The sounds of summer

Ahh, I love cricket. I love the game, the sight of the players on a green background, the skill, the tension, the ebb & flow ... and the traditions. I have tried to explain the game to a visiting American diplomat, but gave up in desperation after a day's viewing. He was only slightly the wiser. I grew up with the cricket from England on the radio, and newsreels before the Saturday matinee, and my eldest brother making us play cricket (backyard cricket, we call it in Australia) everytime he was 'in charge'. I loved bowling and never was any good at batting - too impatient. Still am.

Nowadays we have instant cricket replays from four different angles when we watch a game - either in 'real time' or delayed - with wonderful commentary in many accents from all the countries of the old Commonwealth. Radio commentary is still better than TV commentary, so it is with some amusement that I found a transcipt of the broadcast from the subcontinent in the current game between Australia and India. I've seen it before at the website of the Australian Cricket Board ... www.acb.com.au

This is from Day One of the match (the first number is the over number, and the second is which ball in that over):

12.6 Warne to Pathan, no run, outside the off stump, defended on the
front-foot
12.5 Warne to Pathan, no run, tossed up outside the off stump, defended
12.4 Warne to Yuvraj Singh, OUT: got'm! wide outside the off stump and
turning in, Yuvraj goes after it hard, ball takes the inside edge
and goes behind, Gilchrist takes a fantastic catch to give Warne
the wicket that will put him on par with Murali

India 28/1, Partnership of 28
Yuvraj Singh c Gilchrist b Warne 8 (40b 1x4 0x6)
V Sehwag 20* (36b 3x4) SK Warne 1.4-1-1-1

Gilchrist had very little time to react, it's Warne 532 - Murali
532!
Pathan is the next man in
12.3 Warne to Yuvraj Singh, no run, tossed up outside the off stump,
defended straight to the silly point at one bounce
12.2 Warne to Yuvraj Singh, no run, wide outside the off stump, left
alone
12.1 Warne to Sehwag, one run, tossed up on the pads, Sehwag reaches
forward and drives it away to the deep cover region