Off Topic Cricket Thread

480 15 minutes to go and yes Zimbabwe are ****

 

They don't seem to be aware that this milestone is within reach.

It's going to be close, though - 492 on the board with three overs left.

 

Ah, they didn't bowl the 90 overs.

 

Bit of a mis match to say the least

 

A proper turkey shoot...

 

Zimbabwe following on, all over tomorrow. This fiasco is down to the ECB selling TV rights for six tests, lining up 5 against India (which should be fun) and then finding a patsy willing to make up the numbers. They have paid Zimbabwe £150k to avoid having to go there to play the return fixture.

Still, it means that Crawley will be picked to face the Indians. Great.

 

Won't be long now ......................
Ah, those were the days.
What a team.

 

Great side that, Shame they were only a few years away from being owned by Botham for a decade though !

 

Quite amazing how the mind can wander over the years……

 

You know I'm only teasing you pal ! Lillee and Thomson were 2 of the greatest and scariest bowlers of any era. The 5 or 6 West Indian pace bowlers of the latter 70's and 80's were just downright sick and almost unplayable.

 

All good, mate ............. l enjoy the friendly banter. As you say, Roberts & Garner, to name a few. Garner had so much height, he could really make that ball rise.

 

Don't forget Michael Holding aka Whispering Death if I remember correctly.... his run up was like he was gliding it was a beautiful watch unless you were the batsman.... that over to Brian Close is probably the scariest thing on a cricket pitch and Close had no padding or helmet to protect him....

 

Close was also about 94 years old. In the great words of Freddie Truman…. “Summer is with us once again and with it the sound of leather hitting Brian Close”

 

Not far off. Close opened with John Edrich in that 1976 Old Trafford Test.Their combined age was 84!

 

Lots of black faces in the crowd, went to see the windies v England recently, looked like a country and western concert

 

This article attributes the quote to Eric Morecambe, which seems a bit unlikely.

Some amusing anecdotes, though.

The sound of leather on Brian Close - by Jon Hotten

 

No - Eric Morecambe definitely said it. When I read sb’s comment above I immediately thought of Eric Morecambe and I distinctly remember seeing him say it on tv.

He was a great sports lover - if you accept supporting Luton is a love of sport

 

Would have been better from Freddie though.

Bit irritated that I missed a trick, should have gone to Edgbaston today. Looks like there are seats available too.

 

Wow, that’s certainly an age for a pair of book-ends.
I remember Colin Cowdrey being sent out here during a test series to sure up an under firing batting brigade. It was an admiral performance by him.