a song like Casey At The Bat (Casey At The Oval?), entirely because of how it works, particularly in the time in which this is set. Not only that, but the scenario you talk about here actually happened. In the last ball of a match, needing a six to win, the Australian bowler decided to roll the ball along the ground, something that was entirely legal at the time. It nearly sparked an international incident. =]

If you're set on it, though, then put Casey in as a night-watchman and have him bludgeon the opposition's bowling attack all over the park. Might be a bit more feasible. =]
While I don't know about cricket... by Iximaz on 2015-12-23 16:06:00 UTC Reply

I do know you have to know about crumpets first.

(sorry for being unhelpful but hopefully that'll get a chuckle out of you.)