Talk About Tennis 2.0

the two women in the photo on top are Smriti Mandhana, India's leading batter and former captain, (on the right as we look at the picture) and Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain.

I wish I understood cricket.

Of all the sports I don't follow, I've always found it the hardest to figure out just from watching casually without trying to put in effort to figure it out.

ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Mon Nov 03, 2025 2:23 pm Of all the sports I don't follow, I've always found it the hardest to figure out just from watching casually without trying to put in effort to figure it out.

yes, you have to grow up playing it on the streets.. I did, all Indians do. Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies (Jamaica, Antigua etc play as one team), South Aftrica, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, all play very intensely.. what is common is they are all former British colonies.
What abut the US then? Actually, a world team made up of stalwarts from all over, went to the US once and was destroyed by an American fast bowler called Bart King. .. so there is some history there. The main reason is it not popular in the US is that it takes too long - 5 days for the usual 'Test' matches, the modern version's 'Twenty twenty' takes about 4 to 6 hours, much more manageable. The Cricket authorities are desperately trying to promote the game in North America, but when they do, it is all Indians and Pakistanis who show up, which is natural but not what is intended.

When I understood it, it is truly fascinating. It is a very cerebral game, and the statistical aspects are incredible.
But it is not meant for the American mentality. It is not fast paced; you need to cultivate patience.

Ashkor, I am pleased to inform you that India's World Cup win made the NY Times Morning newsletter this morning--not one of the sports newsletters I receive--the general, overarching NY Times Morning newsletter that covers everything. I thought you might appreciate that.

dryrunguy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 03, 2025 4:20 pm Ashkor, I am pleased to inform you that India's World Cup win made the NY Times Morning newsletter this morning--not one of the sports newsletters I receive--the general, overarching NY Times Morning newsletter that covers everything. I thought you might appreciate that.

thanks.. but not so surprising - an Indian is about to become Mayor of New York tomorrow! Zohran 's father must have played cricket in Mumbai like the rest of us..

an interesting sidelight - there is a video circulating of a South African player bemoaning the fact that, while great players of the past and present, like Tendulkar (one of the greatest of modern cricketers) and Rohit Sharma (captain of the men's team) had come to support the Indian women, there was not a single such South African player or official, past or present, there to support them when the South African women played. The support the Indian women's team got from men who have never appreciated them in the past - was quite astonishing.. good to see it happening.