Madam, – As there will be unprecedented interest in Ireland’s match against India tomorrow and as so many people are unsure of the rules of the game, the following simplified version should add to their understanding and enjoyment of cricket.
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that’s in the side that’s in goes out and when he’s out he comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out.When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in and the side that has been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get a man still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out, including the not-outs, that’s the end of the game.
Alternatively, and particularly in Ireland, two men in white coats go out into the middle of the field and set up two sets of three sticks with smaller pieces of wood balanced on top. When this task is completed, it rains. – Yours, etc,