GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 142
October 2014
Old Trafford Matters
I consider it an act of faith to plan to go to a cricket match on 24 September but Middlesex were scheduled to be there and so into the diary it went. It took on greater import as it became apparent the closer it got that it was to be the relegation decider. On the first day I followed the score on the internet and kept checking the weather forecast. In overcast, bowler friendly conditions Rogers won the toss and inexplicably decided to bat. Meanwhile the weather forecast for the second day got worse and worse and by lunchtime rain was forecast all afternoon. I decided to call off my trip but later in the afternoon the forecast suddenly eliminated all rain and so my trip was back on.
I haven’t been to Old Trafford since the wicket was turned round and the post Point developments had been completed. I decided to park in the south car park and was amazed to get the last slot at 10 am. Surely Middlesex weren’t going to command a full house by the time play began at 10.30? It slowly dawned on me that these cars were nothing to do with the cricket and were there because of some function or meeting in the Point. I then had to walk all the way round the ground in order to gain admission at the Statham end. It seems that the non member attenders are being made to pay for the developments. It cost me 50% more for admission than it had at Horsham. I wonder if spectators will be prepared to pay this to watch second division cricket next season?
I took my seat in the old B stand which is now part of the A stand along with the old C stand. Anyway, it used to be at long on but is now at deep extra cover, the sun was out even if there was a chill wind. I had four layers on but some guy in the old A stand was topless. It was somewhat reminiscent of being at a Bears game in Chicago in January where an insane group of fans go topless in sub zero temperatures. Middlesex had been bowled out on the first day and so took the field at 10.30 and I had the most difficult time in distinguishing between the players. They wore the woollen style sweaters which looked right but the players didn’t have a number or their names on the back. They also all have short back and sides haircuts, wore caps and are all just about six foot tall. Only if a catch was taken was any assistance given by the all electronic Old Trafford scoreboards.
Les Berry had said he was coming up for the match and I duly caught up with him after lunch. Earlier he had been hob nobbing with other travelling Middlesex dignitaries but joined me for what was to prove a profitable afternoon session for Middlesex. In the morning Murtagh and Roland-Jones had bowled a tight spell but Harris let all that good work go to waste with a series of loose deliveries. Lancashire lunched at 88 for 1. This had moved on to 165 for 5 by tea.
Les Berry dressed appropriately, he told me, for an away Middlesex match
Les demonstrated facets of the modern age by being in touch by text with Jeff Coleman and John Adcock who were watching the proceedings in the comfort of their own homes courtesy of Sky. They were able to point out that the umpires had been guilty of incorrect decisions. I explained to Les that this was nonsense because the batsmen were out because the umpires said they were, regardless of the verdicts of the TV cameras. After tea Middlesex were pretty unimpressive with the new ball and then we had to suffer more of Harris’ rinse. It is hard to see how he had so much success with Glamorgan and was considered to be on the verge of the England team.
The twelfth man duties were shared by Ollie Rayner and Gurjit Sandhu. Les told me that Rayner had just been granted a new three year contract by Middlesex. Not bad for a bowler who can’t get in the side and who took five wickets this season at 119 each. Which brings us to what is going on at the club and what role does Gus Fraser play, if any? When I criticised him a couple of years ago I was shouted down by Bob Baxter amongst others who explained that even though he was Managing Director it was OK because he delegated the hands-on functions. Good ol’ Gus continues with his journalist role in the media and now has time to be an England selector as well. In case he is too busy on other matters he should be aware that his side very narrowly avoided relegation in the Championship, were terrible in the 50 over Competition and, as usual, an embarrassment in the T20 stuff. If he is still delegating its time he fired those who are failing him. If he doesn’t want to get involved in the messy stuff perhaps it is time he went himself and handed over to someone who cares and is prepared to do something about it.
By the close Lancashire had reached 259 for 6 and were well on the way to achieving the mix of bonus points which would keep them up and Middlesex down if they went on to win the match. The weather had stayed fine throughout and like at Chesterfield earlier in the season I found I had taken the sun on my scalp. Not bad for the 24 September. I hadn’t realized on day one that the match was being televised and spent much of days three and four watching Middlesex bat to save the game and their Division One status.
Out & About with The Professor
It wasn’t the loudest cheer of the day (that was reserved for Hildreth’s suicidal run – run out by ‘keeper Bairstow when his partner hadn’t left the crease) but it was close. At 4.20 the Headingley public address was switched on and a slightly smug announcer said: “Spectators will like to know that the match at Old Trafford has been drawn and so, consequently, Lancashire are relegated”.
It wasn’t even quite the perfect end to the season either since Somerset hung on, nine wickets down, for the last half a dozen overs or so, denying Yorkshire their 9th Championship win. But the sun was shining, Jack Brooks was charging round the ground every time he took a wicket, the County Championship trophy was about to be presented to Andrew Gale by the Yorkshire President (after the ECBs rather churlish refusal), Dickie Bird was in tears (plus ca change) and all was right with the world.
The match itself was quite a close affair – mainly because (for once) Yorkshire had batted badly in their first innings – and while Trescothick was batting (as so often) the final run chase looked fairly comfortable. However, once he had contrived to hit one of Rashid’s long hops down deep-midwicket’s throat the whole thing fell apart; Overton just being able to bat out the draw.
So Yorkshire’s Championship and, from what I have seen, they are worthy of the top place. I have only seen Yorkshire at home this year but they have generally played better than the opposition and, at times, have trounced them. Yorkshire won eight games and were only beaten once (by Middx…and they won the return match comfortably). They have won by an innings four times, thrashing both Warwicks and Notts who were (at the time) the next best placed in the table.
The reasons for the success? As always there are lots of competing elements: important contributions from the middle order, much improved ‘keeping from Bairstow, some key efforts from the overseas and the ECB contracted players, a sold fielding unit, and so on. But I would choose three principal elements:
1 Starting at the top, Yorkshire had a highly successful opening pairing. We all know the stuff about bowlers winning matches but you have to set them up and Lyth and Lees rarely failed. They scored almost 2,500 runs between them and, given the number of innings victories, didn’t bat as often as they might. Getting off to a good start in the first innings is obviously a crucial element of a successful season. They are both, also, excellent slip fielders. Indeed Yorkshire’s close catching was generally of a very high standard.
