Bowling maidens over in name of cricket Michael Owen-Brown 25nov03
IT'S the new guide for maidens who think a leg slip is expensive lingerie, a golden duck is served in Chinese restaurants and LBW was a 1960s American president.
Cricket for Chicks, a brochure explaining the laws of the game, will be handed to women at Test and one-day internationals this summer.
By providing a simple explanation of cricket's confusing rules and often bizarre terminology, Cricket Australia hopes to lure more females to matches.
After all, they played an integral role in the development of the modern game -- a woman called Christina Willes is thought to have pioneered overarm bowling in the early 1800s because the traditional underarm action made her arm get tangled in her skirt.
The guide contains an A-Z of cricket jargon that explains terms like googly, yorker and howzat.
There is fashion advice and the guide suggests starting a conversation with male fans by bringing up David Boon's legendary Sydney to London beer-drinking record.
It also profiles the current Test team, provides quirky facts about the game and lists all summer international matches.
Champion fast bowler Glenn McGrath and his wife Jane -- who knew nothing about the game when she met her future husband -- were at yesterday's launch in Sydney of Cricket for Chicks.
"When Jane was looking for a book explaining the rules of cricket the smallest she could find was the size of an encyclopedia, even though cricket's a pretty simple game," said McGrath.
McGrath said the Australian team supported Cricket Australia's attempt to widen the game's appeal.
"It's to get the girls involved as well as let them realise it's a good social day out with the family, a chance to spend quality time with the kids and husband," he said.
"Like most games, if you know the rules it's so much more enjoyable."
Rianna Ponting, wife of one-day skipper Ricky Ponting, said there were many funny terms in cricket.
"Silly mid-on always amuses me," she said.
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