Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cricket. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Fate & the weather
I have to write about the weather again.
By Monday evening the last vestiges of snow had disappeared from the hills, washed away by light rain or melted by sun & temperatures well above zero for the first time since the blizzards came. All the high roads were finally open.
The winds had swung right round to the west & by Tuesday they were strengthening into sharp, but mercifully short-lived gusts. By Wednesday it really was not very pleasant being outside, wind picking up & clouds racing in from across the Atlantic at a rate of knots – at least this presented an interesting & relatively unthreatening spectacle, after all the icily undifferentiated masses of grey which have been our lot for so long; but they were strong enough to close some of the high roads to high-sided vehicles.
By early evening the sky was black & shopping bags swung like pendulums in my hand.
Thursday was really cold again, had to put some heating on in the evening & restore the extra blanket to the bed.
All was clear again by Friday afternoon, & this morning the man who gave us the forecast on local radio was able to tell us it was a great day for hanging out the washing – sun, light breeze & temperatures all the way up to 15°.
I fear our local MP - by organising a celebrity cricket match to be held on the anniversary of the match which was famously snowed off in 1975 - may be tempting the weather gods to give us more unseasonal surprises this year.
Link
Andrew Bingham MP organising Celebrity Cricket Match in aid of DLRAA
Related postJune 2nd 1975
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Viv
How did this happen? Viv Richards is 60. There were parties in Antigua to celebrate.
One of the great showmen, nobody ever dominated a match –or a whole ground - like Sir Vivian.
At Lords this would start even before play began; he was the last to walk the length of the field on his way to the nets at the Nursery End, swirling his bat.
To reinforce the point he could sometimes, just a few minutes later, be the first one back, alone; he only needed a bit of a loosener.
It is salutary to remember now that on his first representative trip to England, for the 1975 World Cup, he failed to impress with the bat: just another over-hyped youngster, some said, saved by his performance in the field (especially in that heart-stopping final). West Indies management had to justify their faith to the press – an English hopeful would have been sent away to prove his worth in the county game until he matured.
But next year, Richards was back, to prove his point & justify the faith of the selectors. Helped only a little bit by English pitches so dry & sere from the drought that they seemed to favour the visitors rather than the home team.
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Fenian cricket
The Irish scored a famous victory over England in the Cricket World Cup yesterday.
Cricket actually has a long history in Ireland. Even the Fenians found it useful. In the 1860s groups of young men travelling by cart or wagon out into the countryside, or gathering in a field, would tell any nosy policeman that they were there to play cricket, when in truth they were practising their military drill.
Cricket actually has a long history in Ireland. Even the Fenians found it useful. In the 1860s groups of young men travelling by cart or wagon out into the countryside, or gathering in a field, would tell any nosy policeman that they were there to play cricket, when in truth they were practising their military drill.
Friday, July 09, 2010
Never rains but pours
Another correspondent to The Times earlier this week cast doubt on the claim that we have experienced the driest six months since 1929 on the grounds that he can remember the long hot summer of 1976.
I have not checked the actual rainfall statistics but we certainly did not go without rain for anything like as long as six months. There was no play because of rain on the Saturday (19th June) of the Lords Test match against the West Indies. Strictly speaking the reason may have been bad light or unsafe conditions - there was not much rain during the day but it was heavily overcast & the ground was very wet. Those of us who were there - & were not, in those days, entitled to any refund - felt that the players might have laid on some gesture of entertainment for the patient crowd.
And of course it famously began to rain almost as soon as Denis Howells was appointed Minister for Standpipes.
Having said that, other ways of presenting the statistics certainly show that we had unusually low rain fall for over a year, starting in 1975.
The other reason for doubting the assertion about this year’s low rainfall is of course the long period of snow & ice which we experienced at the beginning of the year. Assuming that ‘rain’ includes ‘snow’ in Met Office speak, I don’t remember there being an awful lot of snowing going on – I cannot remember ever going out in a snowstorm. What we had was the kind of snow that sticks, & then just stayed frozen for a long time.