2. The captaincy of Andrew Gale.
I don’t think Gale is exactly in the cerebral mode of captain - Brearley he ain’t – but he does however have the crucial characteristics of enthusiasm and commitment and, even more to the point, the wholehearted support of his team. This is Yorkshire, remember, and a number of captains in the County’s history have been loathed by players and public alike. There appears to be genuine affection for Gale and his position as a leader was greatly enhanced this year (perhaps counter-intuitively) by his decision to drop himself, rather than break up the opening partnership. When a man does that you know he is playing for the team and not himself (not always, shall we say, a characteristic of Yorkshire captains).
3. The seam bowling of Sidebottom, Brooks and Patterson.
I always thought Sidebottom was a good “buy”, even ‘though he used up the entire transfer budget for one year… and so he has proved. He took 48 wickets @ 18. I was less sure about Brooks but he has had an outstanding season with 68 wickets @ 28. That effectively guarantees that you are going to bowl some sides out for not too many. Patterson’s more modest 36 @ 27 has also been important – he has bowled longish spells and kept the rate under control at important times. Patterson has been central to the team for a number of years now – not too quick but very consistent and able to move the ball both ways. Every time a new fast bowler arrives (Plunkett, Brooks, Sidebottom) I think he will lose his place but it is others (Shahzad, Hannon-Dalby) who have made way. Brooks has also become a sort of talisman for Yorkshire supporters because of his wild celebrations. When he takes a wicket, especially, for some reason, bowled, he sets off on a charge around the ground waving his headband in the air with all the fielders in his wake. If there were a corner flag he would no doubt uproot it.
The other major wicket taker was Rashid…and I don’t know what to make of him. He is clearly a very talented cricketer – an excellent bat and a fine field. But when I hear TV pundits saying that he should be considered for England, I wonder if they have ever seen him bowl. He has had, of course, some decent spells but at times he just bowls tripe. And I don’t mean tripe by county standards, I mean tripe by any standard. Half way down the pitch long hops that disappear to all parts. From what I have seen in the past couple of years, he wouldn’t complete two overs in an international. Still it is results that count and he has taken 46 wickets @ 26…god knows how.
So lots of celebrations and a rosy glow all round. The only sad part is, of course, that so very few people in the country (even, say it softly, in the County) know or care. But Peter Lapping and Douglas Miller should see the trophy, if only to dream.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan rounds off a disappointing season
Middlesex brought in Sam Robson, Neil Dexter and Ravi Patel for Eoin Morgan, Ollie Rayner and Steve Finn for the Championship match against Warwickshire at Lord's starting on August 31. Chris Rogers won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on a bright green track, but the home bowlers failed to make the expected early inroads as captain Varun Chopra and ex-captain Ian Westwood put on 61 for the first wicket, assisted by generous gifts of extras from Middx. All the Warwicks top six reached double figures, but none could go further than ex-England man Jon Trott's 41 off 66 balls with 7 fours and they looked to be struggling on 158 for 5. However, ex-Surrey and Derbyshire man Rikki Clarke, batting far too low in his favourite no 7 slot, soon began to turn it around and found an excellent partner in ex-professional footballer Keith Barker. The seamers' wicket was drying out quickly under the warm sun and moderate breeze and this pair added 140 for the seventh wicket before Clarke departed for an admirable 94 off 149 balls with 14 fours.
Persistent drizzle and light rain meant that only 7 overs were possible on day two and Warwicks declared at the end of this short session on 362 for 8 with Barker undefeated with a praiseworthy 72 off 113 balls with 11 fours. The bowling honours went to Dexter (3 for 63) and Tim Murtagh (3 for 74). Rogers started off well for the home team at the beginning of day three, but he had lost three partners with the score on only 65. Fortunately, Dexter stood firm and these two had put on 127 for the fourth wicket when Rogers fell for a top class 85 off 170 balls with 12 fours. Dexter soon followed for an accomplished 70 off 143 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes, but John Simpson soon settled in and found a stout ally in Paul Stirling. This pair added 65 for the sixth wicket before Simpson departed for 53 off 100 balls with 6 fours. Stirling's 48 off 104 balls with 7 fours helped to steer the tail to a first innings lead of 10 before the declaration came at 372 for 9. For Warwicks, Clarke was the star with the ball as well as the bat, finishing with 3 for 54.
Murtagh gave Middlesex hope of a shock victory with two wickets before the deficit had been cleared, but sound batting from acting skipper and opener Will Porterfield and slightly more flamboyant strokeplay from the Hong Kong born Queenslander Sam Hain soon made the game safe and it drifted to a tame draw with Porterfield finishing on 62* off 158 balls with 8 fours and a six, while Hain completed an entertaining century with 106* from 171 balls with 13 fours as the visitors closed on 182-2.
Lord's is turning into something of a graveyard for spinners and this match was no exception with the two main spinners, Ravi Patel of Middlesex and England Lions and Jeetan Patel of Warwicks and New Zealand finishing with 0-138 between them. Come on Lord's, let's see some wickets that turn for a change, this would be far more entertaining than the non-stop diet of seam bowling we get at present, with the spinners’ role being mainly to improve the over rate so that points do not get deducted for bowling the overs too slowly. Both teams took 11 points from this match.
Middlesex brought in Eoin Morgan, Ollie Rayner and and Steve Finn for Nick Gubbins, James Harris and Ravi Patel for the Championship match against Durham at Lord's starting on 9 September. Paul Collingwood won the toss for the visitors and chose to bat first on a wicket that looked rather less green than the usual Lord's pitches. Tim Murtagh got Middlesex off to a great start by sending three bunnies back to the hutch with only 24 on the board, but England Test men Scott Borthwick and Ben Stokes soon started to play well and runs came at a good rate. This pair added 176 before Stokes fell for an impressive 85 off 139 balls with 11 fours. Ex-England batsman Collingwood played the leading role in a stand of 94 for the fifth wicket with Borthwick before he departed for a useful 59 off 92 balls with 8 fours. Former England ODI keeper Phil Mustard helped Borthwick add 51 for the seventh wicket, but the last four wickets fell in a rush as Durham were all out for 377, Borthwick finishing with a splendid 176 off 292 balls with 24 fours and a six. Murtagh was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 106 and Steve Finn finished with 3-102.
The Middlesex innings started disappointingly, but Dawid Malan looked in good form, Eoin Morgan helped him put on 62 for the third wicket and Neil Dexter added another 57 for the fourth wicket with Malan. However, a very disappointing collapse saw five wickets fall quickly for 36 runs and these included Malan for an exemplary 97 from 140 balls with 21 fours. Fortunately, Toby Roland-Jones batted exceptionally well in making an entertaining 49 off 53 balls with 7 fours and Murtagh joined in a partnership of 74 for the ninth wicket, but the innings closed on a below par 276 all out.
