Category: Cricket

Cricket is all about statistics, so’s Ireland

It’s all Eoin Morgan’s fault. He was the catalyst for this blog.

While reading an article about the talented “English” cricketer Eoin Morgan in the Cricketer magazine (I know, I know, I need to get a life) the Irish diaspora was mentioned in figures. Eoin Joseph Gerard Morgan was born in Dublin though when selected will bat in the middle order for England. Before we go any further I would like to say that Eoin is pronounced own or Owen, if you prefer. Don’t ask me to pronounce diaspora. Too many variables for a public schoolboy like me. Die-Asp-Or-A. Di-A-Spora. Is it something like aspirin? Och, I give up.

Anyway, It seems there are 70 million Irish diaspora worldwide, 34 million residing in the United States alone. Contrast this with the British expats that number 6 million worldwide. This means that the Irish abroad, if they had remained like the resolute second piggy and stayed at home the old country would have a population density to rival Bangladesh. The Irish that left definitely took the “Go forth and multiply” scripture to heart.

Thirsty work

It’s no secret that Hashim Amla is a Muslim.

He has always refused to wear sponsors apparel if alcohol is involved, as the picture on the left depicts. (Note Jacques Kallis with the Castle brewery logo on his shirt.) Good for him, I’ve always admired a man of principles.

But this month is Ramadan!

Hashin Amla is according to Muslim tradition exempt from having to fast because he’s ‘traveling.’ Fair enough. But did you know that he spent his entire time collecting that mammoth 311 runs this past weekend, which took a whopping 790 minutes without publicly ingesting anything! Continue reading “Thirsty work”

Tour de force anglaise

While cherished cynics pooh-pooh the eighty-seven hour ride around the magnificent French campagne, there are those of us who will be pleased that three English riders have proved better than the rest. And although outspoken Daley Thompson believes that athletics are the superior discipline (his own claim to fame relies on his failure to be good enough at any one of his ten to be a world-beater like Steve Redgrave), I defy anyone to doubt the skill and dedication displayed by the Sky team in sealing first and second places overall for Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome and two three* explosive stage wins for Mark Cavendish.

As a footnote, the spectacle was a welcome counterpoint to English fortunes at the Oval and Royal Lytham, where Soutie’s mates won all the laurels.

* mea maxima culpa, thanks, Soutie!

The NZ series’

Today is the 1st day of the 3 match test series over in New Zealand. (You can listen to NZ radio commentary here)

Dunedin’s University Oval at 45° South is the most southerly international cricket venue in the world and as one would expect today’s start was delayed by rain, which is rather frustrating considering that I stayed up till 11.30pm to watch the first ball. The morning session was rained out, I passed out to awake with The Proteas at 90/4 and that after being 86/1 at tea!

It’s been a rather nice tour, we’ve called it the 333 tour (3 T20’s, 3 ODI’s and 3 tests) a pleasing format.

Wiki tells me that Dunedin is nicknamed ‘The Edinburgh of the South.’ Dunedin is of course more well known for it’s Carisbrook rugby stadium (The house of pain) a ground which the Springboks had never won at ’till a famous victory back in 2008.

(Play starts 9:30pm GMT)

No it doesn’t! Play will start 30 minutes early on day 2 (9:00pm GMT) to make up for time lost to today’s rain.

NZ v SA T20

For a change it wasn’t us snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

In fact ½ way through the Black Caps innings I thought that it was all over and said as much on my ‘England’ post, then with 2 overs to go only 10 runs were needed for not only a New Zealand win but also the series, normally a fairly comfortable proposition.

But, cricket’s a funny ol’ game and just to prove it, what seemed like an apparent convincing loss turned into an improbable victory.

On the left is Marchant de Lange, the final over hero (2 wickets only 3 runs conceded) but that’s not what this post is about!

See the red ribbons on the sleeves? Today marks  the first anniversary of that terrible earthquake in Christchurch, in which 189 people lost their lives.

I found it hard to believe that it was ‘only’ 12 months ago, seems so much longer than that, good on the cricketers for reminding me.

NZ Herald article here

An ‘extra’ reflection or two – poetry comp Feb

Reflection 5

Quite diff’rent from a turning track

That sends both teams awry,

This wicket suits their quicks it seems

But never ours. Dubai. Bye bye.

Reflection 6

That boy said calmly, turning back,

I know this ‘ere’s a galleon;

But please excuse me if I ask:

“Is our Captain an Italian?”

Gentlemen vs. Players

Cricket in the 18th Century

Like many cherished colleagues I was brought up with a cricket ball in my cradle, ready for my inevitable success as a player. My Dad was a mean swing bowler and played for Armstrong Siddeley every fine summer Saturday, while Mum was an official scorer, dotting and crossing in all the right boxes. My sister and I soon learned how to do it and waved back to the umpire whenever required.

At more rarified altitudes than ours, the game was socially divided between amateurs and professionals: gentlemen and players – until 1962 when Fiery Fred Trueman (a player of course) referred to it as a ‘ludicrous business…thankfully abolished’. But the distinction had reflected the long history of cricket as a social catalyst. Or was it?

The Beeb had an article only yesterday on that very idea. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16821779. Romantic and salutary apparently. But I wonder. I’m not convinced that peasants performing for the entertainment of their betters (!) represented anything but an expression of the feudal order. Fraternity, Equality and Liberty it wasn’t! Didn’t the gentlemen and players have separate dressing rooms? Or am I mis-remembering?