But having said that, there has undoubtedly been a real change in the rainfall patterns these past few years, not so much of the relatively gentle but persistent type, much more a series of of sudden, though short lived deluges which put such a strain on the drains.
It is still galling to find that from today we are banned from using hosepipes in our area. Next thing they will probably stop washing the buses & the trains, but fingers crossed we shall not be reduced to bathing with a friend.
But then we can always go the few miles to visit a friend down the road who just happens to live in a different region as far as the supply of water is concerned
I have not checked the actual rainfall statistics but we certainly did not go without rain for anything like as long as six months. There was no play because of rain on the Saturday (19th June) of the Lords Test match against the West Indies. Strictly speaking the reason may have been bad light or unsafe conditions - there was not much rain during the day but it was heavily overcast & the ground was very wet. Those of us who were there - & were not, in those days, entitled to any refund - felt that the players might have laid on some gesture of entertainment for the patient crowd.
And of course it famously began to rain almost as soon as Denis Howells was appointed Minister for Standpipes.
Having said that, other ways of presenting the statistics certainly show that we had unusually low rain fall for over a year, starting in 1975.
The other reason for doubting the assertion about this year’s low rainfall is of course the long period of snow & ice which we experienced at the beginning of the year. Assuming that ‘rain’ includes ‘snow’ in Met Office speak, I don’t remember there being an awful lot of snowing going on – I cannot remember ever going out in a snowstorm. What we had was the kind of snow that sticks, & then just stayed frozen for a long time.
But having said that, there has undoubtedly been a real change in the rainfall patterns these past few years, not so much of the relatively gentle but persistent type, much more a series of of sudden, though short lived deluges which put such a strain on the drains.
It is still galling to find that from today we are banned from using hosepipes in our area. Next thing they will probably stop washing the buses & the trains, but fingers crossed we shall not be reduced to bathing with a friend.
But then we can always go the few miles to visit a friend down the road who just happens to live in a different region as far as the supply of water is concerned
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
June 2nd 1975
Thirty five years ago today snow fell in Buxton & famously, stopped play in a cricket match.
For some reason I always think that it was the West Indies who were playing Derbyshire that day*, but no, it was just a routine county cricket match against Lancashire.
I have also been trying to check if 1975 was the year that West Indies lost to Ireland in Dublin, but, frustratingly, have been unable to persuade Google to guide me to that information.
Of course The West Indies toured England in 1975 & again in 1976, when they began their climb to world domination after the humiliation of losing to Australia in 1974.
Although summer 1975 started so badly, it turned hot later on & the West Indies won the first World Cup on a glorious day at Lords.
We were all just being given a practice run at what it would be like during the long hot summer of 1976 when West Indies returned for a test series proper.
*Perhaps because Clive Lloyd was playing for Lancashire.
Links
Dickie Bird The legendary cricket umpire talks about the June snowfall in Buxton 35 years on
Snow in June
Weather Eye
For some reason I always think that it was the West Indies who were playing Derbyshire that day*, but no, it was just a routine county cricket match against Lancashire.
I have also been trying to check if 1975 was the year that West Indies lost to Ireland in Dublin, but, frustratingly, have been unable to persuade Google to guide me to that information.
Of course The West Indies toured England in 1975 & again in 1976, when they began their climb to world domination after the humiliation of losing to Australia in 1974.
Although summer 1975 started so badly, it turned hot later on & the West Indies won the first World Cup on a glorious day at Lords.
We were all just being given a practice run at what it would be like during the long hot summer of 1976 when West Indies returned for a test series proper.
*Perhaps because Clive Lloyd was playing for Lancashire.
