HOOSICK, N.Y. -- It's a little piece of home for some, and an introduction
to a new culture for others.

The Man of Kent Cricket Club, now six years old, met for practice on a patch of perfectly maintained grass (known as the pitch) at the Hoosac School Thursday.

Nine members of the cricket team - 11 are needed to play a match - flowed naturally into the game one by one, many greeting each other with accents not often heard in this area.

The group consists mainly of the Man of Kent tavern's patrons, many of whom are from countries where cricket is a national sport. The laid-back atmosphere of the sports club is a draw for residents from nearby Vermont and Albany alike. The 18 club members, 12 of whom are regulars, are a mix of players who have lived and breathed cricket since their early years and first-time players who had barely heard of cricket before joining the team.

The team's record of only one win in six years may not sound impressive. But most of the players admit that the club is more like a training team than a competitive one, with each individual bringing something integral to the group.

Bennington resident Michael "Mick" Goldsmith, 53, has been in America since 1974. Originally from England, Goldsmith can recall when he was on his town cricket team - and was sure to time his wedding for the end of the cricket season so as not to miss a game.

These days, as the NSK facilities manager in Bennington, Vt., and a member of the Man of Kent team for the past five years, Goldsmith said his running steps up to "bowl" the ball to the batter are shorter. He added that coming to a country where cricket was not played took some adjusting to.

"It's a world-wide game," Goldsmith said. "It's a shame it's not played more
in the U.S." Shaftsbury, Vt., resident Balki Chandrasekaran, 26, said cricket, which is often compared with baseball, is totally different from the American sport in his eyes.

"It's very intricate, you've got to be careful where you're hitting," said India-native and NSK employee Chandrasekaran. "You've got to be agile, fast, watch for the ball - do two or three things at the same time. These are the things I really love about cricket."

Eric Kerns, 33, of Pownal is a stay-at-home dad who first played cricket while studying in England. He picked it up again five years ago.

"It's not like playing basketball or something that requires a lot of youth and vigor," said Kerns. "Here, it's totally social - we definitely attract that kind. The pub is a big part of it. Everyone's envious of our clubhouse."

Charlie Bargamian, 62, of Bennington is one of the "newest kids on the wickets." Bargamian, a sixth-grade teacher at Shaftsbury Elementary School, became attracted to the game after noticing lengthy obituaries extolling the virtues of deceased cricket players. His background in baseball has proved a help and a hindrance, he said, as it gives him a foundation from which to learn but requires a lot of unlearning. He also felt the sport was a little more athletic than Kerns had let on. "I'll tell you - you use muscles that you don't usually," said Bargamian. "It's a pretty athletic game."

Albany resident Timothy Cooke, 39, said explaining cricket to Americans was not exactly easy, but those Americans that have joined the club seemed to really want to learn the game. The New York State Health Department employee, originally from Scotland, had not played for about 15 years before joining up with the Man of Kent club.

"It's not desperately athletic," said Cooke while sprinting after a hard red leather ball. "In theory it's supposed to be a reasonably gentlemanly game." India-native Sree Nampoothiri, 31, counts his steps before bowling the ball at the batter. He usually took eight or 10 steps as he blurred by for a fast bowl Thursday night. Nampoothiri, who lives in Albany and works as a transportation planner with the Capital District Planning Committee, has only played with the team this season.

"It's a challenge - it's not just any game you're playing."