Bush hit by ball in Pakistani criquet photo op

[Terran1212]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4774868.stm

BUSH BRAVES PAKISTANI CRICKETERS

US President George W Bush was hit by a ball at the heavily-guarded US embassy in Pakistan - as he tried his hand at the country's national sport, cricket.

The baseball-loving leader was shown how to bat and bowl by members of Pakistan's national team, using tennis balls instead of harder cricket balls.

"I don't quite have the skills yet," Mr Bush said later, when asked if he had enjoyed his first brush with the game.

[MountainLaurel]

1. Oh, that's hilarious

I want to buy the person who threw that ball a beer.

[cdsilv]

3. would that it were a jai-alia ball (concrete) instead of a tennis ball n/t

[Gabi Hayes]

7. you have the right to remain silent.....

[Gabi Hayes]

8. more wishful thinking

[Gabi Hayes]

10. one for jail, jail for ALL!

[EarlG]

4. It was the captain of the Pakistan national cricket team

Think he did it by accident?

[MountainLaurel]

6. Negative, Ghost Writer

This so makes my day.

[TahitiNut]

15. It's funny. That's legal in cricket. Most 'Muricans think that's a 'walk'

... but it can be a (LBW) dismissal (out) in cricket. I'd guess Junior's fans think 'dirty pitch' but it's actually a valid tactic in cricket.

[EarlG]

22. I don't think he'd be out LBW

It hit him in the shoulder. The ball has to be capable of hitting the stumps for it to be LBW and if it hit him in the shoulder it would have bounced too high.

But anyway, fans of Bush getting beaned by a cricket ball (well, a tennis ball actually - what a wimp) might be interested to learn where this tactic came from - the infamous 1922 "Bodyline" tour of Australia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyline

And here's what can happen if you play with a real ball, unlike Shrub:

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/australia/content/image... (warning, slightly graphic)

One last thing: a great cricket video

http://www.notjustcricket.com/2006/02/cricket_to_mozart...

[TahitiNut]

25. Great video! (Ouch!) Those spinners are fascinating.

[shenmue]

2. Yes!

Hooray!

Go Pakistan!

[upi402]

5. HA! The guy behind him looks rather pleased!

[bobbieinok]

9. the empire lives!!! most former British colonies play cricket

saw this in grad school and other places.....all the former colonists would get together for a cricket game

after writing this I now wonder: is W sending a message to Blair by 'trying' to play cricket??? and if so, what????

[melody]

11. I think he's just being his usual moron self

We have cricket leagues here in the States, too.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

12. Oh My God That Is Goddamn Funny! You KNOW It Wasn't Accidental LOL

that's too funny. Did it leave a mark?

[TahitiNut]

16. It's legal in cricket ... and is a way of getting a dismissal (out).

Virtually all bowlers will throw to hit the batsman when appropriate.
Not at all like baseball.

One other thing: They've been showing a clip of Junior 'bowling' (pitching) but fail to point out that he was throwing illegally - since the elbow must remain bent at least 15 degrees in cricket. Straigtening the elbow is illegal.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. I think it's the amount of *change* in elbow angle that's important

The elbow joint isn't allowed to straighten by more than 15 degrees once the arm is above shoulder level.

"Chucking", as it is commonly called, is when the elbow plays a significant role during the point of delivery.

A straightened elbow can give the bowler the unfair advantage of generating extra speed than if the ball is delivered with a straight arm.

However, most bowlers' arms will straighten because of the sheer forces going through the body at the point of delivery.

The ICC has now set a maximum limit of 15 degrees of flex, which means that no bowler can extend their elbow beyond that level.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/rules_and_equip...

So if he had his arm straight (or as straight as it can be) all the time, it would be a legal action.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. He Wasn't Throwing Illegally. Congress Gave Him Express Authority To

pitch that way.

[HuffleClaw]

13. that looks like a TENNIS ball

i suppose an actual cricket ball would have ENDANGERED der chimp? what a complete sham of a photo op. next we'll see him toss in the first pitch of the world series using a ping pong ball?

[Catherine Vincent]

14. ROFL!!!

[grmamo]

17. Video Anyone

I just saw a clip on local news. Boy he wasn't NOT happy. Hope someone posts the clip online soon.

[Catherine Vincent]

21. Welcome to DU, grmamo!

[Terran1212]

26. me too

[Ilsa]

18. Too bad it didn't hit him on

the head. Might improve his brain function if it did.

[flordehinojos]

23. i wonder if he for any kind of a milisecond freaked out thinking it was

some terrorist bomb that hit him! -- the man is so paranoid!

[Oilwellian]

24. What a dork