Links
Dickie Bird The legendary cricket umpire talks about the June snowfall in Buxton 35 years on
Snow in June
Weather Eye
Related posts
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Significant cricket
The most significant Test match to end on Monday was not the one in which England beat Australia at Lords for the first time in 75 years
Bangladesh beat West Indies in Grenada to end the series 2-0
Somehow I do not think that the West Indies loss can have the same galvanizing effect as did the equally surprising loss to India in 1970/71. But we can live in hope
Bangladesh beat West Indies in Grenada to end the series 2-0
Somehow I do not think that the West Indies loss can have the same galvanizing effect as did the equally surprising loss to India in 1970/71. But we can live in hope
Monday, July 13, 2009
Bite your nails
So Englands last pair hung on for 40 minutes to force a draw in the first Test against Australia at Cardiff
It doesn’t match the last wicket stand for the West Indies at Edgbaston against Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup
I was there, but I missed it
When West Indies, needing 267 to win, lost their 9th wicket on 203, with only ANDY ROBERTS!!!! & Deryck Murray left, I decided it would be best to leave – I had to get back to London for work in the morning, it was my first trip to Edgbaston & I needed to make sure I got to New Street with plenty of time to spare
I thought I must have misheard something when I finally got home & switched the radio on
West Indies had won with 2 balls remaining
As far as was humanly possible, I never again left a cricket match before that was definitely that
It doesn’t match the last wicket stand for the West Indies at Edgbaston against Pakistan in the 1975 World Cup
I was there, but I missed it
When West Indies, needing 267 to win, lost their 9th wicket on 203, with only ANDY ROBERTS!!!! & Deryck Murray left, I decided it would be best to leave – I had to get back to London for work in the morning, it was my first trip to Edgbaston & I needed to make sure I got to New Street with plenty of time to spare
I thought I must have misheard something when I finally got home & switched the radio on
West Indies had won with 2 balls remaining
As far as was humanly possible, I never again left a cricket match before that was definitely that
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Summer weather
Whenever we get disappointing weather in June I try to cheer myself up by remembering 1976
The Saturday of the Lords Test was abandoned to the weather – in truth the rain stopped early, but the day was overcast & the ground wet, so paying spectators were just left to make their own amusements
By the time of the final Test at the Oval Greenidge & Richards were batting on a wicket which was more like home to them and we were still glorying in the longest, hottest summer since goodness knows when
The Saturday of the Lords Test was abandoned to the weather – in truth the rain stopped early, but the day was overcast & the ground wet, so paying spectators were just left to make their own amusements
By the time of the final Test at the Oval Greenidge & Richards were batting on a wicket which was more like home to them and we were still glorying in the longest, hottest summer since goodness knows when
Links
Saturday, June 06, 2009
End of the road
That’s it
He will have to go now
The country cannot carry on under his leadership
Not when THIS is the kind of thing which happens on his watch
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Joy of cricket
Simon Barnes’ somewhat lugubrious take on the point of sport, its highs & lows, joys & pains, can get a tad tedious at times
But he is always worth reading
Especially for gems like yesterdays
He compares 20/20 cricket to Lady Chatterleys Lover & ends:
But I ask myself: is this a game you would want your wife or your servants to watch?
That made me laugh out loud
But he is always worth reading
Especially for gems like yesterdays
He compares 20/20 cricket to Lady Chatterleys Lover & ends:
But I ask myself: is this a game you would want your wife or your servants to watch?
That made me laugh out loud
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
When India won the World Cup, 1983
I used to love the 'old' Lords Cricket Ground. With its 'free' seats - wooden benches which filled the space under the old concrete grandstands at the Nursery End & on the side opposite the Tavern. So - unlike The Oval - there was plenty of cover when it rained
The seats may have been free but you still had to pay for a ticket for entry to the ground. Not available in advance for Tests or county matches, so you had to get there early to queue - at least for days 1,2 & 3 of a Test. An experience in itself
For one-day matches however all tickets could be purchased in advance. Sold out, in fact, at least for World Cups. Though you still had to join the queue early to bag a decent 'free' seat
India were very unexpected finalists in 1983 after beating England at Old Trafford. Almost no Indian fans had tickets. Nor did too many West Indians
For the free seats entrance was through wooden gates at the Nursery End rather than the famous Grace Gates. Security was rudimentary - a few elderly, blazered gents sitting at a table or standing to one side
In 1983 fans just poured through as soon as the gates opened - including many who were clearly ticketless
So the ground was full, & then some. A little bit scary from the start, as is any large excited crowd in a restricted space
We had however secured good seats at about (very fine) long off & settled down for an absorbing day. The weather was overcast but otherwise warm & dry
When the Indian innings ended, leaving the West Indies only 184 to get, the game seemed to be over
One-day matches can produce games of great tension - such as the 1975 World Cup final - where the balance of advantage constantly swings. But surely the great West Indian team of 1983 would be far too good for the Indian bowlers
Things started badly with Greenidge out for one, but then seemed to settle down.
