B2 (CEFR) TEST

From question 1 to 20 choose the best option to complete the short conversations. She speaks Thai...

You wouldn´t do that ...

At 8:30 She had already dropped off the laundry but...

What had you done before this class?

I don't feel very well today.

Andrea and Juan are about to become parents...

I need the documents A.S.A.P...

What are they doing after coming back?

What do you think I can do with this picture?

When I was young, I could´t believe...

Now that I study English I know...

That magazine is really difficult to find...

Who told you about the article?

What did they say about their last class?

What does the weather report say about the hurricane in Florida?

Didn't she want to get married?

I don't know why she married him...

I should have studied Architecture,...

What happens on the day of the dead in Mexico?

Should I bring a gift to the party?

People ______ our country should find out the local customs.

If that smart phone______ on sale, I ______ buy it.

I wouldn't have gone to class if I had known I had the flu.

When you _____ ice, it ___

I _____ bought a fancy house if I ______ the lottery.

What would you_____ if you ______ the train?

The newspaper advised all voters _______ early for the next election.

Did you remind you son _____ his registration card?

Vladivostok is located ______ the eastern coast______ Russia.

Canada ____ the north ______ the United States.

CHOOSE THE BEST DEFINITION THAT REPLACES THE " " EXPRESSIONS Let's see "what's going on".

"I´ll make an appointment"

I see "you've got a lot on your plate today, " I won't keep you any longer.

I've never "run into" you here before.

The number of "people who are injured or killed" is 3000

I need to "ask you something about the topic"

We "get together with" relatives

This smartphone is "produced with the best technology"

Let´s sit down and "catch up".

Do you think that is "doable in two days"?

Read the text and answer the questions: Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. How was Lisa feeling as she walked home from work ?

Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. In line three: What does "Pick up" mean?

Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. What first led Lisa to think there was a burglar in her house?

Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. Why didn´t Lisa wait in her neighbors´ until the police arrived?

Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. What does "Lisa saw red" (line 10) mean?

Lisa Tyler was weary after a long, hard day at the pottery factory where she works. But as she approached her home in the English city of Stoke-on-Trent, her heart lightened.; soon she would be having a nice cup of tea, putting her feet up and watching Friends, her favorite TV series. But first, she needed to change out of her work clothes and pick up her three-year-old son from his grandmother’s house nearby. As Lisa walked up her garden path, she noticed a light flashing on and off in an upstairs bedroom. A shiver went down her back. What if it was a burglar? Quietly, she crept round to the back of the house to see if there was any sign of a break-in. Sure enough, a window was open, and someone’s coat was hanging on the gatepost! Well, 26-year-old Lisa didn’t fancy coming face to face with a burglar, so she ran to a neighbor’s house and rang the police. But as she sat waiting for the police to arrive, Lisa’s curiosity got the better of her and she decided to go back and see what was going on. That is when she saw a leg coming out of the downstairs front window. It was a man climbing out. Lisa gasped in shock. The burglar was carrying her portable television! At this point, Lisa saw red. She didn’t have many possessions and she’d saved long and hard to buy that set. Besides, nobody was going to stop her watching Friends. „Oh, no you don’t, ‟ she muttered under her breath, as the fury swelled inside her. Without even stopping to think, she tore across the garden and started shouting at the burglar. „Give me my TV - drop it now! ‟ she screamed. Ignoring her, the man fled across the garden. So, Lisa threw herself at him and successfully rugby tackled him to the ground. The burglar struggled to escape, but Lisa hung on like the best kind of guard dog despite being punched and kicked. As she looked up, she realized that she recognized the burglar’s face. She was so surprised that she lost her grip and burglar got away, leaving the TV behind in the garden. By the time the police and her father arrived, Lisa was in tears. ‟I can’t believe you were so foolish, Lisa,' scolded her father. „You could have been killed. ‟ „I know, but at least he didn’t get my TV,‟ she replied. Lisa later remembered the name of the burglar, who had been in the same year as her at school. He was later caught and jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and assault. In May last year, Lisa was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Staffordshire Police, for her „outstanding courage and public action‟. But in the future, she intends to leave household security to a new member of her family, Chan, who is real guard dog. What happened when Lisa shouted at the burglar?

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always face a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. In the first paragraph the author suggests that …

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always face a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. Concerning the start of cricket...

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always face a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. England and Australia...

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always fa ce a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. The writer doesn´t explain all the rules of cricket because...

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always face a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. The writer says that the current Australian cricket team...

London correspondent Salvo Tomasello investigates the world of cricket. As ‘typically English’ as tea at five, “The Changing of the Guard” or inclement weather, cricket is a sport that might take a lifetime to understand, never mind appreciate. Matches might last anything up to five days, with nothing appearing to happen for hours on end and then when it does you will probably either be looking the other way or be fast asleep. Never mind that its rules are so complex that you probably need a PhD to comprehend them fully. Many Americans might decide it’s not really worth the bother. The precise origins of cricket are highly debatable and there are many theories as to how it started. It might have been invented by shepherds or played in churchyards as far back as the thirteenth century, although some accounts suggest that it might pre-date this by as much as two hundred years. The first source which British historians consider completely reliable describes Prince Edward playing something which resembled cricket in 1300, although even this account fails to firmly establish the sport’s origins. The rules of the modern game were not completely developed until the nineteenth century. The first organised internationals took place in 1861, with England and Australia commencing what soon developed into a fierce, ongoing competitive rivalry. As the rules and regulations of the game were being formally established, other countries joined the growing international playing community. To attempt to explain the rules of cricket comprehensively in an article of this length would be impossible. It could be argued that the basic principles of the game are similar to those of baseball, although the game play and rules are very different. Cricket is an outdoor, fair-weather sport played mainly in countries belonging to the British Commonwealth, such as England, Australia, the West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa. The balance of power in international cricket tends to swing between these competing nations. At present Australia predominate having been virtually unbeatable for the last decade or so and teams always face a tough match against them. Although it might appear to be a sedate, sleepy pastime, cricket has always demanded fierce concentration and immense courage. Since becoming fully professional in the 1970’s standards and training facilities have improved immensely across the game. Cricket is now as competitive and technical as any global sport, and who knows, perhaps its popularity might yet spread to new, previously unexplored territories. The process of professionalism ...