The start of the Durham second innings was almost a replay of the first innings with Murtagh sending three back to the pavilion with only 33 on the board; these included Keaton Jennings from Jo'burg, for his second duck of the match, but this should actually have been a king pair as he was dropped at slip off his first ball, having also been out to his first ball in the first innings. Borthwick and Michael Richardson from Port Elizabeth repaired some of the damage with a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket, with Richardson (40 off 80 balls with 6 fours) the dominant partner, but both fell with the score on 99. Colly played another fine innings of 58 off 86 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes and he found a sound partner in ex-Northumberland player Gordon Muchall, batting at 8, as these two put on 79 for the seventh wicket. Muchall went on to play the outstanding knock of the Durham second innings and Aussie Test match pace bowler John Hastings joined him in a stand of 50 for the eighth wicket. In the end, Durham totalled 294 all out with Muchall closing with an excellent 74* off 116 balls with 11 fours. Murtagh again took the bowling honours for Middlesex with 5 for 86 to give him a brilliant return of 10 for 192 in the match. Rayner deservedly picked up a wicket, his first in the Championship since April (though it was an lbw that was actually missing leg stump), to bring his first class average for the season crashing down to 115.2, though his Championship average is nowhere near so good. Keeper John Simpson took six catches in the match.
Middlesex needed 396 to win, but their second innings started badly again and never really recovered. Sam Robson played fluently for 38 off 41 balls with 8 fours and Malan again played the best knock of the innings with 46 off 113 balls with 7 fours, but the home team slumped to 139 for 7. We did get some entertainment after that, however, as Rayner and Roland-Jones played their shots in adding 61 for the eighth wicket before Toby departed for 26 off 29 balls with 5 fours, then Murtagh joined in the fun and though he lost Rayner for 38 off 57 balls with 7 fours, he continued to hit hard and was last out for a very entertaining 34 off 31 balls with 5 fours. However, Middx were all out for 254 and lost by 141.
The top run scorers for Middlesex in this match were: 1st: no 3 Malan 143 runs; 2nd: no 9 Roland-Jones 75; and 3rd: no 10 Murtagh 58. The bald Sunderland seamer Chris Rushworth (not as burly as when I saw him last) was the best of the visiting bowlers with 6 for 160 in the match; next best was 20 year old Dubliner Peter "Chevy" Chase with 4 for 76 in the match. Middx 5 points, Durham 23.
Carlin Matters
Paddy Carlin sent me this
I had two days at Lord’s and saw Borthwick with a big century and Collingwood, typically gritty, rescuing the Durham innings after a 20 for 3 start. Middlesex’s reply was very poor with only malan, very well, Morgan, very lucky-he doesn’t look a test batsman, and then surprisingly Roland-Jones and Murtagh showing the right response. Rushworth alternated four balls with unplayable deliveries and it was no surprise that he took fifteen wickets in the next Durham match. Middlesex were rolled over by a determined Durham team.
I hope that Keaton Jennings’ parents didn’t fly in from South Africa to see their son’s debut at Lord’s. In his firsat innings he was bowled first ball by Murtagh. In his second innings he was dropped in the slips first ball off Murtagh only to be bowled by the next delivery. To cap this he was out first ball in the next match against Northants.
What could possibly go wrong for Welwyn Garden City CC did go wrong for them as the title vanished in the last couple of games.The team finished second to Radlett and then lost the play off to third placed Harpenden who we had beaten in the league.Radlett fielded four South Africans in the final which they won ironically on our ground. Shane Berger had flown back from Capetown for the match. The beaten finalists, Harpenden, had four ex WGCCC players in their team.
Disgusted of Welwyn Garden City added: I continue to be infuriated by the disappearance of the word “before” and the phrase “in the future” in all media reports. Everything is now “ahead of” or “going Forward”. When did this start, who started it, why did it start and how can we stop it? On the team instead of in the team is now equally widespread.
Oval Matters
The Great Jack Morgan strays across the Thames to watch some second division stuff
My visits to the Oval in recent years have usually seen a wicket which has given considerable assistance to the spinners, but the track for the Championship match against Derbyshire starting on September 15 looked much more likely to help the seamers and it was no surprise when Wayne Madsen asked Surrey to bat first. Surrey openers Rory Burns and Zafar Ansari, however, were largely untroubled in putting together an opening stand of 47 in an hour and a quarter, before they both fell to Wayne White, now back with his home county after spells with Leicestershire and Lancashire. Ex-Nottinghamshire quick left armer Mark Footitt then took over the role of demolition man and Surrey rapidly descended to 130 for 9. Fortunately, skipper and keeper Gary Wilson was still at the crease and, farming the bowling intelligently with no 11 Tim Linley as his partner, he struck a superb 70 off 80 balls with 10 fours and a six as he took his team to the an almost respectable 181 all out. Footitt returned the excellent figures of 6 for 69 and White finished with 3 for 39. The amazing story of day one, however, concerned Derbyshire's 18 year old debutant wicket keeper Harvey Hosein from Chesterfield, who understandably looked nervous and fallible at the start of the day, but he soon settled down and ended the innings with a record seven catches.
Visiting openers ex-Leeds/ Bradford MCCU man Ben Slater and ex-Middlesex and Essex man Billy Godleman also looked untroubled in putting on 62 in 65 minutes against the three pronged Surrey pace attack. After that, however, only skipper Madsen, from Durban, could manage more than 17. Like Wilson, Madsen led by example and was ninth out for an admirable 63 off 85 balls with 10 fours and took Derbys to a small, but valuable lead of 29. Linley bowled a heroic 25 of the 54.2 overs delivered by Surrey in the innings and finished with 4 for 79, while Stuart Meaker took 4 for 39 off a mere 12.2 overs. There were 7 catches in the Derbys innings and all were taken by wicket keepers, three by Steve Davies at third slip, two by Burns at second slip and two by Wilson, who was actually keeping.
When Surrey batted again, Ansari battled for more than two hours for 35 and Davies helped him add a useful 62 for the third wicket, but then Jason Roy took over. The home team were in some trouble at 114 for 5, a lead of only 85, when Roy was joined by Arun Harinath and these two put on 122 in good time with Roy playing a splendid innings of 81 off 86 balls with 13 fours and Harinath also contributing usefully with 42 from 113 balls with 2 fours and a six. That was as good as it got, however, as the home team were all out for 279, setting Derbys a target of 251 to win, with two days to get them. Footitt and ex-Yorkshire and Loughborough slow left armer David Wainwright returned identical figures of 18-1-62-3. There was more success too for Hosein, who collected four more victims to finish with eleven in the match, a world record for a keeper on debut.
