One Day My Prince Will Come

Michael Henderson

‘IS everybody happee? You bet your life we are!’

No sour faces now. The Hundred really is the most terrific fun. Ground-breaking, innovative, cutting edge. Pick any cliché, for they all apply to a competition that has ‘connected’ cricket with young people, as intended. All over the kingdom the parks and commons are full of boys, girls and those who are not quite sure proclaiming that when they grow up they will play for the Invincibles and the Superchargers. O brave new world!

There is an old world, too, which has witnessed some remarkable performances in the past fortnight. Away from the perfumed manure of the Hundred the pros left behind are playing in the old-fashioned 50-over competition, and striking the ball with gay abandon. Durham rattled up 427 against Sussex, and Leicestershire walloped 380 against Kent. The horn-hooters also overtook Surrey’s 325 with more than seven overs unused.