The more things change...

Just finished watching Cricket in the 50s on ABC. Remarkable how familiar much of the controversies were from that decade. There was pitch doctoring, bad umpiring and plenty of boring cricket (not something we see much of these days). However a couple of things stood out. The 58/59 series in Aus was dogged by the Ian Meckiff chucking allegations. We also had Gordon Rorke (who had a diabolical drag and used to land his front foot feet past the front line - Cowdrey joked that you couldn't play forward to him or he'd tread on you!!), Keith Slater and Jimmy Burke who all had pretty dodgy looking actions. It was so bad that the Poms wanted to go to Bradman and protest (they were getting smacked, particularly by Meckiff), but Freddy Trueman said he'll just tell us to get our own house in order (Tony Lock). Trevor Bailey even said "Tony Lock had been chucking them down for years"!!

Then they was Australia's tour of India and Pakistan in 59/60. India played off-spinner Jasubhai Patel in the 2nd Test at Kanpur and took 9-69 and 5-55. Neil Harvey said "his action made Murali look good". I PMSL at his frankness. I think it's the first time I haven't instinctively tuned out when Harvey's head has appeared on the box or in the paper.

The other thing I noticed was the celebrations and lack of immediate handshakes at the end of won or lost Test matches. Lindsay Kline took a hattrick to finish of a Test in South Africa in 57/58, and the Australians were jubilant and raced off leaving the South African players to trudge off after them. It was similar in other Tests in the decade. I assume the players all got together and commisserated in the sheds.

A very interesting hours viewing.

Apologies for my Vikas-like post.

The more they stay the same.

All spot on, skull, anyone who thinks that cricket used to be a gentleman's game has their head in the sand . . . or up their arse in Roebuck's case.

Fans just see a lot more of the action due to the endless replays . . .

I can't do what ten people tell me to do.

tac wrote:All spot on, skull, anyone who thinks that cricket used to be a gentleman's game has their head in the sand . . . or up their arse in Roebuck's case.

Fans just see a lot more of the action due to the endless replays . . .

Aye tac. People have selective memories to suit whichever player or team they want to bag.

So I guess I'll remain the same.

Don't go changin' . . .

Sittin' here restin' my bones.

Tryin' to please me . . .

And this loneliness won't leave me alone.

You've never let me down before . . .

2000 miles I've roamed.

Don't imagine you're too familiar . . .

Just to make this dock my home.

And I don't see you anymore

Ah, fark off with ya copyright breaches.

Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay.

I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble . . .

Watching the tide roll away.

We never could have come this far . . .

Ooh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time.

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times . . .

*bows*


PMSL! I was singing a song but WTF were you on about?

I'll take you just the way you are!



My ode to Cricket . . . courtesy of Billy Joel

When was the last time Neil Harvey had anything positive to say about the state of cricket?