Cricket!

 No, I’m not talking about insects. I’m talking about the sport.

I’ve never played cricket, I’ve never watched a cricket match, I don’t have a clue about the game.  

But apparently this summer Long Island will host the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers.  Eight games over a two week period in June.  Tickets for each match have already sold out. 

And where, pray tell, will these games be played?

In my favorite place to walk — Eisenhower Park.  

They’re building a 34,000 seat stadium in the park.  Right next to the lake.  The construction materials are already piled upon my usual parking lot, and I had to park in the other lot last time I was there.  I’ve already put the dates of each match into my calendar, because traffic in and around the park will be horrendous and I plan to avoid the area at all costs. I’ll be heading to Jones Beach or maybe Wantagh Park if I don’t want to just walk around the neighborhood.

But I can’t complain that thousands of cricket fans will descend upon my little corner of the world and spend money in our hotels and restaurants.  Yeah, I know, a lot of the tourists will stay in NYC and commute to Eisenhower Park.  But a lot of money will be spent here, too.

Now, do I have to learn how the game is played?