Even someone non-sporty, who plays only occasional tennis or beach cricket for fun, knows the feeling when nothing works properly. One of those days. The ball, your arm, your feet, just refuse to do what they are supposed to do. Nothing clicks. You cannot find the groove or the zone
And so it was that afternoon
Wicket .... wicket ..... wicket. Haynes, Gomes, Richards, out in quick succession. Then my hero, Clive Lloyd
As soon as Haynes was out someone started to beat their hands excitedly up & down on my shoulders. As the balance swung even further Indias way the drumming increased in force. When I finally turned round to confront the assailant I found it was a young Indian guy, no more than 20, who looked more like an excited toddler. I turned back without remonstrating with him
Kapil Dev, who had been drawing the eye throughout the innings, clearly knew they had won
Although I was normally a keen believer in staying at a match until the bitter end - Oh ye of little faith - we left soon afterwards
The seats may have been free but you still had to pay for a ticket for entry to the ground. Not available in advance for Tests or county matches, so you had to get there early to queue - at least for days 1,2 & 3 of a Test. An experience in itself
For one-day matches however all tickets could be purchased in advance. Sold out, in fact, at least for World Cups. Though you still had to join the queue early to bag a decent 'free' seat
India were very unexpected finalists in 1983 after beating England at Old Trafford. Almost no Indian fans had tickets. Nor did too many West Indians
For the free seats entrance was through wooden gates at the Nursery End rather than the famous Grace Gates. Security was rudimentary - a few elderly, blazered gents sitting at a table or standing to one side
In 1983 fans just poured through as soon as the gates opened - including many who were clearly ticketless
So the ground was full, & then some. A little bit scary from the start, as is any large excited crowd in a restricted space
We had however secured good seats at about (very fine) long off & settled down for an absorbing day. The weather was overcast but otherwise warm & dry
When the Indian innings ended, leaving the West Indies only 184 to get, the game seemed to be over
One-day matches can produce games of great tension - such as the 1975 World Cup final - where the balance of advantage constantly swings. But surely the great West Indian team of 1983 would be far too good for the Indian bowlers
Things started badly with Greenidge out for one, but then seemed to settle down.
Even someone non-sporty, who plays only occasional tennis or beach cricket for fun, knows the feeling when nothing works properly. One of those days. The ball, your arm, your feet, just refuse to do what they are supposed to do. Nothing clicks. You cannot find the groove or the zone
And so it was that afternoon
Wicket .... wicket ..... wicket. Haynes, Gomes, Richards, out in quick succession. Then my hero, Clive Lloyd
As soon as Haynes was out someone started to beat their hands excitedly up & down on my shoulders. As the balance swung even further Indias way the drumming increased in force. When I finally turned round to confront the assailant I found it was a young Indian guy, no more than 20, who looked more like an excited toddler. I turned back without remonstrating with him
Kapil Dev, who had been drawing the eye throughout the innings, clearly knew they had won
Although I was normally a keen believer in staying at a match until the bitter end - Oh ye of little faith - we left soon afterwards
See also: Cricket at Lords Tuesday 3 July 1984
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Barry Richards
I only ever saw one Barry Richards innings live. It was a Sunday match at the Oval, nothing very much depending on it
I was sitting near the old scoreboard at the pavilion end. The wicket was well over towards the other side of the ground. A long way away, in other words. Nevertheless there were several balls which came speeding right down to where we were sitting, racing along the ground, to jump the boundary rope then bounce back off the wall. And all seemingly hit without any great power at all
He got his hundred. Point made, job done. So he then wafted one & made his way back to the Pavillion for a well earned rest
I was sitting near the old scoreboard at the pavilion end. The wicket was well over towards the other side of the ground. A long way away, in other words. Nevertheless there were several balls which came speeding right down to where we were sitting, racing along the ground, to jump the boundary rope then bounce back off the wall. And all seemingly hit without any great power at all
He got his hundred. Point made, job done. So he then wafted one & made his way back to the Pavillion for a well earned rest
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Clive Lloyd
The first Test Match that I ever saw live was at Bourda in 1968. That, rather than revolution, was what excited me most that year
My excitement was intense. We had to get to the ground early to secure a seat. The weather was gorgeous
