Comments on: Australia v The World http://gorey.com.au/australia-versus-the-world Random thoughts and observations Wed, 23 May 2012 17:46:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ray Dixon http://gorey.com.au/australia-versus-the-world/comment-page-1#comment-279 Ray Dixon Tue, 04 Oct 2005 15:19:14 +0000 http://gorey.com.au/archives/1272#comment-279 The World XI team looks awesome, Michael. For your USA readers though it might help to explain that "XI" is roman numerals for eleven, being the number of players who make up a cricket team. Well, actually there's 12 in a team but the twelth man is called..."the twelth man"! (what a surprise). The twelth man isn't allowed to bat or bowl but he is allowed to substitute as a fielder. However his main duty is to carry "the drinks" onto the field whenever the XI get thirsty. He's sort of a flanelled waiter for the rest of the team. For USA readers: A "bowl" is like a pitch in baseball, except we don't throw the ball, we "bowl" it in a round overarm action (although Australians sometimes bowl it underarm to the New Zealanders, who we don't like a lot). The World XI team looks awesome, Michael.

For your USA readers though it might help to explain that “XI” is roman numerals for eleven, being the number of players who make up a cricket team.

Well, actually there’s 12 in a team but the twelth man is called…”the twelth man”! (what a surprise).

The twelth man isn’t allowed to bat or bowl but he is allowed to substitute as a fielder. However his main duty is to carry “the drinks” onto the field whenever the XI get thirsty.

He’s sort of a flanelled waiter for the rest of the team.

For USA readers:
A “bowl” is like a pitch in baseball, except we don’t throw the ball, we “bowl” it in a round overarm action (although Australians sometimes bowl it underarm to the New Zealanders, who we don’t like a lot).

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