Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Friday shoot out: April 30 - Sports and other games in your town




http://mytownshootout.blogspot.com/
http://mytownmrlinky.blogspot.com/
“I don't think many Canadians are even aware of Worker's Mourning Day because, while its an official day of recognition it is not a holiday. When we get the day off work, we tend to notice. If not, its just another day.

I'd be content with either Places of Entertainment or Sports. In fact, thinking about it, I think Sports would make for more interesting photographs.

Here we have kids playing hockey on the streets, softball leagues at every ball diamond, soccer in most school yards, tennis, basketball and even cricket is making an appearance.

With an epidemic of obesity sweeping the world it would be good to pay tribute to the men women and children who are still getting out there and being active.

I'd love to see what sporting events take place around the world through the lens of our FSO members.”

Barry

I have posted these photos before, but I want to post them again. Kirikati or Samoan cricket is played by the Pasifika or Polynesian people. I want to show case this game. When I ask the kids, they tell me with passion how to play it. They play it as church teams. I have many students and friends from Samoa and other Polynesian islands in Auckland. This post is dedicated to them.

Last year, Samoa was hit by a terrible Tsunami. It propelled the name Samoa internationally. The CBS reality show was film in Samoa, Survivor Samoa had a challenged where the contestants had to use a Samoa Kirikiti bat to hit a ball.

It is like a West- Samoa fusion of cricket. It has many aspects of Western Cricket, but with Samoa flavour. It is the Samoalisation of cricket.
In Tuvalu, they call this game Kilikiti, which is the Polynesian word for cricket.
The game is played in several South Pacific countries. Teams are mixed and can be any size - up to about 50 people.

"Lava Lavas" or wraparound pieces of cloth are worn instead of whites. These are colourful cloth like the South East Asian Sarong that we wear in Sarawak, Malaysia and Thailand.
*** The game I saw one evening at Wesley Park was a mix team. There were many players in the field. And there were lots of supporters, Mums and Dads with young children and push chairs. It looked very much like a social gathering. It is good that they brought over this aspect of their culture and retained it.

You can read up on this game written by Polynesians, the real McCoy ones. There are photos of the bat. Click on the link on Kilikiti,











The Samoan cricket bat is one real heavy piece of tree and the blade cross-section is roughly an equilateral triangle. The bat is much bigger and three-sided, meaning there was no telling which direction the ball would fly in when contact was made! There is no real style in Samoan cricket, be it batting stance nor batting grip. What happens is the batsman just stands in front of the stumps and when the ball is bowled, the batsman takes a wild heave (I literally mean a wild swat) and so there is no attention paid to how the bat is gripped. See ball, hit ball.

I went back to Wesley park to try my luck to see if they were there. And they were. I think they must be having a post mortem of the match. They were sitting in a semi-circle and listening to two elders. I was taking the pix of the bats when they called out to me. One of them obliged me by holding up his bat.

9 comments:

Cheryl said...

I enjoyed learning of this game. I did see the "Survivors" play the game! We all must encourage children (and each other!) to get out and exercise more, games are a great way to do so.

Diane AZ said...

Samoan cricket looks like an interesting game, especially with that odd shaped bat! Great pictures. :)

Jama said...

The bats are hand painted? never see bats like that here.

Unknown said...

sounds like a fun game, never knowing which way the ball will go. the bats are very cool looking also.

Pauline said...

Thanks for posting about that, Ann. I once was invited to join in a game, and that bat designed to deceive. The atmosphere was wonderful, so much laughter!

farmlady said...

I have learned something new today. This is very interesting. The shape of the bat and it's painted surface is wonderful.
Thanks for the education.

Barry said...

That is one formidable looking bat that guy is holding, Ann.

Thanks for your insights into this interestig game.

Kerry said...

Crazy 3-sided bats! I have never heard of this game, so thanks for introducing me to it.

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh oh oh oh how cool is that...love the shot of the fellow with the bat!! Wonderful hon!!