Two cricket questions...?

Question

1) Why do die-hard cricket fans detest the limited over versions of the game which make it less boring to watch/

2) What is an 'arm-ball'? I've heard it quite a few times during this test and have no idea what it means.

Answer 1

Have you been watching the current two Test matches being played at the moment? One between England and New Zealand; the other between West Indies and Australia.

Both these matches give clear demonstrations as to why Test cricket is vastly superior to the limited overs version of the game. They are full of contrasting fortunes, with the balance of power constantly fluctuating. Earlier today, England looked dead and buried, and relieved just to avoid the follow on. Now they have a strong chance of winning, but their brittle middle order could still be exposed to leave a thrilling climax.

In a limited overs game, the only genuine excitement is in the final few overs. Up until then, it is just whooping at the sight of batsmen slogging it to all parts.

Edit: They can 'whup it to all parts' in limited overs cricket due to the fielding restrictions: there are few, if any close-in fielders in limited overs cricket, so they don't have to worry about nicking one to the slips, gully or other men close to the bat. The outfield is pretty big, and nine men can't possibly cover all the ground, so the batsmen just pick the gaps.

Answer 2

1)  Cricket is known as a bat and ball game.  Test cricket is the

      true form of cricket which tests the talent and skill of

      batsmen and bowlers, whereas ODI and T20 are mainly

      meant for entertainment and one cannot really see the

      real skill and talent of batsman or bowler in these forms

      of cricket.   Hence true cricket lovers always like test

      cricket.

2)  In ODI or T20 format of cricket only 50 overs and 20 overs

      each side respectively will be bowled and each bowler

      can bowl maximum of 10 overs and 4 overs each

      respectively.  Hence batsmen have to score maximum

      runs possible during these limited overs.  However,

      in test cricket there is no such restriction of overs and

      the game is of 5 days duration and as such batsmen

      can take their own time to score the runs.  The trend is

      always put up a huge score in the first innings and

      put pressure on the other side.   If batsmen attempt to

      score fast as in the case of ODI and T20, there is a

      danger of the whole team getting out fast will be

      advantageous for the team batting second as they

      can take their own time to surpass the score put up by

      the team batted first and take a substantial lead to

      put the other team under pressure.  

.

Answer 3

answer 2  

It is a variation delivery bowled by an off spin bowler or slow left-arm orthodox bowler. It is the finger spin equivalent of a wrist spinner's slider or zooter.

In contrast to the stock delivery, an arm ball is delivered without rolling the fingers down the side of the ball on release. This means the ball has little or no spin on it, and it does not turn appreciably off the pitch. Instead, it travels straight on in the direction of the arm, from which it derives its name. However, by keeping the seam upright, the bowler can also hope to obtain some outswing away from the right-handed batsman, thereby confusing the batsman who expects the ball to turn.

The arm ball is best used as a surprise variation by a spinner who is turning the ball considerably. A complacent or poorly skilled batsman playing for the expected spin can be taken by surprise and get out bowled or lbw, or edge the ball with the outside edge of the bat to offer a catch to the wicket-keeper or slip fielders. Sanath Jayasuriya,Saqlain Mushtaq, Daniel Vettori, Mohammad Rafique, Maninder Singh and Monty Panesar use the arm ball to good effect. India's Bishen Singh Bedi is arguably the best known exponent of this delivery.

Answer 4

If you need to ask the first question, then  you aren't a true fan of cricket. You don't hear concert goers asking the orchestra to just play the interesting bits of a Symphony, or a movie producer to only show the action & s*x scenes etc. Traditional cricket lovers like the real thing, not some half baked idea thought up on the spur of the moment by a country trying to get control of world cricket. I am quite tolerant of ODIs, but IPL/20/20 is an affront to good cricket.