Day 9: Aussie Sports

I have been learning a bit about sports halfway around the world.  Currently the Australian Open is on for tennis and it is extremely popular.  I have watched quite a few matches since they are on the TV when you go into a sports bar or ice cream place.  I never knew that tennis was so interesting, but it's really quite good.

I've also been learning the rules for cricket, which has always been a mystery to me.  I'm still not sure I completely understand.  It's hard to figure it out on tv since they only show you a small portion of the entire playing field.  Here's what I have learned: there are several types of matches that you might have in cricket.  The longest is called a test match, and it lasts for 5 days.  Each team plays a certain number of innings, which is a specified number of "overs."  They alternate innings, which may take days to complete.  An over is a certain number of "pitches" although I think they're called "bowls."  So the bowler bowls the ball to the batsman, who is trying to protect the wicket that is behind him from getting knocked over.  He tries to hit the ball far enough so that he can run from his crease to touch his bat over the opposite crease.  There is also a second batsman running from the opposite direction, although they only bat when they are at one end.  Each time a batsman puts their bat over the opposite crease they score one run.  The bowling team tries to get each batsman out in turn.  They do this by knocking over the wicket, or getting the bowler to hit the ball up in the air and then catching it and probably some other ways that I am unaware of.  The batsmen can bat as long as they want until they get out.  The inning is over when the bowling team gets all the batsmen on the other team out, OR when the specified number of overs has been completed.  There are shorter versions than a test match, too, like a 50 over game or a 20 over game, which might take one day or three hours to play, respectively.

Another game that I've been learning is Netball.  I think this is similar to the brand of women's basketball that my mom used to play when she was in high school.  In Netball, each end of the court is marked off with a semi-circle around the basket (which is just a basket on the end of a pole, no backboard), a line midway between the semi-circle and halfcourt, and a line marking the halfcourt.  There are 7 players on a team and each player wears a jersey with their position marked on it. For example, you would have a GK who would be the goal keeper, and a WA who is the wing attack or the GD who is goal defense.  Each position is only allowed to be in certain locations on the court.  So if you were playing GD you would be allowed inside the arc surrounding your team's basket (which you would be defending) and 3/4 of the way down the court, but you are not allowed to pass the 3/4 line.  The GK is allowed close to the basket, but can only travel to the 1/4 line on his side of the court.  WA players cannot get in close to defend their basket but are allowed within the opponent's circle to hopefully score.  The ball is not dribbled like in basketball, rather passed from player to player.  You may not move with the ball but you can only have it in your hands for 3 seconds.  Players defending you must stay 1 1/2 feet away.

I went to watch Eve play a netball game the other day.  I was struck by the absurd number of penalties assessed against players.  A penalty means that the ball is returned to where it was and the play is repeated.  The game can be rather fast paced but also very stop and go when numerous penalties are called.  It was fun to watch though and I wished that I could play, too.