Expert: Dr Darts Date: 3/4/2008 Subject: History of points
Question I am interested to know when, where and why points were implemented in the game of cricket. Or has cricket always been played with points in the "official" rule book? We have been debating the point and purpose of points in the game,and if its always been that way.Can't seem to find my answer anywhere, please help!
Answer I am assuming that you are based in the USA, the reason I say this is that the darts game of cricket is very rarely played in the UK, usually after the 'main' game, at the end of the night for small stakes of cash.
real Cricket in the UK is a bat and ball based game that takes place over 5 days, and can still end in a draw!!
As far as I am aware , points have always been a feature of Darts cricket and the reason is very simple. Cricket with points reflects both 'scoring'(points) ability and targetting ability (hitting segments)and makes the game much more interesting from a tactics view .
In fact darts cricket is most commonly known as 'Tactics' in the UK where as well as 20 - 15 we also include Trebles and doubles in the game (so a score of T19 can be taken as 3x 19, or as a score of 57 if 19's are set, OR as one of the three trebles you have to score to set the Trebles.
I know 'set' isn't the word Americans use....its a case of english and Americans being seperated by a common language!!LOL
I noticed that the doubles and trebles parts were not a feature of American cricket when I toured Maine 4 years ago.
Let me tell you a little secret.....I never lost a game of cricket in the USA because the majority of my opponents forgot the simple rule that the person with the most points wins!!
My tactics in cricket are simple......go for score until you are ahead on points then close down opposing players numbers .For instance, If I play a player who scores 3 x 20 , I will go for 3X 19. If the player starts scoring points on 20 I will still go for 19 as each 19 I score is only 1 point behind his score.
As soon as I get ahead of the player in points I will switch to hitting 20.
Play for points, and when you are ahead close down the other players scoring options.
So, as a general answer, points introduce another element in to the game of TACTICS!!! , which you Americans have changed into CRICKET....which is itself a BRITISH game.......LOL who says life is uncomplicated???
keep practising, as my mate says "I find my luck in the game is directionately proportional to the time I spend practising"
