An Introduction To The Game Of Cricket Cricket is defined as "a bat and ball, team game played during the summer in the British Isles and in several countries influenced by the British, such as Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indian nations". Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players on a grassy field, in the center of which are two wickets - the equivalent of baseball's 'bases'. When a team is 'in', the other team attempts to get each of them 'out'. Then the team that was 'in' is 'all out', and takes its place in the 'out field'. The team that was in the out field in turn goes 'in' until they too are 'all out'. This process (an innings) may be repeated once more (a match can last one day or take as many as five).

The team with the highest number of 'runs' (points scored primarily by running between wickets after hitting the ball) wins the match, after which the players and spectators recover from the confusion over a beer in the pavilion, crickets equivalent of golf's nineteenth hole. Cricket afficionados will tell you that one subtle difference between their sport and baseball is that the ball can bounce before the batsman hits it. This bouncing is called a 'pitch', but the player bouncing it is not called a 'pitcher' like his baseball equivalent. He is the 'bowler', and must keep his arm straight when releasing the ball, which he aims at the batsman's wicket (or base). The wicket consists of three upright wooden sticks so placed that that the ball cannot pass between them. Wooden 'bails' lie in grooves on top of them. When hit by the ball the whole arrangement collapses, indicating the batsman is 'out'. At this point the next team member comes in to bat. The act of bouncing the ball on its way to the batsman allows the bowler to impart 'movement' to the ball, with the intention of catching the batsman unaware. This movement, or spin, may cause the batsman to missjudge the flight of the ball, resulting him to mis-hit into the waiting hands of a player from the opposite team, or even to miss it all together. A collection of six balls ('deliveries') is called an over; one delivery in an over can be aimed at the batsman's head. This may cause the watching public to mutter 'that's just not cricket'. Which, of course, it is. According to the speed ('pace') and movement of a ball, the batsman has various options. He may drive it along the ground, lift it into air, or flick it to the side or behind himself. Alternatively, he may use the safety pads on his legs (or arms) to stop or deflect the ball. This is risky because it will invariably prompt the bowler and his team to shout 'Howwizzzahhtt!'. This means something like 'How does that look to you Umpire - is he out?' and is usually ignored by the umpire (referee) unless he judges that the ball would have continued on to hit the wicket. Then the batsman is given 'out' and the bowler's teammates smugly feel that their banshee scream was justified. If the batsman is out without having scored a run, this is a 'duck' and his embarrassment is compounded. On the edge of the field is the boundary. If a batsman hits the ball to this boundary he is awarded four runs. If it does not bounce before doing so it is six runs (and stands a good chance of hitting a spectator). The field itself is divided into two halves, the on side and the off side. 'On' is synonymous with 'Leg', and represents the side of the field to the left of the batsman as he faces the bowler or opposite wicket. Presuming of course he is righthanded; if not, everything I've just said is reversed. Fielders are placed at strategic positions (in order to both stop runs and to catch a batsman out if possible) and these positions have distinct names. For example, the long off position is near the boundary, far away from the batsman to his front and right, while silly mid-on represents a position of extreme danger, as the name might suggest, being as it is immediately to a batsman's left. A square leg says more about where one umpire stands rather than how he is standing, while backward point or deep fine leg says nothing about any mental or physical ability at all. Forms Of Cricket One Day Twenty 20 World Cup

Story Of Cricket

Introduction

Cricket is a modern day sport played between two teams. Each team has eleven players. The game is played on an oval or round shaped ground which has a rectangular 22 yard long pitch at the center. One team bats to score as many runs as possible. The other team stops the run flow by dismissing the batsmen. A run is scored when a batsman hits the ball with his bat, runs to opposite end of pitch and touches the crease there without being dismissed.

 


There are three formats of the game:

a) Test Cricket
b) One Day Cricket
c) Twenty-Twenty

 

Test Cricket

The oldest form of cricket is Test Cricket. The game of cricket actually evolved with Test Cricket. Records show that first ever test match was played between Australia and England in the year 1876-77. The game of cricket has come a long way since then. The rules have changed a lot. A test match is played over a period of five days with each team batting and bowling twice. Maximum over that can be bowled in a day is 90 while there is no limit on the number of over a single bowler can bowl. Over 2000 test matches have been played till date.

There are nine test playing nations which are full members of International Cricket Council – The International Cricket Governing body. These members are Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

One Day International

Limited over cricket was introduced in England in the year 1963. Internationally, the first limited over game was played in the year 1971. One game is played in one day. A bowler can bowl a maximum of 10 over’s in a game. In 1975, a new tournament known as World cup came into existence. All International Cricket Council members gathered at one place for a series of matches against each other. The winners of tournament were termed as World Champions.

World cup is played after every four years. ICC has conducted 10 world cups till date. Australia became champions four times, West Indies and India twice while Pakistan and Sri Lanka once. The last world cup was held in the year 2011 and was won by India.

Twenty-Twenty

The latest evolution in the game of cricket is twenty-twenty. Here, each team plays 20 overs and a bowler can bowl a maximum of four overs. First international Twenty-twenty game was played in the year 2005 between Australia and New Zealand. First twenty-twenty world cup was held in 2007. The tournament is played every two years and twenty-twenty world champions are crowned. 20 international teams have played the game till date.

Even after 100 years of its existence, the popularity of game is still increasing. More and more people are taking up this sport. It is only second to Football in terms of followers around the globe and is set to post a challenge for the top slot very soon.

Effect Of Technology On Our Lives

You're doing your homework on a computer. That's an example
We need automobiles or trains to get just about anywhere and all modern cars. Have computers.
We get our news from the tv and computer.
Machines make things for us, computers help keep people alive, in hospitals wheel chairs are powered.

If we use a computer for many hours (as people often do at work),  there are some health issues that might affect us...     

Eye-Strain

One health issue that can occur after using computers for a long time is eye-strain (tiredness of the eyes).

This is caused by looking at a monitor which is a constant distance away. The muscles that focus your eyes do not move, and so get tired and painful. Eye-strain can also cause headaches.

This problem can be solved:

• Look away from the monitor at regular intervals – re-focus on distant or close objects to exercise the muscles in the eye.
• Take regular breaks.
• Use an anti-glare filter in front of the monitor to cut down on screen reflections that can also tire the eyes.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) in Wrists and Hands

Any repetitive movement (same movement over and over again) can result in a health problem called repetitive strain injury (RSI).

In particular, typing and using a mouse for long periods are common causes of RSI in the wrist (it is often called carpal-tunnel syndrome).

This problem can be solved:

• Use a wrist-rest to support the wrists while typing and when using the mouse.
• Take regular breaks from typing or using the mouse.

 

 

Back and Neck Ache

Many people suffer from back and neck pain after working at a computer for a long time. This is usually due to them having a bad sitting posture.

This problem can be solved:

• Use an adjustable, ergonomic chair, and take the time to set it up properly.
• The computer keyboard and monitor should be at the correct height for the seated person (keyboard lower than the elbow, top of monitor at eye level).
• Take regular breaks: get up, walk around, stretch your muscles

Bad Posture

Good Posture

 

 

  The science of how we interact with the objects around us is called ergonomics.

An ergonomic chair is one that fits the body well, giving support to areas such as the lower back (lumbar region)