Do you know what the most heavily bet sport on earth is?

[WileOut]

So when they pitch the ball they have to bounce it to the batter? And it looks like the batter is using a huge paddle. These guys couldn't hit a curveball from a major league pitcher with a regular baseball bat to save their lives.

And there are no different pitches it seems. They are all just bounces off the ground and swung at with a huge paddle.

I'm thankful we have baseball and not cricket.

Do the odds change depending on who is pitching like baseball? Or do I completely not understand the rules of the game?

A guy like Ryan Howard would be the best cricket player of all time. Because he strikes out a lot and that is his achilles heel, but it seems that cricket players hit the ball at a much higher rate, taking the strikeout out of the game?

[hoopster42]

These guys couldn't hit a curveball from a major league pitcher with a regular baseball bat to save their lives.

and vice versa, sir. send major league hitters to pro cricket matches and theyll get their behinds kicked

the bowlers in cricket (bowler is the name for the pitcher) put all kinds of wicked spins, they call them "googlies", they hit the ground and bounce right, left, high, low, and sometimes right at your nuts

dont knock it til you try it, cause once you try it you will respect it

KOBE HOW MY ASS TASTE

[MJFtheGenius]

cricket

send me a t-shirt please

[englishmike]

So when they pitch the ball they have to bounce it to the batter? And it looks like the batter is using a huge paddle. These guys couldn't hit a curveball from a major league pitcher with a regular baseball bat to save their lives.

And there are no different pitches it seems. They are all just bounces off the ground and swung at with a huge paddle.

I'm thankful we have baseball and not cricket.

Do the odds change depending on who is pitching like baseball? Or do I completely not understand the rules of the game?

Wiles pal: A swing bowler moves the ball 6 feet in the air over a 22 yard distance at 85mph with a harder ball...

No the odds don't change depending on who's bowling, the odds change regarding how often wickets are being taken and how fast runs are being scored but you need to bear in mind that a test match lasts five days, so it's easy to get positive odds on all three outcomes if you're willing to sit there and make bets in play at the right time.

[hoopster42]

22 yd = 66 ft, wiles

that's 5 feet and 6 inches farther than a baseball mound

and mike, lets add that its a much harder and heavier ball than a baseball

[WileOut]

I am trying to learn this sport so I will not be so ignorant.

From wikipedia

"The ICC administers both men's and women's cricket, both versions being played at international level. Although men cannot play women's cricket, the rules do not disqualify women from playing in a men's team."

Women could never play on a mens baseball team, it would be too dangerous.

[daggerkobe]

They should play cricket in skirts cause that's so gay.

Baseball = Real man's sport. Try hitting a round ball with a round bat not an oar.

[hoopster42]

I am trying to learn this sport so I will not be so ignorant.

From wikipedia

"The ICC administers both men's and women's cricket, both versions being played at international level. Although men cannot play women's cricket, the rules do not disqualify women from playing in a men's team."

for gods sake, women are allowed to play cfb too but only like 2 have ever done it and they were kickers

just because women are allowed, doesnt mean they are good enough to make the team

its called an anti-discrimination law against women, but they still have to make the team

[hoopster42]

Try hitting a round ball with a round bat not an oar.

okay, right after mlb players take off their mitts which are padded with leather and about 8 times larger than the human hand

let them catch a baseball bear handed in the outfield, then we'll see how they enjoy catching a heavy cricket ball that feels like it is solid marble

enjoy oh ignorant one!

some americans are so fukkin narrow minded

[WileOut]

I'm just kidding guys I'm sure its a great sport if that many people are interested in it. I'd like to try it out.

[hoopster42]

I'm just kidding guys I'm sure its a great sport if that many people are interested in it. I'd like to try it out.

soccer and cricket are incredibly tough yet awesome sports which is why are probably the two most popular in the world

basketball > baseball

[hoopster42]

and btw, cricket players are not getting indicted for steroids like dumbass baseball players are

80% baseball players = primadonnas

[WileOut]

I grew up playing soccer. I loved it.

I played soccer, football, baseball, basketball, and tennis growing up all competitively.

[donjuan]

Top level cricket players and baseball players have a lot of similar natural skills like hand-eye coordination. I bet with the right training and attitude, guys like Ricky Ponting or Ichiro would be able to cross over and become good at each other's sports. In fact, Pakistan has used baseball coaches to help them with their fielding.

[donjuan]

and btw, cricket players are not getting indicted for steroids like dumbass baseball players are

But they are regularly suspected/confirmed as having fixed matches...

[daggerkobe]

Cricket batters wear more armour than King Arthur. GAY

[donjuan]

Cricket batters wear more armour than King Arthur. GAY

So that makes football infinitely "gayer" than rugby?

[Nicky Santoro]

i need to know if Horses was included here as a sport, or not.. here is why horses should win.
it's not like 4 major sports here where they only play 6 months a year and only about 7 games on schedule on avg everyday.. it's not like cricket where they only play a few months a year..

horse racing is all year long and steady. .there are races right now as we speak going on. it's not just in asia.. it's everywhere in the globe.. there are many races in every city going on.. not just 1 ball game, but maybe 10 in each track at a time.. x 100,000 tracks probably worldwide.. plus the internet horse wagering.. how can horses not be #1 in total volume?

there are 15 games a day in baseball on a busy day to bet on for 6 months a year.. in horses, there are probably 1 million races a day everyday to bet on for 365 days a year, and it is not only north america like baseball, but worldwide.. so how can it not be horses?

was horse racing included in this poll or just regular sports?

[daggerkobe]

Who said rugby was gay?

