It really is quite simple . . .

I've just been looking at Mulier Fortis and her post on having someone explain the laws of cricket to her, reminded me of the famous joke, 'Cricket as explained to a foreign visitor.' Here it is again for those who need reminding:

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's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out.

Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out,

and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in.

There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time

and they decide when the men who are in are out.

When both sides have been in and all the men have out,

and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in,

including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!

You see, it's quite simple really!