There is only one darter, I am convinced, who totally understands the game of cricket or even DC (dirty cricket) and his name is dart professional Tony Payne, of Ohio in the USA. Years and years ago he wrote a very successful column in Bulls Eye News Magazine (BEN) titled "Thermonuclear Cricket." It was, and stil is today, the authoritative best of the best with regard to cricket. There is no other darter on this planet who understands cricket better and is able to win more matches based on his expertise. After a few years of planning, BEN has, finally and thankfully, resurrected Payne's column titled "Thermonculear Cricket." This way darters everywhere including beginners, professionals, and everyone in between might benefit from Payne's cricket knowledge and expertise. That said, if you want to increase your skill level and win more at the game of cricket, then you absolutely MUST pick up the latest copy of BEN and read Payne's column.

Who is Payne? He is a professional darter of above average skill who was able to make a name for himself by his win-record in the 80s. From Ohio, Payne has traveled to tournaments all over the country, if not the world! For years he took a sabbatical and has since come back stronger than ever. After years of hiding, take his appearance and record at the PDC Desert Classic Tournament in Las Vegas a few years back. He progressed to the final rounds on stage alas, but this American darter was not shown throwing darts on the big screen. Still, Payne is a strong as they come and stronger than ever. Additionally, his interest and desire to live by the principles of spirituality and religion has tempered his bad behavior from the 80s and he is actually a very personable fellow. Make no mistakes though, Payne is DEADLY at the dartboard.

Payne's approach to cricket has garnered him many more wins than losses. He was, and is, a professional darter. Like most professional darters, I doubt he is getting rich from playing or writing about darts. Truly playing darts is a labor of love and Panye thrives on the game of cricket. Don't ever think you're behind or that you are going to lose a cricket game because Payne will show you the error(s) of your ways. Pay attention and Payne will teach you how to turn the game around and win. Cricket is just one of those games that gets you addicted on the strategy and it is one game that with each turn, with only 3 great darts, or 2, or maybe even 1, the darter may turn the entire game around and win. Indeed, Payne is a force to be reckoned with.

Chicago format is played regularly here in the big city and this includes a combination of '301 DI-DO, '501 OI-DO and cricket. Lots of people can hit big numbers and lots of people can even hit their doubles when they need to. But! There are not a lot of darters who can play a good game of cricket, over and over and win consistently, again and again. That's where Payne comes in, because through his column, he takes you step by step on what you should do with each dart in order to win the game and the match.

First of all, if you plan to win the game of cricket you had best learn how to throw a dart, hit the board with precision and nail your targets.

Next, many cricket players play the numbers in order. Payne asserts that of course the triple-20 is the first choice because 60 points are the highest points for a triple. Well, cricket is played with all the cricket numbers on the board and that would be 15 through 20 and the bullseyes. Take advantage of these other numbers and forget about the concept of hitting cricket numbers in order, and always leaving the bullseyes for last.

For example, in Payne's column he explains that a double-bull is worth 50 points and 50 points is more than a triple-16 (48 points) and a triple 15 (45 points). This may seem like a radical idea but one worth trying...After closing the 17s, move your focus right to the bullseye. Not only will you intimidate your partner but 50 points is worth more than 48 or 45, on any given day of the week.

As for point mongoring, will this help you win the game? Probably. Is this needed? Probably not. The goal of the game is to close your numbers as soon as possible and have equal to or more points than your partner. That said, one doesn't need to mongor points unmercifully. Instead concentrate on the close and remaining ahead of your opponent. Close and go, methodically. The point is to understand cricket strategy well enough to make the best decision at the line. This means making that instantaneous and right decision of what to target when you have 3 darts left, with 2 darts left and with 1 dart left. Close your numbers and make sure you have equal or more points than your opponent.

With the '01 games, many darters assert that there is no opponent - it is you against the dartboard and your goal is to get down to an out as FAST as possible AND HIT the double-out. Cricket, is a horse of a different color, and the darter stepping up to the line has to make a fast decision based on the previous three darts of their opponent. This means knowing cricket strategy, knowing what the best choice is with 3 darts (because one might argue there no right or wrong way to play cricket but only the best choice to make with each dart) and being able to make your decision on what numbers to target after, and only after, your opponent has thrown their last dart. Unlike the '01 games, the darter stepping up to the line MUST consider what their opponent has just thrown before letting go of that first dart. But that's what makes cricket so exciting, fast-paced and challenging. And in cricket, 3 of the right darts just might bury your opponent and change the direction of the game...

That's my take on the world of cricket - if you really want to become the best cricket player ever, the utlimate lean mean cricket machine, then check out Payne's column aptly named "Thermonuclear Cricket" in the latest issue of BEN. It's about time this column is back in BEN and it's about time for Payne to write a book about it all. Now that would be something worth pluncking down your cold hard cash for - a book titled "Thermonuclear Cricket" by Tony Payne!

Shoot well and I'll see you at the line.