What’s the difference between baseball, softball and cricket? We’ll answer that question and you’ll learn some common cricket and baseball idioms in this episode.

Email from Amikar from Mexico City
I listen to you guys on Spotify. I love making new friends all over the world and the English language has helped me to achieve it, I consider it a universal language.
I believe I can find in you guys two very good friends and you are more than welcome in my country. We can change tea and biscuits for tequila and lemons.
I have a question. There´s a Mexican football player in Wolverhampton…The Wolves, but I´ve heard and seen that it’s written “wolfs” as well, so…what´s correct? (knife/knives, shelf/shelves, life/lives etc.)
(Raúl Jiménez – forward, also an Italian, a Belgian, a Moroccan, 2 Spaniards, a Dane, an Irishman, a German, 7 Portugese and a player from the Ivory Coast – only 6 Englishman in the squad!)

Fernanda from Uruguay
Starting teaching practice in September – A2 adults
used to and past perfect
We spoke about the past perfect simple and continuous with Mike Hardinge in episode 91
Used to and would in Ep.152 and used to/be used/get used to in Episode 6

Email from Luis Antonio from Buenos Aires, Argentina
I have been listening (to) your podcasts and I always download some of them to listen every day while I drive to work.
I would be interested if you talked about cricket, softball and baseball. I do not know if there is any link among them, but I guess so.
Please do not forget (to) talk about our amazing country full of beautiful places to visit and wonderful sights. I am sure if you came here, you would agree with me.
Thanks.

Baseball and Softball – what’s the difference? – not much! Softwall used to be played indoors. These days it’s mostly played outside. It’s safer than baseball.
The bats in softball are lighter, shorter and thinner than baseball bats. Softball has bigger balls, and they’re softer. It’s played on a smaller field.
When you throw the ball in baseball and softball, it’s called pitching. You pitch the ball a shorter distance in softball than baseball and the ball is usually pitched underarm in softball and overarm in baseball.

Both cricket and baseball originated in England. They have words in common such as innings, umpire, runs and outs.
Both games came to the US with English immigrants in the mid-1800s. Until the American Civil War, cricket was more popular in the US, particularly on the East coast in cities like New York and Philadelphia.

Cricket has many unique terms, especially for the fielding positions. eg. long on, long off, short leg, third man, slips, leg slips – not ladies’ underwear, fine leg – not a compliment, (silly) mid on, (silly) mid off, cover, (deep) (extra) cover, gully, square leg, short backward square leg – sounds painful, point, deep backward point, deep midwicket, wicketkeeper,etc….

Baseball Idioms
Hit a home run – to be very successful
To pitch an idea / What’s our elevator pitch?
A ball-park figure – an estimate
Out of left field – unexpected
Take a rain check – a promise to do something in the future
Right off the bat – immediately, instantly
Throw a curve ball – to do something unexpected
Touch base – to communicate briefly with someone
On the ball – very aware, responsible, and intelligent

Cricket idioms
To hit something for six (to hit a home run) – to be successful
To have a good innings – to have enjoyed a period of time, especially after someone dies.
To be stumped – to have no idea
On a sticky wicket – to be in a tricky/delicate position
“It’s/That’s just not cricket!” – when something is unfair or just not appropriate
Off your own bat – done on your own initiative, not because someone told you
On the back foot – forced into a defensive position
To catch someone out – to detect that someone has done something wrong or made a mistake.
To be bowled over – to be astonished by something
To bat for the other side – to be helping/working for the opposition/enemy
An all-rounder – someone skilled in all aspects or many fields (like a cricket player who’s very good at both batting and bowling)

…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
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“Cool Blast” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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