The paraphernalia continued: the ball. Plain and simple this, no probs here accept the shape and size of course. The weight must be between 5.5 and 5.75 ounces and measure no more or less than between 8 inches and 3/16’ths and nine inches in circumference, and of course it must be round execpt the bumpy bit that’s sometimes called, the seam, again no one seems to know why. All cricketers have their balls weighed before, during and after a match and ball tampering is only permitted in the showers. The ball may only be struck with or by a thwacker or basher (Flying Fox) held by an opposing team member, here known as a, thwackee or bashee who is ‘in.’ With the game well and truely underway by 11.30 am the chucker or hurler attemps to get the opposing player ‘out.’ So effectively you’re ‘in’ and then you’re ‘out’ and then you do the Hokey Cokey and spin about usually heading for the beer tent.
Players standing in the ‘out field’ [ nope haven’t got a clue where that is either!] largely read the paper or have a nice sit down can be any height, weight or stature. However the team who have to run up and down on the Rice Crispie patch have strict guidelines to follow rather like that of a Jockey and his horse. In the early days of the game a teams kit comprised of nothing more than a hemp scarf but now-adays things have changed. And the thwacker’s kit has altered the most. It now comprises of a white helmet, shirt and jumper, a pair of strides and a pair of boots and in some cases a flak jacket too. The mistake most people make is assuming that what the thwacker wears on his legs are worn as some form of protection against being hit by the ball. What were thought to be ‘pads’ by the untrained eye are in fact leg weights, this makes sure that no one side has an advantage over the other when running between the Sticks and Twigs. It also regulates the wear and tear on the Rice Crispie patch.
Oooh, time for tea and tiffin me thinks…
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