My first shock was the wicket. It looked like a sheet of glass shining under the sun. Up until that moment I had truly thought - without ever really thinking about it - that cricket fields were green all over
But up till then my only experiences of watching first class cricket were via grainy 425 line black & white tv or Pathe newsreels at the cinema
So many memories of that match. But the most enduring was & is Clive Lloyd
Funnily enough I cant remember him batting in that match
What I do remember is his fielding in the covers. With his long reach & lithe form, he made me think of a panther. He didnt seem to even have to move much from the spot, just pounced
In truth, I didnt know very much about cricket then. I understood 4s & 6s & fast bowlers running in, but that was it. Didnt even usually know where the ball had gone to without the camera to guide me. But watching Clive Lloyd made me really understand for the first time that there really was a lot more to this game, a lot that would provide hours of absorbing entertainment. Even a tussle between Lance Gibbs & Geoffrey Boycott
Of course that was before Clives knees went. In later years I came to think of him more as Paddington Bear, with his hat & glasses & rather shambling gait when walking to the wicket
And what a batsman. I shall certainly never forget his innings at the World Cup Final in 1975
My excitement was intense. We had to get to the ground early to secure a seat. The weather was gorgeous
My first shock was the wicket. It looked like a sheet of glass shining under the sun. Up until that moment I had truly thought - without ever really thinking about it - that cricket fields were green all over
But up till then my only experiences of watching first class cricket were via grainy 425 line black & white tv or Pathe newsreels at the cinema
So many memories of that match. But the most enduring was & is Clive Lloyd
Funnily enough I cant remember him batting in that match
What I do remember is his fielding in the covers. With his long reach & lithe form, he made me think of a panther. He didnt seem to even have to move much from the spot, just pounced
In truth, I didnt know very much about cricket then. I understood 4s & 6s & fast bowlers running in, but that was it. Didnt even usually know where the ball had gone to without the camera to guide me. But watching Clive Lloyd made me really understand for the first time that there really was a lot more to this game, a lot that would provide hours of absorbing entertainment. Even a tussle between Lance Gibbs & Geoffrey Boycott
Of course that was before Clives knees went. In later years I came to think of him more as Paddington Bear, with his hat & glasses & rather shambling gait when walking to the wicket
And what a batsman. I shall certainly never forget his innings at the World Cup Final in 1975
Monday, January 22, 2007
Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall was unusually small - for a Weat Indian fast bowler, that is. But probably the most thoughtful of his generation, thinking in detail about every ball, making the most minute adjustments to his fields. You never doubted he could put the ball exactly how & where he intended
He had quite a bustling run. The moment of his delivery was a wonder to behold. Both feet off the ground, arms & legs extended into a star shape, then thwuupp every inch of his body whipped behind the ball
He had quite a bustling run. The moment of his delivery was a wonder to behold. Both feet off the ground, arms & legs extended into a star shape, then thwuupp every inch of his body whipped behind the ball
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Michael Holding
From a purely aesthetic & visual point of view at least, Michael Holding was the greatest of the great West Indian fast bowlers
He used to remind me of a young stallion, standing at the start of his run, with all the power & vulnerability that that implies. I dont think he actually used to paw at the ground with his foot, nor blow steam from his nostrils - it wasnt usually that cold, even in England. But he always ducked his head at the start of his run
And what a run! Dickie Bird said that he never liked standing at the bowlers end to Holding because you never heard him coming
He used to remind me of a young stallion, standing at the start of his run, with all the power & vulnerability that that implies. I dont think he actually used to paw at the ground with his foot, nor blow steam from his nostrils - it wasnt usually that cold, even in England. But he always ducked his head at the start of his run
And what a run! Dickie Bird said that he never liked standing at the bowlers end to Holding because you never heard him coming
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Cricket at Lords Tuesday 3 July 1984
I was going through an old commonplace book when I found, tucked away, a few pages torn from an old mini-notebook. I thought I would transfer them to my blog because I rather like the idea of having them floating around in the ether, and also because it was the last time I attended all 5 days of a Test match
.
