[Dixielandjazz] A definition of cricket

[Robert Smith]

Cricket is an old age rite in England (later copied in other parts of the world) which is performed thus:
A large field is chosen which then becomes sacred, This is carefully mown, especially a strip in the middleof the field. At the start of the ritual a man in a white robe takes six poles and places them very exactly at each end of the middle strip, finally balancing two small pieces of wood on the poles.
Then two more men in long white robes come out; one places himself behind the poles at one end while the other places himself at right angles some distance from the other set of poles.
Then eleven men all dressed in white come onto the field and place themselves at pre-determined positions on the field forming a very intricate pattern. Finally two more men dressed in white (recently colours have varied somewhat) and carrying two specially carved pieces of wood with a handle made of bamboo take up their positions at each end of the middle strip such that each is near a set of poles.
One of the two original men in long white robes makes some symbolic gestures to the last man carrying the wooden carving, who then pats the ground with the carving just enough to make a mark in the ground.
The same man in the long white robe then calls to all "PLAY" -

And then it rains!

Musical content: "Standin' In The Rain Blues" by Bessie Smith

Cheers

Bob Smith