What does one wear to the cricket?

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Friday at the Oval, hospitality tent, NZ-England I think. No clue. I better not need a fucking hat.

Also can someone please give me a very quick tutorial on the finer points of the game

Thenk yew

[slippermaiden]

Normal clothes according to the weather? Sports clothes of your nationality? No etiquette in cricket as far as I know except have a beer and enjoy!

[sidsgranny]

Just asked DH who goes to a lot of these things and he said "smart casual" def no hat required! Oh and enjoy the Champagne...!

[PickledPorcupine]

No hat needed! I would say in the hospitality bit to just look presentable but it's not like going to the races!

How much do you know about cricket?

[leccybill]

DH has tried to explain cricket to me many times and I'm still none the wiser. Wickets, innings, it's all nonsense to me.
Quite a soothing sound to fall asleep to though.

[SycamoreMum]

Oo I'm going to a cricket thingymabobbin later this month!

Bought a lovely pair of navy cigarette pants from Oasis, and a Jil Sander shirt which is white and very light.

Just need a pair of white flats. No hats needed I think.

[austenozzy]

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 thats 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!

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

OMG austenozzy that is brilliant! However I am still none the wiser. I grew up with baseball and keep getting even more muddled trying to relate one to the other.

I do know some of the lingo:
Seventeen not out
Leg before wicket
Hundred
Innings (note - plural - not like baseball)
Tea break

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Sycamore that sounds like a nice outfit. I love navy and white together, very crisp.

[AlisonBlunderland]

Factor 50 sunblock and a sou'wester

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

So based on replies (thank you slipper, sids and pickled) it sounds like dressing for tennis? Smart and sporty casual. Thank goodness I don't need a hat or need to waer a frock.

I am hatless and frockless

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Sun cream, good idea.

Champagne starts at 11am

[icklekid]

Oh recent cricket convert here's my understanding

Men run from white sticks (to white sticks) is a run
Hit ball to rope around the edge of field =4
Hit ball straight out of pitch =6
Bowler throws ball and hits top stick off white sticks=wicket =out!
Ball hits legs but otherwise would hit sticks= Leg before wicket (lbw)= out!

Are you going to a t20?

[CtrlAltDelicious]

I'm going to England v New Zealand later this month too!
No hospitality box for me though so nice top, leggings and comfy boots I reckon.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

We went to Queen's tennis one time a couple of years ago and every single man of a certain age (twenties/thirties) was dressed identically. Chinos rolled up a little bit, a polo shirt or checked shirt and a linen blazer. Loafers or Todds shoes, no socks. I mean they all looked very smart indeed but they looked identical. The only difference was in the colour of their blazers.

Is there a male version of a Sloane Ranger? Because that is what I think they were

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

ickle thanks.

What are the little wooden bits on top of the white sticks called? I seem to remember they have a funny name.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

I don't know what a t20 is so I don't know if I am going to one or not

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Yes, dressing for tennis is a good comparator. Take a scarf / wrap to keep off a chill wind / the sun

Basic aim is to score the most runs and prevent the opposition scoring runs by "bowling them out". The ways of scoring, getting out and calculating how many runs are needed to win are long and complex...

Remember cricket has laws not rules; you politely clap good play regardless of which side it is; and they will stop for tea, which is normally a pain when you are a spectator but not so much with a hospitality tent

[CloserToFiftyThanTwenty]

Bails? Resting on the stumps?

[austenozzy]

One golden rule: never, ever ask who's winning. V bad form.

[austenozzy]

Oh, and learn the ten ways a batsman can be out, the blokes there will always miss one or two if you ask them to name them, and you can step in and look knowledgeable!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Take a book.

[icklekid]

Yes bails and sticks are stumps.
T20is 20 overs- however dh tells me it will be a one day test so don't worry about that. An over is 6 balls then they change bowler.

England did amazing today so hopefully you will have a good day. I had a fab pims last time I went!

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Some grounds, such as Lords do have a dress code but it's more relaxed for women. Oval isn't as strict, but I've never been in hospitality. As long you avoid jeans / flip flops I'm sure it'll be fine. Definitely no wedding type hat, the extremely drunk people might take a shine to it

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

So cricket spectating is a cross between watching golf and tennis then

My golf clap is perfected. I'll fit right in.

Seriously I think a google might be in order so I don't look like too much of a philistine.

However I am (by my accent) very obviously from a non-cricket playing country, and I have warned my hosts that I know precisely zilch, and I am the client, so I'm not overly worried

Besides after a bottle glass of champers I'm not going to care anyways, right?

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Oooh Abbey I do like the sound of extremely drunk people.

Love your nickname too, by the way.