Another cold overcast morning at Lords - despite Francis Wilsons promise of a bright warm day. I believed him & wore a shirt & strappy t shirt - though took the precaution of packing a cardi &, at the last moment, putting on tights rather than go bare-legged. Thank heavens
This is not turning out to be one of Marshalls better matches. After losing the battle with Botham yesterday he at last managed to dispose of Lamb (c Dujon) with the first ball of his second over today. Only to have young Foster come in & dispatch balls 5&6 for 4 through the covers down to the short Tavern boundary
Marshall is the bowler who seems to give most thought to his fields - redirecting people without always seeming to consult Clive Lloyd
Pringle promptly went during the next over - another lbw
England declare, without further ado, at 300 for 9
Thus saving Willis the bother of batting. He does not look at all his old self - or rather, perhaps thats what he does look. After a very short net this morning he returned to the pavillion looking sweaty - in the face as much as anywhere. A sure sign of someone not at the peak of fitness
Willis had Greenidge worried during his first over - in particular one which was only just kept out of his stumps
Botham too bowled a lively first over to Haynes from the Nursery end
WI 0 for 0 after 2 overs
57 for 1 after 14.1 overs
Haynes unfortunately run out - after being sent back by Greenidge. The decision must have been a close one. Haynes lay prostrate for several seconds. Off Pringles first ball
It is interesting to see who plays the part of bowlers friend. Is this the job of mid-off, or is the friend put at mid-off to do the job?
Gatting adopted the role for Foster: he was particularly noticeable during the over, about 6 after lunch, when Greenidge really got going again
Lamb missed a really hard chance in the covers: Foster, though he jumped quickly, could not even get a finger to a straight drive
Greenidge makes the fielders look like fools because he is such a hard hitter. They dive & seem to get a hand to the ball but still it goes on its way towards if not actually to the boundary
Richards hits the ball through the gaps, Greenidge hits it through the fielders
In the 1920s Chris Broad would have been the answer to many a maidens prayer. Strong square chins however have not been in fashion since the 60s
Lamb plays bowlers friend to Botham though he usually fields no further forward than mid wicket
Willis in his trance has no need for a friend
Mike Brearley joined the ground staff on the Nursery benches in mid afternoon. I didnt see him arrive but I get the distinct impression that he is happier there than he would be in the Pavillion. If only he had a walkie-talkie to Gower
After Gomes has got his eye in & loosens up he seems to grow at least 6 inches taller
Never have I seen them changing the sight screens so often at the Nursery end. It has something to do with Bothams bowling - & of course the left hand/right hand bat combination (Haynes & Greenidge)
One MCC type who came to sit here after lunch was driven to exclaim 'They must be the worst side we have ever had' He wore brown suede shoes with gold buckle fastenings, so his opinions must be suspect
Greenidge making his 200 with a 6 to long fine leg off Foster
To see Richards walk down the ground from the Nursery to the Pavillion after nets you would think he had just got off the boat after 15 months on the raging Main. Still got his sea legs. Landlubbers need not aspire to the heights of batting
If Gomes (or Greenidge) had got out, would Lloyd have come in to bat his final innings at Lords? Pause to sigh for my all-time hero
Coloured clothing must be better, cant be worse, than the miscellaneous collection of so-called whites. Sweaters look almost brown against the over-white synthetic trousers. And someone ought to tell them about the visible panty line
When are the nice men who run Lords going to do something about the PA system at the Nursery end? Its fine - so long as there are not more than twenty people sitting here to deaden the acoustic
forecars
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