cricket with balls
just another bullshit cricket blog
Filed under poms …
two chucks final at lord’s as remixed by DJ Sammy
King Cricket shirt is available here.
a windies win should inspire some hate
I once mindlessly suggested to my father that it was a shame to see the Windies struggling. That was followed by him abusing me for a long time about how you cant feel sorry for them, as they happily beat up on everyone when they had that chance. His scars were still raw.
But that attitude seems to be disappearing of recent times. The Windies are fast becoming the second favourite team of cricket fans, especially to those who never used to watching the West Indies pummel their country’s batsmen upside their heads.
They’ve been a perfect second side of late. They have exciting young cricketers, mystery bowlers, mini Lara, a talented young quick, and they’re not likely to beat your team in a Test match.
Not that they don’t get close.
At home against India they worked themselves into several good positions only to end up losing or drawing. And against Australia they played well only to fall apart when they needed to be at their best.
Yet again, they’ve snuck up on a better side and find themselves with a good chance of winning the Test. Rudi Webster, the former Windies psychologist recently said they don’t know how to win. To beat England at home, when they’re chasing less than 200 on a solid batting pitch, you need to really back yourself.
The two wickets were promising. But there is little to lose in a four over session that is essentially being played with Hammer Horror type lighting. It is when England puts on a partnership of any note, or as they close in on the total when West Indies will be under real pressure.
Will they do everything they can to win this match, or will they just put in another effort that annoys the opposition before they eventually fold.
It’s nice to be everyone’s second favourite team, but it’s better to win a few matches. They may never be universally feared or hated again, but it would be nice if they could do more than just temporarily annoy fans, and on occasions like this, really ruin the mood of a few opposition fans like my dad. It’s good to piss people off.
two chucks meet grandpa broad at lord’s – day 2
And if you want an afghan cricket shirt slap one on right here.
two chucks at lord’s
If you feel the need to get a bit of Curtly splashed on your chest, you can buy it here.
what cricket boards spend their money on
Because of Doag I’ve been allowed into the buildings where the cricket thinking goes on. This is what I remembered of each.
The ECB offices are like that of a high class paper manufacturer. They have their awards scattered in a very tine reception area that was built to impress no one. The reception is actually tiny, and if you are waiting at the desk with more than one person or a bag, it’s actually hard for people to get around you. Other than the fact the office is in Lord’s, it doesn’t really feel all that crickety.
It could be the headquarters of a company with an owner who likes cricket rather than a cricket headquarters.
Although no could be disappointed seeing their Jack Russell painting.
Cricket Australia’s headquarters are instantly a bit more swish. They’ve tried to put a touch of wow factor in there. It’s got a boutique ad agency feel to it. The reception has enough room for an entire crowd of a shield match to hang out in. It feels like it’s been designed by the same person who designs the MCG members bar areas. Smart, casual and just a bit sporty.
The headquarters aren’t in the MCG, but just down the road far enough to lose any magic the ground holds.
It’s all a bit too planned out for me. A bit too much we like cricket, but we want to look good doing it. Like someone who gets a tailor made Richie Benaud jacket to wear to games.
The BCCI have a decent sized stumpy the elephant in their reception at Wankhede stadium. As shit as stumpy was, it’s nice to see him on a reception desk. The BCCI office is quite nice, it’s like a industrilists office with photons on every wall.
Just that these photos are brilliant. The Nawab with a sun hat on. Shastri with the world’s angriest eyebrows. Sachin with a photoshopped afro.
It’s all there. They even have a completely unnecessary 3d photo of the team winning the world cup, which is impossible to look at without getting a headache.
The conference room we went into was just covered at one end with photos of their captains. It was much like that room where proud parents put up every school photo of their kids. They’d run out of walls and just started putting players up in random spots, but no one was left out.
They even had time to put up a painting of Don Bradman and photos of Jardine and Grace.
I never saw the IPL level, where I am sure that they had stripper poles and dance tracks using commentators in a sexually suggestive way. But I still really liked it. It was impressive to look at, fairly new, not overly designed, but grand enough you still felt like you were in a place where people did real work.
Any place with that many cricket photos, including one that was quite clearly a tourist snap, is going to win the award for being my favourite cricket board building.
Australia was pretty but sort of lacking heart, England was gritty but utterly forgettable, but India had that cricket feeling combined with an office that looked like important people could meet you in it.
the last day
The last day of a Test Match is often like a town that has lost its main industry. The structure is still the same, but the town has that eerie walking-dead feel to it. There are many reasons why people don’t come, but they’re all nonsense. It’s massively underpopulated, better seats are available, you don’t have to line up for food as long, it’s cheaper and you’re guaranteed to see the end of the match. I’ve been lucky over the years, I’ve seen a Warne hat-trick, an incredible Kallis hundred, and Freddie Flintoff bowl Australia out in one match and throw them out in another.
The best part is often not even the cricket. The last day is your chance to see a carnival atmosphere at a Test match. Everyone from the players to the security guards are more relaxed. Things are being packed up, players mingle with fans and weirdness can happen.
On day five at Galle, I ended up being given a beer by the president of the SLC, was cheered on for my suits by the Sri Lankan support staff and walked past the trucks that were clearing out the toilets.
On day five at the P Sara, I listened to a conversation.
Now I’m well aware that this conversation may not have interested everyone, but when Suraj Randiv and Graeme Swann found each other out on the ground, I knew what they were talking about. You could tell by their hands that it was nerd spin talk.
To get close enough to hear I had to push through the crowd who were holding up English kit that had been thrown to them by the players, police officers who were standing there without really doing anything and the throng of people trying to take photos of Swann. I got as close to Randiv and Swann as the massive English security officer would let me. Then I had to block out the many fans who were planning to get something signed the minute the conversation ended.
The first bits I heard where Swann talking about wrist position. My persistence had paid off. For the next three minutes I was listening to a spin bowling masterclass. Randiv had clearly asked Swann about his action and whether he imparted too much over-spin on the ball. Swann explained his own action, and suggested that too much over-spin wasn’t a problem for Randiv as he still ragged it.
Wrists, fingers, arm height and follow through were all discussed as Randiv, and I, listened intently. Randiv, Swanny’s Padawan learner, and me, the lucky eavesdropper.
The conversation ended with Swanny being very complimentary to Randiv about his bowling. He never said ‘attaboy’, but it was one of those sorts of conversations. I assume it boosted Randiv; even I was ready to hit the nets and try a few offies to see if Swann’s words could help me. And I’m a leggie.
The last day of a Test, whether it be the third, fourth or fifth day, can contain a nugget or two of magic, on or off the pitch, during or after the game.