Slater and Godleman made a slow but sure start to the visitors' second innings and they were able to take lunch on day 3 in some comfort on 82-0. Then Slater fell for a well played 45 off 106 balls with 5 fours, but Godleman carried on unperturbed and found an excellent partner in Indian Test player Cheteshwar Pujara (“Chet“ to his mates). Pujara was one of those whose form in this summer's Test series declined after a good start at Trent Bridge, but he looked a seriously good player here as his figures suggest: an average of 49 in Tests and 58.5 in first class cricket. This pair put together an outstanding partnership and took the game right away from Surrey's grasp. Surrey never looked likely to break the stand as the visitors strolled to victory by 8 wickets. Pujara might have made a century himself, but generously he slowed his own rate of scoring to allow Godleman to reach a rare ton (only his sixth in his tenth season of first class cricket). Derbys finished with 251 for 2 (the unbroken third wicket partnership being worth 154 in 2 hours) before a slightly delayed tea interval on day 3, with Godleman on an exemplary 104* off 183 balls with 9 fours and a six and Pujara on an exceptional 90* off 105 balls with 14 fours. Day three had begun in such gloomy conditions that the floodlights had been on since well before the start of play, but it was certainly a bizarre sight to see the floodlights still on during the bright afternoon sunshine! Surrey awarded county caps to Ansari, Burns and Roy at lunch on day one. Derbys 20 points Surrey 3.
I managed nine watching days in September, the second best ever for that month, but the total for the season was still an all time low, one lower than the previous low in 2012 and 30 below the best ever in 2011.
Hedgcock Matters
Murray Hedgcock sent me this
Another stimulating Googlies (thank goodness without the usually obligatory under-dressed ladies). Having seen more of Middlesex this season at Lord’s and Richmond, I enjoy the special cover it gets – while remaining baffled that after a promising championship start, the county slid remorselessly down the ladder, and barely got a foot on the bottom rung of the limited-over competitions.
That’s as may be. Meanwhile, I beg to differ most strongly with the comments on Graeme Swann’s remarks. If Swann announces that England has no hope in the World Cup (not that this competition matters to me anyway – only the Ashes do), then should he not be listened to? Do you expect him and other ex-players to write wishy-washy meanderings, suggesting everything in the England garden is lovely? Or is this intensely personal, with Swann still in many black books for quitting the tour of Australia (which surely was absolutely logical, as he clearly had shot his bolt)?
The media hires past players in the belief, or at least the hope that they will bring inside knowledge denied the professional cricket correspondents – trained journalists, but outsiders. Certainly newspapers look for controversy, even provocation, from their pundits (Sky is a bit more cautious), but if this is based on solid grounds, then it is surely justified. Your argument takes me irresistibly to the age when the old England pro in his memoirs would write something like: “Mr Warner played an exceedingly neat innings for 43, Mr Fry hit a capital 48 – and I managed 186”. If comments by retired players might strike a sensitive nerve with the England coach and captain, so that they said something decisive and honest about performances, especially after defeats, rather than as we get now – “we can take away several positives ….we know what to do next…we will just work harder”, then cricket would be much refreshed.
Bob Harvey
Bob Harvey is recovering from major, emergency surgery. Our best wishes go out to him and his family.
Fortieth Anniversary Matters
Steve Thompson points out that its forty years since South Hampstead achieved the League and Cup double. He is keen to share some reminiscences with those who can still remember that far back.
King Cricket Matters
Ged writes:
Early season, I always try to take in a day of county cricket with my old friend, Charley “The Gent” Malloy. It helps us both to get over those winter withdrawal symptoms.
Charley has his favourite place to sit at the start of play – “Death Row” right at the front of the Pavilion, close to but not exactly behind the wicket. By 11am, we were well set in those seats. But Charley was in thoughtful mood.
“I’m going to be very careful what I say today,” said Charley.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Because anything I say might end up in your King Cricket report, showing me to be the idiot and you to be the clever clogs.”
“But if you don’t say anything worth reporting at all, you know I’ll just make stuff up,” I replied. Charley laughed.
We tucked in to smoked salmon rolls (whisky smoked – the salmon, not the rolls) with a nice little Alsatian Gewürztraminer to wash them down. Later we had Parma ham in Ciabatta bread, washed down with a rather elegant albeit Australian Shiraz. Between and beyond those major courses were other tasty morsels, including honey-roasted cashews, savoury sesame cracker-thingies and some very jolly posh chocolate biscuits.
We discussed many things during the day, including my latest hobby, learning to play the baritone ukulele very badly; the latest exploits of Charley’s son and daughter; together with news of the house refurbishment carried out by Charley and Mrs Malloy over the winter.
While in the Grandstand for the middle session of the day, a chap sitting with a friend not far behind us, started to snore, increasingly loudly as the session went on. At tea, the sleeper woke up and said: “It really is lovely being with you here at Lord’s,” to which his mate replied: “I’m not sure you have entirely been with me.”
“Hmm,” said the sleeper. “I suppose I might have nodded off for a moment just then.”
At stumps, Charley wondered what I might report about him on King Cricket. “Will you tell them about me trying to remember a pint-sized cricketer who looked a bit like that little-feller on the field of play, only to discover that the little feller was the very chap I was trying to remember?”
“Unlikely to make the cut”, I replied.
“What about me not realising that your baritone ukulele is different from the instruments that George Formby used to play?” asked Charley.
“A mistake that many would make, Charley. The baritone ukulele is normally tuned as a four-stringed guitar, very different from the banjolele and conventional ukulele, but the distinction is a bit music-geeky.”
Charley and I decided not to have a final, post-stumps drink – I needed to get home and prepare for work the next day. I walked home my usual route. Three minutes from home, as I’m walking past the Prince Edward, a loud voice rings out, “Ged Ladd” (or words to that effect).
“Stentor Baritone”, (or words to that effect), I reply. An extraordinary coincidence for several reasons, not least because I had never heard of a baritone ukulele, let alone a Stentor Baritone ukulele, when I granted my MCC friend that KC pseudonym some years ago. Also because Stentor no longer lives on my patch, nor does the publisher chum, also an acquaintance of mine, with whom Stentor was having an outside drink, en route to a restaurant.
Being an MCC member, Stentor Baritone was naturally unaware that today had been a match day at Lord’s, nor indeed that the cricket season had even begun. Equally naturally, I joined the pair for a quick drink, leaving my work preparation to a slightly foggier, later hour.
