This might not the appropriate forum for the following subject. Nevertheless, I thought I might try and see if I could get away with placing this piece here – until, that is, someone starts RoundersInk.com.

The game of rounders has been lodged in my memory ever since I was a kid and started delving into the history of baseball. Every introduction to every book which concerned itself with baseball history would, in its opening paragraphs, have a phrase similar to: “Baseball was derived from the game of rounders.” Beyond that line, however, I knew nothing about the older of the two sports.

Strolling around my town on a cold December day last year, gazing up at empty storks’ nests and searching for some roasted chestnuts and a cup of mulled wine, the question suddenly and mysteriously arose in my mind: “Whatever became of rounders?”

When I arrived back at my flat, I warmed up the machine and Googled away, eventually finding some addresses of people, mostly in the United Kingdom, who could set me straight: namely, the people at the NRA. No, not that NRA (which would probably try and set me straight as well), but the National Rounders Association, which is based in Sheffield, England and administers the game worldwide.

To my surprise, rounders is not played by historical re-enactors on the occasional summer Sunday. On the contrary, the game has made a significant comeback in the past few years; there are over three million people actively playing rounders, mostly at the recreational level, in the United Kingdom, thereby making it the second most popular sport across the pond after soccer

Indeed, the rounders resurgence has reached such levels that its organizing body has planned the first-ever Rounders World Cup (for women) to take place at Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield next June.

Already three teams – England, Wales and Pakistan – will participate.

The organizers sent out invites to other countries, including the United States, Ireland and Germany, where the game is also played. As far as the US is concerned, international rounders organizers are working with Minor League Baseball in efforts towards fielding a team.

The rules are strikingly similar to those of baseball and softball. Rounders is played in innings. A maximum of nine players are allowed on the field at a given time. Teams score runs by circling the four bases without being put out. The main differences between rounders and our national pastime are that the field has another shape, strikes are not called, and the bat is much shorter and is usually swung with one hand.

So I say, old boy, there are five remaining slots left for next year’s Cup. The thought of getting a team ready to play in Sheffield – home of Michael Palin and the Full Monty – strikes one as jolly good fun.

More information can be found at www.RoundersWorldCup.com.