Cater Lawn was filled today with crickets — cricket players that is.
The Auburn University Cricket Club demonstrated how to play the sport, and then eager volunteers were allowed to join in and play.
The event is part of the Office of International Programs' theme for this school year: India.
"We've been doing a regional study program now for about four years," said Jennifer Mason, director of international initiatives in the Office of International Programs. "Each year we pick a region or country to focus on. We usually pick a region, but since India is so big and so diverse it got its own year."
Cricket is played with two teams: the bowling team and the batting team. Each team has to guard three "wickets," or sticks in the ground, to try and keep the opposing team from scoring.
"The wickets are 22 yards apart," said Amrit Singh, Auburn University Cricket Club captain. "The batting team hits and then runs to the bowling teams' wickets. Then someone hits again and they switch."
Singh is a bowler for the University team. He said the bowling team is similar to the pitcher in baseball.
"The bowler has to run up and rotate their arm so that they pitch on the ground," Singh said.
The game is scored through runs. Points are delivered depending on the runs.
"There are three different styles of game you can play, but the most common is the T-20 game," said Bhargav Yelamanchili, president of the Auburn University Cricket Club. "T-20 means 20 overs [a set of six pitches] have been bowled."
Brock Deshong, freshman in pre-entrepreneurial business, said he thoroughly enjoyed his first cricket experience.
"It's awesome," Deshong said. "It's a little different than baseball — a lot of hand-eye coordination. I think I'm going to start going to their practices and watching the team play."
Dawn Sherman, Managing director of Auburn Global, said she believes it is good for students to be exposed each year to a different culture.
"Both for international and domestic students, we want them to respect culture and help them celebrate," Sherman said. "It's good for domestic students to understand and appreciate the diversity."
Cricket on Cater lasted from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and food was provided by the Auburn University Hotel and Conference Center.
The Auburn University Cricket Club team is currently ranked sixth in the nation and will travel to Ft. Lauderdale over spring break for the national championships.
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