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An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 142
October 2014
Old Trafford Matters
I consider it an act of faith to plan to go to a cricket match on 24 September but Middlesex were scheduled to be there and so into the diary it went. It took on greater import as it became apparent the closer it got that it was to be the relegation decider. On the first day I followed the score on the internet and kept checking the weather forecast. In overcast, bowler friendly conditions Rogers won the toss and inexplicably decided to bat. Meanwhile the weather forecast for the second day got worse and worse and by lunchtime rain was forecast all afternoon. I decided to call off my trip but later in the afternoon the forecast suddenly eliminated all rain and so my trip was back on.
I haven’t been to Old Trafford since the wicket was turned round and the post Point developments had been completed. I decided to park in the south car park and was amazed to get the last slot at 10 am. Surely Middlesex weren’t going to command a full house by the time play began at 10.30? It slowly dawned on me that these cars were nothing to do with the cricket and were there because of some function or meeting in the Point. I then had to walk all the way round the ground in order to gain admission at the Statham end. It seems that the non member attenders are being made to pay for the developments. It cost me 50% more for admission than it had at Horsham. I wonder if spectators will be prepared to pay this to watch second division cricket next season?
I took my seat in the old B stand which is now part of the A stand along with the old C stand. Anyway, it used to be at long on but is now at deep extra cover, the sun was out even if there was a chill wind. I had four layers on but some guy in the old A stand was topless. It was somewhat reminiscent of being at a Bears game in Chicago in January where an insane group of fans go topless in sub zero temperatures. Middlesex had been bowled out on the first day and so took the field at 10.30 and I had the most difficult time in distinguishing between the players. They wore the woollen style sweaters which looked right but the players didn’t have a number or their names on the back. They also all have short back and sides haircuts, wore caps and are all just about six foot tall. Only if a catch was taken was any assistance given by the all electronic Old Trafford scoreboards.
Les Berry had said he was coming up for the match and I duly caught up with him after lunch. Earlier he had been hob nobbing with other travelling Middlesex dignitaries but joined me for what was to prove a profitable afternoon session for Middlesex. In the morning Murtagh and Roland-Jones had bowled a tight spell but Harris let all that good work go to waste with a series of loose deliveries. Lancashire lunched at 88 for 1. This had moved on to 165 for 5 by tea.
Les Berry dressed appropriately, he told me, for an away Middlesex match
Les demonstrated facets of the modern age by being in touch by text with Jeff Coleman and John Adcock who were watching the proceedings in the comfort of their own homes courtesy of Sky. They were able to point out that the umpires had been guilty of incorrect decisions. I explained to Les that this was nonsense because the batsmen were out because the umpires said they were, regardless of the verdicts of the TV cameras. After tea Middlesex were pretty unimpressive with the new ball and then we had to suffer more of Harris’ rinse. It is hard to see how he had so much success with Glamorgan and was considered to be on the verge of the England team.
The twelfth man duties were shared by Ollie Rayner and Gurjit Sandhu. Les told me that Rayner had just been granted a new three year contract by Middlesex. Not bad for a bowler who can’t get in the side and who took five wickets this season at 119 each. Which brings us to what is going on at the club and what role does Gus Fraser play, if any? When I criticised him a couple of years ago I was shouted down by Bob Baxter amongst others who explained that even though he was Managing Director it was OK because he delegated the hands-on functions. Good ol’ Gus continues with his journalist role in the media and now has time to be an England selector as well. In case he is too busy on other matters he should be aware that his side very narrowly avoided relegation in the Championship, were terrible in the 50 over Competition and, as usual, an embarrassment in the T20 stuff. If he is still delegating its time he fired those who are failing him. If he doesn’t want to get involved in the messy stuff perhaps it is time he went himself and handed over to someone who cares and is prepared to do something about it.
By the close Lancashire had reached 259 for 6 and were well on the way to achieving the mix of bonus points which would keep them up and Middlesex down if they went on to win the match. The weather had stayed fine throughout and like at Chesterfield earlier in the season I found I had taken the sun on my scalp. Not bad for the 24 September. I hadn’t realized on day one that the match was being televised and spent much of days three and four watching Middlesex bat to save the game and their Division One status.
Out & About with The Professor
It wasn’t the loudest cheer of the day (that was reserved for Hildreth’s suicidal run – run out by ‘keeper Bairstow when his partner hadn’t left the crease) but it was close. At 4.20 the Headingley public address was switched on and a slightly smug announcer said: “Spectators will like to know that the match at Old Trafford has been drawn and so, consequently, Lancashire are relegated”.
It wasn’t even quite the perfect end to the season either since Somerset hung on, nine wickets down, for the last half a dozen overs or so, denying Yorkshire their 9th Championship win. But the sun was shining, Jack Brooks was charging round the ground every time he took a wicket, the County Championship trophy was about to be presented to Andrew Gale by the Yorkshire President (after the ECBs rather churlish refusal), Dickie Bird was in tears (plus ca change) and all was right with the world.
The match itself was quite a close affair – mainly because (for once) Yorkshire had batted badly in their first innings – and while Trescothick was batting (as so often) the final run chase looked fairly comfortable. However, once he had contrived to hit one of Rashid’s long hops down deep-midwicket’s throat the whole thing fell apart; Overton just being able to bat out the draw.
So Yorkshire’s Championship and, from what I have seen, they are worthy of the top place. I have only seen Yorkshire at home this year but they have generally played better than the opposition and, at times, have trounced them. Yorkshire won eight games and were only beaten once (by Middx…and they won the return match comfortably). They have won by an innings four times, thrashing both Warwicks and Notts who were (at the time) the next best placed in the table.
The reasons for the success? As always there are lots of competing elements: important contributions from the middle order, much improved ‘keeping from Bairstow, some key efforts from the overseas and the ECB contracted players, a sold fielding unit, and so on. But I would choose three principal elements:
1 Starting at the top, Yorkshire had a highly successful opening pairing. We all know the stuff about bowlers winning matches but you have to set them up and Lyth and Lees rarely failed. They scored almost 2,500 runs between them and, given the number of innings victories, didn’t bat as often as they might. Getting off to a good start in the first innings is obviously a crucial element of a successful season. They are both, also, excellent slip fielders. Indeed Yorkshire’s close catching was generally of a very high standard.
2. The captaincy of Andrew Gale.
I don’t think Gale is exactly in the cerebral mode of captain - Brearley he ain’t – but he does however have the crucial characteristics of enthusiasm and commitment and, even more to the point, the wholehearted support of his team. This is Yorkshire, remember, and a number of captains in the County’s history have been loathed by players and public alike. There appears to be genuine affection for Gale and his position as a leader was greatly enhanced this year (perhaps counter-intuitively) by his decision to drop himself, rather than break up the opening partnership. When a man does that you know he is playing for the team and not himself (not always, shall we say, a characteristic of Yorkshire captains).
