Cricket Query

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In baseball, the catcher uses complex secret hand signs to tell the pitcher what pitch to do (slider, curve, etc). Does the "catcher" or whatever he's called in cricket tell the bowler what to bowl, or does he just bowl however he wants? Thanks.

― andy --, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

He generally bowls however he wants.

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

No, the wicket keeper almost never gives the bowler advice, let alone instructions. He may offer something, but generally by walking over and speaking, but it's rare. The captain is more likely to offer such advice - and occasionally, that may be the wicket keeper. I have never heard of signals being used.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

I was just going to say exackly what Martin said.

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Sometimes the bowler signals to the 'keeper what hes gonna do - like a slower ball or whatever.

― , Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

When you watch the baseball pitcher on the mound, he'll signal whether he agrees with the catcher's call... a nod when he sees the handsign he likes. The manager also has secret signs that he sends out, usually tapping his nose and chin and whatnot. Apparently in the 30's teams would try to decode this stuff, but it's not done anymore.

― andy --, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

No, they do use signals. Spin bowlers are more likely to do this, as the keeper is standing up and will need to know if certain deliveries are coming, for example to counteract a batsman who is continually coming down the pitch, a bowler might bowl for a stumping by firing one in quite wide and full. Also a bit faster than usual. That way you can get a stumping if the batsman doesn't read the ball and still comes down the pitch. To stand any chance of getting to the ball to make the stumping the wktkeeper needs to know that it's coming.
I've seen this in club cricket and I've read of examples in test cricket too. I read in a book about spin bowling that Fred Titmus used to get around a dozen wickets a season like this in the 60's and 70's- stumped by the old Middlesex keeper John Murray.

Fast bowlers may sometimes signal the slower ball, certain fielders might walk in a bit further than normal as the bowler runs up e.g deep backward square or mid-on/mid off. They also sometimes signal the bouncer to alert the fielders backward of square on the legside.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

I don't think its usual for the 'keeper to tell the bowler what to bowl tho is it?

Although I can well imagine Jack Russell doing it when he was captain at Gloucestershire - I don't think I've ever seen a 'keeper have so much impact on a game.

― , Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:23 (twenty years ago)

Please explain what are "the Ashes"?

― k/l (Ken L), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

x-post : no, it's not. Although it's possible if they've seen something that they'll make a sign of some sort. Definitely not the norm.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:29 (twenty years ago)

The Ashes is the name given to a Test Series (group of 5 or 6 5-Day matches) between England and Australia. It's called the Ashes after a joke obituary for English Cricket printed in The Times in the 19th Century when the Aussies beat England, which contained something along the lines of "The Body shall be burnt and the Ashes returned to England".

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, here you go:

"In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval on 29th AUGUST, 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances R.I.P.
N.B. — The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

It was The Sporting Times, apparently. Anyway the Wikipedia Article has the details.

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

http://images.art.com/images/PRODUCTS/large/10096000/10096649.jpg

I watched a few matches at Petersham Oval in Sydney but that's the closest I've come. I've forgot the rules.

It seems like most UK ILXors are mad about soccer but nobody ever talks about cricket.

― andy --, Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

The Ashes 2005

― I Oppose All Rock and Roll (noodle vague), Wednesday, 14 September 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

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