Mumbai tonight would’ve been a great show down if it had been 2-2, but not to be. I just can’t get as excited about T20 as Test Matches. It’s the difference between Chess and Noughts and Crosses. But interseting to see the Ambanis have stumped up the cash for a 49% stake in an interest in The Hundred. Let’s not kid ourselves – cash is King.
Enjoyed reading The Cricketer magazine over the past month. Jansen’s 7-13 to help bowl out SL for 42 probably the most noteworthy performance. Good to see Brook and Root top 2 batsmen in the world. Root needs to score tons at every ground Down Under at the end of the year to mute some Aussies.
I have a vague recollection of when this book first came out of not being convinced by the title. It just seemed a bit too ‘chocolatey’. Thirteen years down the track and I have got round to reading it. Ofcourse Mr Rajan’s career has gone from strength to strength in this time. Can there really only be one of him?
I didn’t know he loved cricket until I was put on to an interview that he did with the Google CEO, Sundar Pichai. There’s a fun little batting and bowling clip at the end. I picked ‘Twirlymen’ up from the library last year, but just couldn’t break the back of it, so bought it in the New Year and finally got through it this Summer.
A very detailed book. A very, very detailed book. The New Statesmen calls it ‘obsessed’, and The Guardian, ‘obsessive’. The Economist just, ‘Wonderful’.
With a front/back cover by the artist Andrew Davidson in which a fair haired Twirlster sends down a provoker under the watchful eyes of a smiling ump under a cloudless Summer’s sky, it is quite similar in style to his beautiful works of the Monte Carlo Tennis tournament. Surely the mystified batsman holes out to mid on, standing like Nasser or Root in his blue cap under the Spectator’s line ‘..packed with anecdotes that fizz like a Murali doosra’.
Amol Rajan is a South Londoner and references to Tooting Cricket Clubs, Graveney (the school not Tom or David – although the former is twice alluded to) and its local rival Chestnut Grove are meaningful to me. The writing is at times academic but then he’s a clever cat, Downing College et cetera.
Favourite bits? Well, AR recounts many a good story : there is William Clarke whose journey in cricket spans many decades and whose final resting place is Norwood cemetery. There is Frederick Robert Spofforth who appears in a chapter titled ‘Swift Pioneers’. Legend has it that in 1881 he rode a horse 400 miles to play in a game in Australia, he dutifully took all 20 wickets (clean bowled) and went on his way again. Surely there is a BFI sponsored Art House Short in this fantastic story. I’m sure Hugh “No man Hires and No man fires” Jackman would relish the role.
Not forgetting the unathletic Bomber Wells of Gloucestershire, who bowled off two steps if it was cold – one if it was hot – and none if it was really hot. Evidently he bowled an entire over when the Worcester Cathedral clock was striking twelve. And last but certainly not least, of Arthur Mailey, AR writes :
“In later life he became something of an Australian national treasure, not least for his writing, and settled to a life of oil painting, sailing and running a butcher’s shop in Sydney, the city of his birth. The sign above the shop window said it all, ‘I used to bowl tripe, then I wrote it; now I sell it”.
The book is packed with this stuff. Cricket enthusiasts will hear the names Sydney Barnes and George Lohmann and know about their formidable stats. AR brings it to life. The writer goes on to praise the Monty Panesar / Graeme Swann partnership which the year after publication did return joint match figures of 19 for 323 at the Wankhede, Mumbai. There are great pages on Emburey, Edmonds and many many more. A good read in any season.
The Lord’s test was not a nail biter. England won by an innings, but it was bookmarked by the retirement of James Anderson. A lot has been said and written about his 20 year career. It does not seem that long ago that he was shaking hands with Beefy having passed 383. But 704 is quite some total. “Remember me as decent”, what a line.
I wasn’t sure that he would stand the test of time. JA’s action was always fluid but I couldn’t really understand how his accuracy could be maintained as his head seemed to fall away and he was not looking at the batsman’s stumps. Well, clearly is has not mattered a jot.
I listened to two good podcasts last night : Tailenders and TMS. Matchin on a sofa in Jimmy’s house – good stuff, especially on remodelling the action; Tuffers and Finn putting in ther tuppence worth. A new era. Just like the tennis hey?
Interesting to hear Jim say he’s looking forward to playing a bit of 5-a-side football on Monday nights. No squash Jim? I read that biography some 10 years ago. 😉 Go well!
Two biographies have sat on the bedside cabinet for the last few months. Two very different generations for cricketers. ‘Broadly Speaking’ came out last December for the Christmas Market, hot after the Summer’s 2-2 Ashes in England. It’s whizz bang, and in a 17 year International career it’s a bit weighted towards one summer but a giddy gallop through the last 20 odd years around the England Camp.
Imran’s biography was a real trip down memory lane. I’d forgotten about Gooch’s dropped catch in the 1992 World Cup. There are some world class anecdotes about the man, from Cricketer to Politician, very insightful.
Thinker Ed has penned another insightful book. On the inside sleeve it reads, “During his three-year-tenure, England averaged 7 wins in every 10 completed matches, better than they have performed before or since”, and that is something to be proud of.
Charlie Redmayne had a chance to chat with Ed about leadership and decision making. Good name check at the end there Charlie.
On the back of a thoroughly disastrous February for the English Cricket team in India, it was good to have the distraction of this book.
The Rubik’s cube Otl Aicher cover image says it all really. How do we make the best moves for the puzzle to fit, especially in these days of powerful Artificial Intelligence?
