The Beauty of Cricket - 12/03/09Cricket is a traditional pastime enjoyed by a large number of amateurs and professionals alike. The game attracts people due to its general atmosphere as well as the level of skill needed to play, many spectators go to matches every year and thoroughly enjoy themselves. This has been the case for a great many years, especially in England where cricket is a traditional summer pursuit, with players dressed in their white garments to be seen on many a village green and the sound of cricket balls being hit audible from quite a distance. The image may seem romanticised, but it can certainly still be seen in a number of areas. For many people it is impossible to think of cricket without thinking of summer days and, of course, delicious strawberries and cream! Nowadays people from many different countries and cultures are united by their love of cricket. The sport is inspiring people from all walks of life in all sorts of places, despite its sometimes stereotyped image. It is no wonder that this sport has caught on, despite its differences to other extremely popular sports such as football and rugby, it has the key elements that make a game great. These are of course skill, suspense and there is an art to playing that creates great beauty to the observer. The equipment used for cricket needs to reach certain standards and follow strict criteria in order to be deemed suitable for play in professional matches. Even for those who are learning to play seriously, it is advisable to get some practice with the proper equipment. Clothing used for different games is usually quite recognisable, but so are the balls used. Cricket balls need to match a certa
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