Bowling a Ripper?

[Magpie]

Was there a discussion on the old boards about the facr that "ripper" is a cricket term--more specifically a bowling term?

I can't believe I'd never read this before today, so I'm assuming that I missed previous discussions

[Monty]

Magpie,

Its an Australian cricket cricketing term to be more specific and yes, its in reference to bowling.

It means one of two things,

A really good delivery by the bowler that beats the batsmans defences or a ball bowled by the spinner that deviates, upon pitching, quite drastically either left to right or vica versa.

The latter is associated with the great Australian Leg spinner Shane Warne. Basically he makes the ball rotate very rapidly though the air and that action is called 'ripping it' (it being the ball).

Im not certain but Im sure its a fairly modern term, late 20th century.


Monty

[Johnr]

Australian Sporting Expression of Delight.

Robert is correct.
"Ripper" has been an Australian term of delight ("What a Ripper!"; "You little Ripper! "; "Let 'er Rip") for many years now.
It was the preferred expression of delight used by Wimbledon champion Australian, Lleyton Hewitt, when he gained the crown at that pinnacle Tennis tournament a couple of years back:
" You Little Ripper ".
More analagous and quite common amongst country male folks :
" You bloody ripper ".
Which literally means " Bloody bottler, you little beauty, fantastic.. ".
So, it is quite likely Shane Warne and other Australian cricketers would have used that term to describe a particular bit of bowling .
To my knowledge, it has no deep or crime-related origin. JOHN RUFFELS, Sydney, Australia.

[Magpie]

I was browsing that Irish Times site recently posted, and references to being bowled for a ripper were dating back to the 1863.

[c.d.]

This isn't related to midget bowling is it?

c.d.

[Monty]

Magpie

That early? Wow. I wouldnt have thought that. Being bowled for a ripper? Never heard that. Being bowled by a ripper or for a duck yes, but not being bowled for a ripper. Any chance of providing the full text?

[Sam Flynn]

The latter is associated with the great Australian Leg spinner Shane Warne. Basically he makes the ball rotate very rapidly though the air and that action is called 'ripping it' (it being the ball).

Here's Warnie (whatever happened to Casebook's "Warnie"?) bowling what the commentators describe as a "rip-snorter" of a delivery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfdRy7sofYA

... and so it was! No wicket this time, but remarkable bowling, nevertheless.

Incidentally, we're not thinking about Warne's famous delivery, the "flipper", are we? Here's a great video showing the five weapons in a leg-spinner's armoury... Shane Warne mastered them all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puDkf9uNXPQ

I don't like cricket - oh, no. I love it

[Robert]

Jack the Flipper was a murderous dolphin, I think.

[Monty]

Hey Gareth,

Incidentally, we're not thinking about Warne's famous delivery, the "flipper", are we?

Nah, the flipper doesnt deviate. Just gathers speed after pitching and keeps low. Its a bugger to keep out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/skills/4174048.stm

Monty

[Magpie]

That early? Wow. I wouldnt have thought that. Being bowled for a ripper? Never heard that. Being bowled by a ripper or for a duck yes, but not being bowled for a ripper. Any chance of providing the full text?

I can't copy the article here, but if you go the the Irish Times and type "ripper" into the search box, then select the digital archives--the headline is "Cricket" and is about the 6th or 8th result.

[Monty]

Magpie,

Found it.

Its a result regarding the famous I Zingari (The Gypsies) team, so called cos they dont have a home ground and constantly play theirs games all over. They play more for the social side than a result.

Monty

[Sam Flynn]

Nah, the flipper doesnt deviate. Just gathers speed after pitching and keeps low. Its a bugger to keep out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...ls/4174048.stm

Thanks, Neil. How's about you and me try out a few deliveries in the middle of Commercial Street in October? We might be able to persuade Phil to wear his shorts, so that we can use his legs as stumps

[Monty]

Gareth,

That can be arrange, though if its a lost ball I aint calling it !

Monty

[Sam Flynn]

That can be arrange, though if its a lost ball I aint calling it !

My dad's police-dog, Flynn (from whom I get my "surname", as you know) was adept at tracking down cricket-balls. Whenever me and me mates had a "lost ball" situation, I'd rush home and ask dad for a lend of Flynn's expert nose. He never failed - like an Exocet, he was!

[DirectorDave]

When reading this thread I think of the phrase from "Dear Boss" of "Don't mind giving out the trade name".

Daft things pop into my head.....why was Druitt a suspect?

Was the McNaughton memorandum's "private information" that Monty's Nickname was "The Ripper" due to his bowling style?

Daft stuff I know.