English Slang A Riddle

1914

Language of Cricket Game as Confusing as American Report of Baseball Game

Why so much slang should accompany the report of a baseball game is a mystery of America that no Englishman has ever solved. Really, you know, it's quite absurd; and a jolly bit confusing, old chap.

Of course, baseball slang is confusing to the stranger to the game, but an Englishman should never criticize our baseball slang, as Arnold Bennett, W. L. George and many others have done. Cricket slang is just as confusing, just as foolish to stranger ears — and, no doubt, just as essential to the game.

In describing the recent Eton and Harrow match at Lord's, a big event in the cricket season, the London Sphere uses a few phrases that sound like an American sporting page:

"The bat must have come forward crooked and it is not surprising to see the leg stump turning cartwheels.

"The best ball sent down in the match. It started well outside the off stump, swerved inward late in its flight, and fairly fizzled off the pitch in its new direction.

"Amory got most of his runs by beating the ball to the boundary in front of square leg, and he was not a bit particular about the line on which the ball was pitched. Several went from outside off stump, but this one pitched on his pads. Oates, behind the wicket, jumped to the leg side to save the possible bye. Eventually Amory tried one cow shot too many and the middle stump went for a walk."