tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873009918100574338.post3638375121295023141..comments2024-02-05T09:17:53.322-08:00Comments on Adrian Barlow's blog: Cricket, I confessAdrian Barlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04526714501872493961noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873009918100574338.post-64311300832765178982023-05-31T04:22:04.468-07:002023-05-31T04:22:04.468-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.jinniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06812593967617184985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5873009918100574338.post-90984479961645541462011-12-23T14:17:20.390-08:002011-12-23T14:17:20.390-08:00Lovely story, that, Adrian. I only ever played cro...Lovely story, that, Adrian. I only ever played croquet on the vicarage lawn in Arnold (I was in love with the vicar’s daughter at the time, although I never let on) and my only moment of cricket glory was a diving catch in slips at Kingswell Primary School. Yes, cricket is a very nostalgic thing, especially for an ex-pat like myself. I miss the clip of the ball off the bat and the clink of the cups during tea. The almost narcotic smell of the grass, too. Grass-stained cricket whites. That and band stands on Sunday afternoons pouring out uninhibited brass band music. A Wikipedia article has brought one of Francis Thompson’s heroes quite home to me:<br />‘In 1884 at Trent Bridge, for the North of England against the Australians, Barlow played the game of his life. He scored not out 10 and 101 and took ten wickets—four for six runs and six for 42. It is on record that when the North started their second innings on a slow and nasty wicket, Fred Spofforth, Australia's Demon bowler said, "Give me the ball: they won't get more than 60". As events turned out they got 255, Barlow and Flowers putting on 158 runs together after five wickets had fallen for 53. At the end of that afternoon Barlow was a very happy man.’<br />I was quite moved by the words on his tombstone: ‘bowled at last’. A friend of mine, a cricketer in his spare time, once told me that women ask for cricket commentary to be played to them during labour. They find it relaxing. Helps with the delivery. I wish you a very Merry Christmas ... and a long and happy innings.Garry Headlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07741556616880181278noreply@blogger.com