And if you think those gear protect you in football, think again. I've got battle scars to prove otherwise.

Cricket = gay. I may change my mind if they replace those oars with round bats.

[Panic]

Its gotta be horses. The amount of action going daily is 2nd to none. I know John's buddy told him it was cricket, but I think the ponies are, by far, the most heavily wagered sport in the world.

[Data]

Soccer

The only right answer thus far.

While I agree that the Asians love to bet cricket, which is huge in part of the world, they love to bet soccer too and soccer is huge everywhere (except the US). Considering that soccer is the worlds' most popular sport, cricket comes short betting wise as well. I guess it is on par with NFL and NCAA, money wise. It is undisputed fact that the World Cup is the single most heavily bet event. But then you have all type of qualifiers, multitude of cups, regional tournaments, national leagues. Many countries have numerous leagues on which betting is available.

I could not care less about "the research" SBR_John was referring to, its conclusion was wrong.

[hoopster42]

HORSE RACING IS NOT A SPORT, ITS A BET

SPORTS ARE PLAYED BY HUMANS, NOT ANIMALS

(CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, THE WNBA IS PLAYED BY WOMEN, NOT HORSES)

thank you

[donjuan]

Who said rugby was gay?

No one. I was using your stupid analogy to ask if wearing all that extra padding made football "gay"?

[daggerkobe]

Obviously, you failed again.

[betbetter]

The only right answer thus far.

While I agree that the Asians love to bet cricket, which is huge in part of the world, they love to bet soccer too and soccer is huge everywhere (except the US). Considering that soccer is the worlds' most popular sport, cricket comes short betting wise as well. I guess it is on par with NFL and NCAA, money wise. It is undisputed fact that the World Cup is the single most heavily bet event. But then you have all type of qualifiers, multitude of cups, regional tournaments, national leagues. Many countries have numerous leagues on which betting is available.

I could not care less about "the research" SBR_John was referring to, its conclusion was wrong.

Triple+ as much bet on 1 international cricket match in India alone than is bet on the Superbowl.

[RogueJuror]

I'm afraid they told you wrong sbr johnny walker. While most people have no idea how big Cricket betting is it still falls short of soccer. No research company can infiltrate the secret world of cricket betting. They are in the right track, they have the right idea but it's not the biggest.

[englishmike]

Top level cricket players and baseball players have a lot of similar natural skills like hand-eye coordination. I bet with the right training and attitude, guys like Ricky Ponting or Ichiro would be able to cross over and become good at each other's sports. In fact, Pakistan has used baseball coaches to help them with their fielding.

Excellent point. If you look at Suzuki and Hideki Matsui in particular, they play hard ground balls off their back foot to their left through third base (or first base for a right hander) in a manner that could only have been leearned from either watching cricket or listening to a coach that realised that shot could be played in bases.

It is exactly the same shot a right handed batsman in cricket would play through the 'off side' or through the 'cover point.'

The footwork involved is straight from a cricket coaches textbook, with the front footgoing forward slightly and the back foot moving across so the batter can crush it the other way, but it is only the Japanese that I've seen do it to perfection and would love to know the origins.

I've included a youtube vid that kinda explains the technique from a cricket standpoint but the footwork is the key rather than the shot itself.

[mathdotcom]

Camel racing in middle east

[pavyracer]

The only right answer thus far.

While I agree that the Asians love to bet cricket, which is huge in part of the world, they love to bet soccer too and soccer is huge everywhere (except the US). Considering that soccer is the worlds' most popular sport, cricket comes short betting wise as well. I guess it is on par with NFL and NCAA, money wise. It is undisputed fact that the World Cup is the single most heavily bet event. But then you have all type of qualifiers, multitude of cups, regional tournaments, national leagues. Many countries have numerous leagues on which betting is available.

I could not care less about "the research" SBR_John was referring to, its conclusion was wrong.

At least someone can see beyond the tip of his nose.

Great post Data.

[reno cool]

I would ask someone to explain cricket to me, but I remember how confusing baseball was at first, and cricket figures to be worse.
Whatever happened to Australian Football? Now that was a fun game. They used to show it here in the 80's, but not anymore.
We got 500 channels of shit. Can't they make one channel show some international sports?

[englishmike]

I would ask someone to explain cricket to me, but I remember how confusing baseball was at first, and cricket figures to be worse.
Whatever happened to Australian Football? Now that was a fun game. They used to show it here in the 80's, but not anymore.
We got 500 channels of shit. Can't they make one channel show some international sports?

Aussie rules is on Setanta TV which is available through DirectTV and costs about $15-a-month. You'll also get all the big Rugby games and the Premier League Soccer along with loads of other stuff.

I couldn't live without it.

[pico]

data is right. john can be just making up bullshit and string you guys along.

i still think it is soccer unless you have facts to prove otherwise.

[Shark79]

Soccer has to be the biggest sport.

Cricket is not played worldwide.

Pavers, Data and Pico are right here.

And to my knowledge only Data is in the US. Which means that 4 ppl from 4 different countries are thinking alike.

[betbetter]

Dan Roebuck guardian.co.uk, Monday March 26 2007 01.29 BST The Guardian, Monday March 26 2007 - The £100m set to be gambled on the World Cup(Cricket) with bookmakers in Britain pales into insignificance when compared with the sums talked of being punted on the subcontinent, where betting in many countries is illegal but amounts perhaps "HALF" as much as Britain's "TOTAL" can be wagered on a "SINGLE" game.

Out takes NFL, by just a tad.

[Kargo]

One single fight can gather more money around the world in one night than most of these sports in one week