Well that's increased my cricketing gloom even more. I am becoming deeply disillusioned by our game; yes, I watched much of the Windies and Srik Lanka series, and the one dayers against Oz (always loved the one day game, long enough to create a narrative of its own, long enough for games to swing from one side to the other). No wonder they want to get rid of it.
T20. Well, I have started to watch our internationals, partly because I have a dog in the fight, but also as the international games seems to be less bish, bash, bosh than all the other competitions. I could not give a flying who wins the Vitality Blast; the only plus of the IPL is that international players get to play with foes of the past, become mates, and that has clearly reduced out of order sledging etc. But that's it. How could I care for the fortunes of a franchise team?
Similarly, the Hundred - cricket for people who find T20 complicated, it would seem, with fake teams; indeed, living in the South West it seems we are not even represented. So were I to even care for this nonsense, I have no-one to support.
A huge hand to the ECB, who are intent on gutting our game and throwing the baby away with the bathwater.
God rot them
Memories - asking my old man (7? 8?) when they played the *real* matches - they only seemed to play test matches. My old man on the beach at Treyarnon, in the 60s when trannies (ha!) first appeared, marching up to youths play loud pop music and saying - CRICKET only, please, not this damned racket. They always obeyed, as he was ex-military and of fine bearing!
Watching Benaud bowl Peter May round his legs - my first recollection of cricket on TV. Sobers at Lords, June '66. Never seen any finer innings. And kudos to the rotund West Indian a few rows down from us, who, carrying his double Rum down the steps, fell, but spilt not a drop. To loud applause. Us getting thanks to the old man's MCC tie. Actually, it was his Guides Cavalry tie, but identical.
That ridiculous semi at Old Trafford against Gloccy. At the time I was holiday working on the M56; Mum and my brother dropped me and my bike off on the way into OT. Saw the last 20 overs or so, and a wonderful win for Lancs.
Well that's increased my cricketing gloom even more. I am becoming deeply disillusioned by our game; yes, I watched much of the Windies and Srik Lanka series, and the one dayers against Oz (always loved the one day game, long enough to create a narrative of its own, long enough for games to swing from one side to the other). No wonder they want to get rid of it.
T20. Well, I have started to watch our internationals, partly because I have a dog in the fight, but also as the international games seems to be less bish, bash, bosh than all the other competitions. I could not give a flying who wins the Vitality Blast; the only plus of the IPL is that international players get to play with foes of the past, become mates, and that has clearly reduced out of order sledging etc. But that's it. How could I care for the fortunes of a franchise team?
Similarly, the Hundred - cricket for people who find T20 complicated, it would seem, with fake teams; indeed, living in the South West it seems we are not even represented. So were I to even care for this nonsense, I have no-one to support.
A huge hand to the ECB, who are intent on gutting our game and throwing the baby away with the bathwater.
God rot them
Memories - asking my old man (7? 8?) when they played the *real* matches - they only seemed to play test matches. My old man on the beach at Treyarnon, in the 60s when trannies (ha!) first appeared, marching up to youths play loud pop music and saying - CRICKET only, please, not this damned racket. They always obeyed, as he was ex-military and of fine bearing!
Watching Benaud bowl Peter May round his legs - my first recollection of cricket on TV. Sobers at Lords, June '66. Never seen any finer innings. And kudos to the rotund West Indian a few rows down from us, who, carrying his double Rum down the steps, fell, but spilt not a drop. To loud applause. Us getting thanks to the old man's MCC tie. Actually, it was his Guides Cavalry tie, but identical.
That ridiculous semi at Old Trafford against Gloccy. At the time I was holiday working on the M56; Mum and my brother dropped me and my bike off on the way into OT. Saw the last 20 overs or so, and a wonderful win for Lancs.
All a distant memory now...
Lovely stuff. So glad I found this Substack.
Brilliant as ever
Phil's good, isn't he?
I am Toby Humphreys big brother. I have nothing to do with his 'paddle shot' with which he scores 99% of his runs. Thought you should know
Very amusing, is Toby!
Welcome to the club