W: Hello, Mark. Have you ever played cricket?

M: No, never, but I once watched a game at the Cricket Club.

W: Did you enjoy it?

M: No, not much, though everybody else seemed to.

I found it very slow. Nothing much seemed to happen.

Perhaps that was because I didn't really understand what was going on.

W: It's a bit like baseball, isn't it?

M: Well, not really. In baseball there is only one man with a bat

but in cricket there are two.

W: Both at the same time?

M: No. They take turns.

They each stand at one end of the pitch in front of some sticks called "stumps" or the "wicket".

A member of the other team, the "bowler" throws the ball at the stumps.

The batsman tries to protect the wicket and hit the ball as far as he can.

W: What happens when he hits the ball?

M: The batsmen run to change positions. That's called a "run".

They do it as many times as they can.

W: What does the other team do?

M: One of them runs after the ball and throws it at the wicket.

If he hits it while the batsmen are still running, one of them is out.

W: That sounds a little like baseball.

M: Not really. I think baseball is more exciting.

W: Yes, so do I.