Comment from johnwilson

Excellent

This is another gem from you. You have a new fan as I love to read writers with a sense of humor in what they write. I am not a sports fan unless you call playing tennis and swimming in the ocean which I do not follow on TV; however, I can spot a wonderful read when I see one. This is exceptional because it keeps the reader engaged through your use of our language. Nothing to correct hear...just need to read more...should be a winner!

 Comment Written 24-May-2016

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reply by the author on 24-May-2016

Thanks, John.

I don't write a lot of prose, although surprisingly my prose rating is higher than my poetry - go figure.

I'm glad you found the piece amusing. It was funnier still before I realised 1200 words wasn't acceptable and I had to slash it in half!

Steve

Comment from Narvik

Exceptional

I think I'll put this through one of those Google translator programs so I can read it in English. :-O

Hilarious, Steve. Beyond hilarious. You fit little witticisms everywhere, and the reader need not know anything about cricket to get them.

I know very little about the sport, but I do recall reading that the matches can take several days. That's mind-boggling. I tried to explain baseball to some Russians once, and it seemed so obvious to me that my explanation was crystal clear, but they kept telling me I wasn't making an sense.

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it makes me want to find one of those flat bats and smack some cricket balls around.

Keep up the good work.

~ Jack

 Comment Written 23-May-2016

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reply by the author on 24-May-2016

Thanks, Jack. I'm glad you found the humour - it seems to have gone over the head of some readers (like a six in cricket or a home run in baseball)

Mind you, it was a lot funnier when I had 1200 words and going strong. Sadly, it was mostly jokes that ended up getting cut!

I truly appreciate getting a sixer from you for one of my rare forays into prose. I am still boggled that my prose rating is mysteriously higher than my poetry one.

Steve

Comment from Judy Couch

Excellent

This is well written and is funny. I still don't understand how to play cricket but I'm not good at baseball either. Obviously, I'm not very sporty.

 Comment Written 23-May-2016

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reply by the author on 24-May-2016

Thanks, Judy. You are obviously a couch-potato! ;O)

Steve

Comment from --Turtle.

Excellent

Hi kiwisteve,

I read through your write on cricket. An entertaining piece with good humor, has a solid pleasing voice (very easy to read). I was reminded of a line from one of my favorite movies ... the ninja turtles, movie

Rapheal and Casey Jones are fighting, and Casey Jones is using sports weapons. He pulls out a cricket paddle (if it has a specific name, you might want to add it in this piece?)

Rapheal shouts at him: Cricket?! Nobody understands cricket! You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket.

Casey Jones says, I'll teach you... hits Rapheal-- sends him flying into a garbage basket, and says... heh... that's six runs. : D

Sad that I know that by heart... line by line, I know. But it's instantly what I was thinking of as I read through this entertaining comparison of baseball and cricket.

Anyway, this was fun to read and I only have a few instances where I wanted to offer a few comma recheck suggestions for consideration if you like:

pitcher's mound[,]? while his partner scampers from the mound

certain that a nadir can be plumbed, but[,]? if it can, this

The batsman, in his turn, must defend his stumps[,]? while trying to hit the ball to a spot w

Perhaps[,] you may discover these things for yourself, if you are
(this was the only one I strongly wondered if was needed)

 Comment Written 21-May-2016

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reply by the author on 23-May-2016

Thanks, Turtle.

I probably put myself at a disadvantage by writing about cricket, but that's OK. I had fun, and there was even more fun in there before I realised I had to chop it in half to meet the 700 word length condition.

Comment from jpduck

Excellent

I began reading this in a fury at the outrageous statement represented by your title. But I soon forgave you, out of delight for your humorous description of the hallowed game. I ended feeling that the title must be part of the joke. I get there in the end.

No typos or SPAGs spotted.


Adrian

 Comment Written 20-May-2016

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reply by the author on 23-May-2016

Oh, yes, the while thing is a joke, and there were more laughs in there before I had to cut it in half!

Thanks for stopping by.

Comment from jane.fallon

Excellent

Excellent.

Just one thing : Brackets need to be closed at "I kid you not".

It would have been good to talk about The Ashes and how it happened - how the stumps were burnt in disgust.

Well done.

 Comment Written 20-May-2016

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reply by the author on 23-May-2016

Thanks, Jane.

I had lots more to say, but had to leave a lot out. The Ashes is an interesting side-bar, but that's Australia v England and I am a Kiwi!

Comment from Kooky Clown

Excellent

I have to confess that I am not a cricket fan well at least not the Test matches I can just about stomach the twenty twenty matches. However I do like the way you have described the game and how the US of A can maybe join the ranks of crickets elite in the future. A great read and most enjoyable. I will never watch a cricket match with the same view again.

 Comment Written 20-May-2016

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reply by the author on 23-May-2016

Thanks, Kooky.

I believe I put myself at a disadvantage by writing about cricket, but I had fun anyway.

Comment from teols2016

Excellent

Interesting commentary. I never gave cricket such in-depth consideration, but I'm glad to have read your description of it. Well done and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 20-May-2016

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reply by the author on 23-May-2016

Thanks for the kind words.