Yesterday’s post on cricket reminded me of one of my favorite snippets from a child letter.

Let me set up the context: This boy’s sponsor must have asked him about cricket (because, let’s face it, there is much to learn about cricket). It’s a fantastic question for a young boy growing up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which will soon host some of the 2011 Cricket World Cup matches.
 
Does the boy’s answer make you laugh as much as it did me? Mehadi wrote, “Thanks for your letter. You can learn many things about cricket if you watch TV.”

Well, I’m sure that wasn’t the answer the sponsor wanted to hear. Now what? How do you get around this roadblock to a fun letter exchange? Because frankly, I’d be interested to read a child’s explanation of the game of cricket!

But don’t get discouraged by such a general answer. First, put yourself in your child’s shoes. If the estimate of 2.2 billion cricket watchers is true, then it’s safe to say that cricket will be on every television set in the country. And the surrounding countries (especially India and Sri Lanka).

If that’s the case, then Mehadi’s answer that you can learn a lot from watching TV is true. To set the stage for further questions (and letter writing), begin by explaining that cricket is rarely if ever shown on television in the United States, even during a major event like the Cricket World Cup.

Asking more specific questions may help as well. Instead of just asking why they like watching cricket, ask what position they like to play or where their skills are weakest. Who is their favorite player? If Bangladesh doesn't advance, who will they root for in the Cricket World Cup?

If you get a good answer – like a specific team – use your friend Google and look things up. Set up a news alert for that team and then mention in your next letter that you have been trying to follow the cricket matches and that you were so excited that [insert the favored team] won!

Better yet, print off articles and photos of the child’s favorite team or player and send them along with your letters. Imagine your child’s delight when they open a letter to find that you’ve really been paying attention! That printed photo of their favorite batsman could become a treasure!
 
But if all else fails, plead ignorance. If you want to brush up on the basics, this video may help if you can get past the early-90s footage. There are a host of websites that describe in exhaustive detail the ins and outs of the game. Do you know the difference between a rabbit and a ferret? (Hint: it has something to do with skill.) 

I am always on the lookout for letter-writing topics, so Munni may soon get a letter from me asking if she’s a cricket fan. How does her city change before a major match like the ones in the World Cup? I'm about to find out...