3. The seam bowling of Sidebottom, Brooks and Patterson.
I always thought Sidebottom was a good “buy”, even ‘though he used up the entire transfer budget for one year… and so he has proved. He took 48 wickets @ 18. I was less sure about Brooks but he has had an outstanding season with 68 wickets @ 28. That effectively guarantees that you are going to bowl some sides out for not too many. Patterson’s more modest 36 @ 27 has also been important – he has bowled longish spells and kept the rate under control at important times. Patterson has been central to the team for a number of years now – not too quick but very consistent and able to move the ball both ways. Every time a new fast bowler arrives (Plunkett, Brooks, Sidebottom) I think he will lose his place but it is others (Shahzad, Hannon-Dalby) who have made way. Brooks has also become a sort of talisman for Yorkshire supporters because of his wild celebrations. When he takes a wicket, especially, for some reason, bowled, he sets off on a charge around the ground waving his headband in the air with all the fielders in his wake. If there were a corner flag he would no doubt uproot it.
The other major wicket taker was Rashid…and I don’t know what to make of him. He is clearly a very talented cricketer – an excellent bat and a fine field. But when I hear TV pundits saying that he should be considered for England, I wonder if they have ever seen him bowl. He has had, of course, some decent spells but at times he just bowls tripe. And I don’t mean tripe by county standards, I mean tripe by any standard. Half way down the pitch long hops that disappear to all parts. From what I have seen in the past couple of years, he wouldn’t complete two overs in an international. Still it is results that count and he has taken 46 wickets @ 26…god knows how.
So lots of celebrations and a rosy glow all round. The only sad part is, of course, that so very few people in the country (even, say it softly, in the County) know or care. But Peter Lapping and Douglas Miller should see the trophy, if only to dream.
Middlesex Matters
The Great Jack Morgan rounds off a disappointing season
Middlesex brought in Sam Robson, Neil Dexter and Ravi Patel for Eoin Morgan, Ollie Rayner and Steve Finn for the Championship match against Warwickshire at Lord's starting on August 31. Chris Rogers won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first on a bright green track, but the home bowlers failed to make the expected early inroads as captain Varun Chopra and ex-captain Ian Westwood put on 61 for the first wicket, assisted by generous gifts of extras from Middx. All the Warwicks top six reached double figures, but none could go further than ex-England man Jon Trott's 41 off 66 balls with 7 fours and they looked to be struggling on 158 for 5. However, ex-Surrey and Derbyshire man Rikki Clarke, batting far too low in his favourite no 7 slot, soon began to turn it around and found an excellent partner in ex-professional footballer Keith Barker. The seamers' wicket was drying out quickly under the warm sun and moderate breeze and this pair added 140 for the seventh wicket before Clarke departed for an admirable 94 off 149 balls with 14 fours.
Persistent drizzle and light rain meant that only 7 overs were possible on day two and Warwicks declared at the end of this short session on 362 for 8 with Barker undefeated with a praiseworthy 72 off 113 balls with 11 fours. The bowling honours went to Dexter (3 for 63) and Tim Murtagh (3 for 74). Rogers started off well for the home team at the beginning of day three, but he had lost three partners with the score on only 65. Fortunately, Dexter stood firm and these two had put on 127 for the fourth wicket when Rogers fell for a top class 85 off 170 balls with 12 fours. Dexter soon followed for an accomplished 70 off 143 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes, but John Simpson soon settled in and found a stout ally in Paul Stirling. This pair added 65 for the sixth wicket before Simpson departed for 53 off 100 balls with 6 fours. Stirling's 48 off 104 balls with 7 fours helped to steer the tail to a first innings lead of 10 before the declaration came at 372 for 9. For Warwicks, Clarke was the star with the ball as well as the bat, finishing with 3 for 54.
Murtagh gave Middlesex hope of a shock victory with two wickets before the deficit had been cleared, but sound batting from acting skipper and opener Will Porterfield and slightly more flamboyant strokeplay from the Hong Kong born Queenslander Sam Hain soon made the game safe and it drifted to a tame draw with Porterfield finishing on 62* off 158 balls with 8 fours and a six, while Hain completed an entertaining century with 106* from 171 balls with 13 fours as the visitors closed on 182-2.
Lord's is turning into something of a graveyard for spinners and this match was no exception with the two main spinners, Ravi Patel of Middlesex and England Lions and Jeetan Patel of Warwicks and New Zealand finishing with 0-138 between them. Come on Lord's, let's see some wickets that turn for a change, this would be far more entertaining than the non-stop diet of seam bowling we get at present, with the spinners’ role being mainly to improve the over rate so that points do not get deducted for bowling the overs too slowly. Both teams took 11 points from this match.
Middlesex brought in Eoin Morgan, Ollie Rayner and and Steve Finn for Nick Gubbins, James Harris and Ravi Patel for the Championship match against Durham at Lord's starting on 9 September. Paul Collingwood won the toss for the visitors and chose to bat first on a wicket that looked rather less green than the usual Lord's pitches. Tim Murtagh got Middlesex off to a great start by sending three bunnies back to the hutch with only 24 on the board, but England Test men Scott Borthwick and Ben Stokes soon started to play well and runs came at a good rate. This pair added 176 before Stokes fell for an impressive 85 off 139 balls with 11 fours. Ex-England batsman Collingwood played the leading role in a stand of 94 for the fifth wicket with Borthwick before he departed for a useful 59 off 92 balls with 8 fours. Former England ODI keeper Phil Mustard helped Borthwick add 51 for the seventh wicket, but the last four wickets fell in a rush as Durham were all out for 377, Borthwick finishing with a splendid 176 off 292 balls with 24 fours and a six. Murtagh was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 106 and Steve Finn finished with 3-102.
The Middlesex innings started disappointingly, but Dawid Malan looked in good form, Eoin Morgan helped him put on 62 for the third wicket and Neil Dexter added another 57 for the fourth wicket with Malan. However, a very disappointing collapse saw five wickets fall quickly for 36 runs and these included Malan for an exemplary 97 from 140 balls with 21 fours. Fortunately, Toby Roland-Jones batted exceptionally well in making an entertaining 49 off 53 balls with 7 fours and Murtagh joined in a partnership of 74 for the ninth wicket, but the innings closed on a below par 276 all out.
