The Backyard Cricket Council presents...

Backyard cricket, surprisingly enough - although technically we're not playing in anyone's backyard, well, unless it's Bill Gates'.

Hi, I'm Cory, one of an endangered breed of flightless bird native to New Zealand. Dwarbi has kindly invited me to write a guest post for his blog (I reached his roof thanks to Kone Elevators). It's all about a game we call cricket, which Australians play extremely well, and... well... we Kiwis just play while we wait for the rugby to start.

It would be immensely unAustralian of us not to participate in a loosely organised game of backyard cricket this Summer - for those of us not of criminal descent, we're thankfully unAustralian but we'll play anyway.

We will be playing for the pride of our nations, so teams will be divided into Australian and Kiwi heritage - residency in the case of seppos ; ) anyone wishing to jump ship will be allowed to do so in order to even out the numbers. You are encouraged to wear any items of clothing - shirt/skirt/adult diapers/budgie smugglers/JANDALS - representative of your country.

As the Good Vibrations music festival is also happening on Saturday, here is a map of Centennial Parklands to avoid confusion. We will be marking off an area in Federation Valley for the festivities. If participants could start arriving at 11am on Saturday, we will look at getting underway at midday(ish) (unless those of us that are there early are in a drunken stupor under a tree).

There will be a BBQ available to cook your snags, roo, prawns, yabbies, echidnas and wotnot. As we're responsible for our own tucker, don't forget your chully buns (eskies) and pucnuc hampers. Salads optional, but guys, you will be ridiculed if there's even a sniff of greenery on your plate. There may or may not be pavlova, and Crowded House, Russell Crowe, Karmichael Hunt and the ghost of Pharlap may or may not put in an appearance.

Some rules and regulations:
- Any underarm bowling will be dealt with severely - probably by flicking the ball up with a foot and smashing it out of the park.
- Bat throws and tantys frowned upon - unless your name is Lleyton, then it's ok because it's just your fighting spirit.
- Friendly sledging expected.
- All players fielding must be in possession of a beverage of some description to reduce the need for drinks breaks.
- The batsmen may also have a beverage if they wish (stored behind the wickets - watch out for the sneaky wicket-keeper though).
- Toilet breaks allowed whenever necessary.
- A limited number of overs will be bowled (to be determined by how many people turn up) but everyone is to have a turn.
- An umpire will be provided by the batting team and must remain impartial (or inebriated).
- We will be scoring (well try to at least), with the winner to receive the ANZAC Biscuit Trophy.

Australian flags welcome - any flags are welcome in fact - as are cricket whites, sombreros and random bikes found lying on the street.

If you're unsure of any of the terminology contained in this post, have a search here.

Thanks to the Sunday Telegraph for providing hats for the day, and for repeatedly providing quality non-sensationalist newsworthy articles.