The start of the Durham second innings was almost a replay of the first innings with Murtagh sending three back to the pavilion with only 33 on the board; these included Keaton Jennings from Jo'burg, for his second duck of the match, but this should actually have been a king pair as he was dropped at slip off his first ball, having also been out to his first ball in the first innings. Borthwick and Michael Richardson from Port Elizabeth repaired some of the damage with a stand of 66 for the fourth wicket, with Richardson (40 off 80 balls with 6 fours) the dominant partner, but both fell with the score on 99. Colly played another fine innings of 58 off 86 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes and he found a sound partner in ex-Northumberland player Gordon Muchall, batting at 8, as these two put on 79 for the seventh wicket. Muchall went on to play the outstanding knock of the Durham second innings and Aussie Test match pace bowler John Hastings joined him in a stand of 50 for the eighth wicket. In the end, Durham totalled 294 all out with Muchall closing with an excellent 74* off 116 balls with 11 fours. Murtagh again took the bowling honours for Middlesex with 5 for 86 to give him a brilliant return of 10 for 192 in the match. Rayner deservedly picked up a wicket, his first in the Championship since April (though it was an lbw that was actually missing leg stump), to bring his first class average for the season crashing down to 115.2, though his Championship average is nowhere near so good. Keeper John Simpson took six catches in the match.
Middlesex needed 396 to win, but their second innings started badly again and never really recovered. Sam Robson played fluently for 38 off 41 balls with 8 fours and Malan again played the best knock of the innings with 46 off 113 balls with 7 fours, but the home team slumped to 139 for 7. We did get some entertainment after that, however, as Rayner and Roland-Jones played their shots in adding 61 for the eighth wicket before Toby departed for 26 off 29 balls with 5 fours, then Murtagh joined in the fun and though he lost Rayner for 38 off 57 balls with 7 fours, he continued to hit hard and was last out for a very entertaining 34 off 31 balls with 5 fours. However, Middx were all out for 254 and lost by 141.
The top run scorers for Middlesex in this match were: 1st: no 3 Malan 143 runs; 2nd: no 9 Roland-Jones 75; and 3rd: no 10 Murtagh 58. The bald Sunderland seamer Chris Rushworth (not as burly as when I saw him last) was the best of the visiting bowlers with 6 for 160 in the match; next best was 20 year old Dubliner Peter "Chevy" Chase with 4 for 76 in the match. Middx 5 points, Durham 23.
Carlin Matters
Paddy Carlin sent me this
I had two days at Lord’s and saw Borthwick with a big century and Collingwood, typically gritty, rescuing the Durham innings after a 20 for 3 start. Middlesex’s reply was very poor with only malan, very well, Morgan, very lucky-he doesn’t look a test batsman, and then surprisingly Roland-Jones and Murtagh showing the right response. Rushworth alternated four balls with unplayable deliveries and it was no surprise that he took fifteen wickets in the next Durham match. Middlesex were rolled over by a determined Durham team.
I hope that Keaton Jennings’ parents didn’t fly in from South Africa to see their son’s debut at Lord’s. In his firsat innings he was bowled first ball by Murtagh. In his second innings he was dropped in the slips first ball off Murtagh only to be bowled by the next delivery. To cap this he was out first ball in the next match against Northants.
What could possibly go wrong for Welwyn Garden City CC did go wrong for them as the title vanished in the last couple of games.The team finished second to Radlett and then lost the play off to third placed Harpenden who we had beaten in the league.Radlett fielded four South Africans in the final which they won ironically on our ground. Shane Berger had flown back from Capetown for the match. The beaten finalists, Harpenden, had four ex WGCCC players in their team.
Disgusted of Welwyn Garden City added: I continue to be infuriated by the disappearance of the word “before” and the phrase “in the future” in all media reports. Everything is now “ahead of” or “going Forward”. When did this start, who started it, why did it start and how can we stop it? On the team instead of in the team is now equally widespread.
Oval Matters
The Great Jack Morgan strays across the Thames to watch some second division stuff
My visits to the Oval in recent years have usually seen a wicket which has given considerable assistance to the spinners, but the track for the Championship match against Derbyshire starting on September 15 looked much more likely to help the seamers and it was no surprise when Wayne Madsen asked Surrey to bat first. Surrey openers Rory Burns and Zafar Ansari, however, were largely untroubled in putting together an opening stand of 47 in an hour and a quarter, before they both fell to Wayne White, now back with his home county after spells with Leicestershire and Lancashire. Ex-Nottinghamshire quick left armer Mark Footitt then took over the role of demolition man and Surrey rapidly descended to 130 for 9. Fortunately, skipper and keeper Gary Wilson was still at the crease and, farming the bowling intelligently with no 11 Tim Linley as his partner, he struck a superb 70 off 80 balls with 10 fours and a six as he took his team to the an almost respectable 181 all out. Footitt returned the excellent figures of 6 for 69 and White finished with 3 for 39. The amazing story of day one, however, concerned Derbyshire's 18 year old debutant wicket keeper Harvey Hosein from Chesterfield, who understandably looked nervous and fallible at the start of the day, but he soon settled down and ended the innings with a record seven catches.
Visiting openers ex-Leeds/ Bradford MCCU man Ben Slater and ex-Middlesex and Essex man Billy Godleman also looked untroubled in putting on 62 in 65 minutes against the three pronged Surrey pace attack. After that, however, only skipper Madsen, from Durban, could manage more than 17. Like Wilson, Madsen led by example and was ninth out for an admirable 63 off 85 balls with 10 fours and took Derbys to a small, but valuable lead of 29. Linley bowled a heroic 25 of the 54.2 overs delivered by Surrey in the innings and finished with 4 for 79, while Stuart Meaker took 4 for 39 off a mere 12.2 overs. There were 7 catches in the Derbys innings and all were taken by wicket keepers, three by Steve Davies at third slip, two by Burns at second slip and two by Wilson, who was actually keeping.
When Surrey batted again, Ansari battled for more than two hours for 35 and Davies helped him add a useful 62 for the third wicket, but then Jason Roy took over. The home team were in some trouble at 114 for 5, a lead of only 85, when Roy was joined by Arun Harinath and these two put on 122 in good time with Roy playing a splendid innings of 81 off 86 balls with 13 fours and Harinath also contributing usefully with 42 from 113 balls with 2 fours and a six. That was as good as it got, however, as the home team were all out for 279, setting Derbys a target of 251 to win, with two days to get them. Footitt and ex-Yorkshire and Loughborough slow left armer David Wainwright returned identical figures of 18-1-62-3. There was more success too for Hosein, who collected four more victims to finish with eleven in the match, a world record for a keeper on debut.
Slater and Godleman made a slow but sure start to the visitors' second innings and they were able to take lunch on day 3 in some comfort on 82-0. Then Slater fell for a well played 45 off 106 balls with 5 fours, but Godleman carried on unperturbed and found an excellent partner in Indian Test player Cheteshwar Pujara (“Chet“ to his mates). Pujara was one of those whose form in this summer's Test series declined after a good start at Trent Bridge, but he looked a seriously good player here as his figures suggest: an average of 49 in Tests and 58.5 in first class cricket. This pair put together an outstanding partnership and took the game right away from Surrey's grasp. Surrey never looked likely to break the stand as the visitors strolled to victory by 8 wickets. Pujara might have made a century himself, but generously he slowed his own rate of scoring to allow Godleman to reach a rare ton (only his sixth in his tenth season of first class cricket). Derbys finished with 251 for 2 (the unbroken third wicket partnership being worth 154 in 2 hours) before a slightly delayed tea interval on day 3, with Godleman on an exemplary 104* off 183 balls with 9 fours and a six and Pujara on an exceptional 90* off 105 balls with 14 fours. Day three had begun in such gloomy conditions that the floodlights had been on since well before the start of play, but it was certainly a bizarre sight to see the floodlights still on during the bright afternoon sunshine! Surrey awarded county caps to Ansari, Burns and Roy at lunch on day one. Derbys 20 points Surrey 3.
I managed nine watching days in September, the second best ever for that month, but the total for the season was still an all time low, one lower than the previous low in 2012 and 30 below the best ever in 2011.
Hedgcock Matters
Murray Hedgcock sent me this
Another stimulating Googlies (thank goodness without the usually obligatory under-dressed ladies). Having seen more of Middlesex this season at Lord’s and Richmond, I enjoy the special cover it gets – while remaining baffled that after a promising championship start, the county slid remorselessly down the ladder, and barely got a foot on the bottom rung of the limited-over competitions.
That’s as may be. Meanwhile, I beg to differ most strongly with the comments on Graeme Swann’s remarks. If Swann announces that England has no hope in the World Cup (not that this competition matters to me anyway – only the Ashes do), then should he not be listened to? Do you expect him and other ex-players to write wishy-washy meanderings, suggesting everything in the England garden is lovely? Or is this intensely personal, with Swann still in many black books for quitting the tour of Australia (which surely was absolutely logical, as he clearly had shot his bolt)?
The media hires past players in the belief, or at least the hope that they will bring inside knowledge denied the professional cricket correspondents – trained journalists, but outsiders. Certainly newspapers look for controversy, even provocation, from their pundits (Sky is a bit more cautious), but if this is based on solid grounds, then it is surely justified. Your argument takes me irresistibly to the age when the old England pro in his memoirs would write something like: “Mr Warner played an exceedingly neat innings for 43, Mr Fry hit a capital 48 – and I managed 186”. If comments by retired players might strike a sensitive nerve with the England coach and captain, so that they said something decisive and honest about performances, especially after defeats, rather than as we get now – “we can take away several positives ….we know what to do next…we will just work harder”, then cricket would be much refreshed.
Bob Harvey
Bob Harvey is recovering from major, emergency surgery. Our best wishes go out to him and his family.
Fortieth Anniversary Matters
Steve Thompson points out that its forty years since South Hampstead achieved the League and Cup double. He is keen to share some reminiscences with those who can still remember that far back.
King Cricket Matters
Ged writes:
Early season, I always try to take in a day of county cricket with my old friend, Charley “The Gent” Malloy. It helps us both to get over those winter withdrawal symptoms.
Charley has his favourite place to sit at the start of play – “Death Row” right at the front of the Pavilion, close to but not exactly behind the wicket. By 11am, we were well set in those seats. But Charley was in thoughtful mood.
“I’m going to be very careful what I say today,” said Charley.
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“Because anything I say might end up in your King Cricket report, showing me to be the idiot and you to be the clever clogs.”
“But if you don’t say anything worth reporting at all, you know I’ll just make stuff up,” I replied. Charley laughed.
We tucked in to smoked salmon rolls (whisky smoked – the salmon, not the rolls) with a nice little Alsatian Gewürztraminer to wash them down. Later we had Parma ham in Ciabatta bread, washed down with a rather elegant albeit Australian Shiraz. Between and beyond those major courses were other tasty morsels, including honey-roasted cashews, savoury sesame cracker-thingies and some very jolly posh chocolate biscuits.
We discussed many things during the day, including my latest hobby, learning to play the baritone ukulele very badly; the latest exploits of Charley’s son and daughter; together with news of the house refurbishment carried out by Charley and Mrs Malloy over the winter.
While in the Grandstand for the middle session of the day, a chap sitting with a friend not far behind us, started to snore, increasingly loudly as the session went on. At tea, the sleeper woke up and said: “It really is lovely being with you here at Lord’s,” to which his mate replied: “I’m not sure you have entirely been with me.”
“Hmm,” said the sleeper. “I suppose I might have nodded off for a moment just then.”
At stumps, Charley wondered what I might report about him on King Cricket. “Will you tell them about me trying to remember a pint-sized cricketer who looked a bit like that little-feller on the field of play, only to discover that the little feller was the very chap I was trying to remember?”
“Unlikely to make the cut”, I replied.
“What about me not realising that your baritone ukulele is different from the instruments that George Formby used to play?” asked Charley.
“A mistake that many would make, Charley. The baritone ukulele is normally tuned as a four-stringed guitar, very different from the banjolele and conventional ukulele, but the distinction is a bit music-geeky.”
Charley and I decided not to have a final, post-stumps drink – I needed to get home and prepare for work the next day. I walked home my usual route. Three minutes from home, as I’m walking past the Prince Edward, a loud voice rings out, “Ged Ladd” (or words to that effect).
“Stentor Baritone”, (or words to that effect), I reply. An extraordinary coincidence for several reasons, not least because I had never heard of a baritone ukulele, let alone a Stentor Baritone ukulele, when I granted my MCC friend that KC pseudonym some years ago. Also because Stentor no longer lives on my patch, nor does the publisher chum, also an acquaintance of mine, with whom Stentor was having an outside drink, en route to a restaurant.
Being an MCC member, Stentor Baritone was naturally unaware that today had been a match day at Lord’s, nor indeed that the cricket season had even begun. Equally naturally, I joined the pair for a quick drink, leaving my work preparation to a slightly foggier, later hour.
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