Smoking, Saffers, and seven deadly sins
Smoking for cricket, a horse called Leg Spinner, Clarke does Braddles, and more
Andrew McGlashan
21-Oct-2007
 |
|
Stubbed out
It's a familiar scenario. You are sat in the pub watching the cricket, then all of a sudden there is a rush to change the channel. Why? Because the football is about to start. What makes this even more frustrating is when they insist on switching over well before the actual kickoff, so all you'll see is the studio presenters waffling to fill the time. When this happened to John Vaughan in his local Warwickshire pub, he took a stand.
It's a familiar scenario. You are sat in the pub watching the cricket, then all of a sudden there is a rush to change the channel. Why? Because the football is about to start. What makes this even more frustrating is when they insist on switching over well before the actual kickoff, so all you'll see is the studio presenters waffling to fill the time. When this happened to John Vaughan in his local Warwickshire pub, he took a stand.
Since July it has been illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces in the UK, so to show his frustration Vaughan lit up. When he refused to stub it out, the bar staff pressed a panic button (yes, really) and in marched eight policemen. "The cricket only had ten minutes left, but the football wasn't even going to start for another 45 minutes," Vaughan told the Mail. "We complained but nothing happened. So I decided to light up out of protest."
South Africans who didn't choke
Four years ago it was England's cricketers cheering their rugby counterparts to World Cup glory from a hotel in Sri Lanka. On Saturday it was the turn of the South Africans to support their fellow sportsmen from a far-flung destination. If they feared that the 25-run defeat in the second ODI against Pakistan would be a bad omen, the boot of Percy Montgomery ensured otherwise. Graeme Smith and his team-mates, who'd sent a message of support to the Springboks, savoured the rugby success in their Lahore hotel, and there could have well been a feeling of envy, given the number of times the cricketers have come up short.
Four years ago it was England's cricketers cheering their rugby counterparts to World Cup glory from a hotel in Sri Lanka. On Saturday it was the turn of the South Africans to support their fellow sportsmen from a far-flung destination. If they feared that the 25-run defeat in the second ODI against Pakistan would be a bad omen, the boot of Percy Montgomery ensured otherwise. Graeme Smith and his team-mates, who'd sent a message of support to the Springboks, savoured the rugby success in their Lahore hotel, and there could have well been a feeling of envy, given the number of times the cricketers have come up short.
"It's exciting to be a supporter and to experience the winning of a World Cup," said Shaun Pollock, who is unlikely to get another chance to lift his version. AB de Villiers was looking forward to catching up with some friends. "I was at school with Wynand Olivier, and a house-mate of Bryan Habana. I can't wait to get home and have a beer with them."
Out in the Twenties
It's that time of the year when county clubs up and down England are trying different ways of earning some extra money during the winter months. The larger Test grounds can rely on catering, especially around the party season, while some like Old Trafford now have a hotel. However, for the smaller counties clever thinking is called for. Glamorgan are running a series of 1920-themed parties featuring "flapper" dancers and a live jazz band, while there will also be a casino and a champagne cocktail bar. Simon Jones will be kicking himself that he didn't stay around for the fun.
It's that time of the year when county clubs up and down England are trying different ways of earning some extra money during the winter months. The larger Test grounds can rely on catering, especially around the party season, while some like Old Trafford now have a hotel. However, for the smaller counties clever thinking is called for. Glamorgan are running a series of 1920-themed parties featuring "flapper" dancers and a live jazz band, while there will also be a casino and a champagne cocktail bar. Simon Jones will be kicking himself that he didn't stay around for the fun.
|
|
|
Seven deadly sins
It is often said that Shane Warne is the greatest captain Australia never had. He only really has himself to blame for that, though, and now a new book delving into the behind-the-scenes history of Australian cricket has shed new light on why the honour didn't come Warne's way.
It is often said that Shane Warne is the greatest captain Australia never had. He only really has himself to blame for that, though, and now a new book delving into the behind-the-scenes history of Australian cricket has shed new light on why the honour didn't come Warne's way.
In August 2000, when Warne was replaced as vice-captain by Adam Gilchrist, the board outlined seven reasons why Warne wasn't fit for the task. They included his "history of incidents" and a "catalogue of reckless conduct". He twice missed out on the top job, in 1999 when Steve Waugh took over, and again in 2004 when Ricky Ponting was made captain. But he did have a supporter in former chairman Bob Merriman: "I've had a lot of issues with Shane but I've always had a lot of good times with him. I enjoy talking to him; he's just beaut."
Horsing around
Talking of legspinners who know how to win, a horse called Leg Spinner landed a £2.5million jackpot for its Irish trainer Tony Martin and jockey Johnny Murtagh. According to the report: "The 14-1 shot weaved his way through the field to make his bid two furlongs out after Dr Sharp had made most of the running." Like Warne, it appears this legspinner didn't know when he was beaten.
Talking of legspinners who know how to win, a horse called Leg Spinner landed a £2.5million jackpot for its Irish trainer Tony Martin and jockey Johnny Murtagh. According to the report: "The 14-1 shot weaved his way through the field to make his bid two furlongs out after Dr Sharp had made most of the running." Like Warne, it appears this legspinner didn't know when he was beaten.
Doing it the Don way
If it was good enough for Don Bradman, then it's good enough for Michael Clarke. A new advertising campaign by Cricket Australia re-enacts Bradman's famous practice technique of hitting a golf ball with a stump. Clarke uses the method himself in training and certainly had more success than the crew. "The whole film crew had a go but no one could make contact more than three times in a row," said Patrick Rowe, general manager of ad agency Leo Burnett Melbourne.
If it was good enough for Don Bradman, then it's good enough for Michael Clarke. A new advertising campaign by Cricket Australia re-enacts Bradman's famous practice technique of hitting a golf ball with a stump. Clarke uses the method himself in training and certainly had more success than the crew. "The whole film crew had a go but no one could make contact more than three times in a row," said Patrick Rowe, general manager of ad agency Leo Burnett Melbourne.
On the subject of Bradman, John Howard's Government is set to pledge $6.5 million towards a hall of fame bearing the batsman's name in his home town of Bowral. It would be easy to think it's merely a push for some much-needed votes by Howard, but he is one of Australia's biggest supporters and a self-confessed "cricket tragic". If the election goes the way the pollsters expect, Howard will have plenty of time to visit the new museum.
Quote hanger
"While it's certainly been a challenging chapter in my cricket career, it hasn't left me hurt or scarred. But I have been slightly embarrassed by it all."
Andrew Symonds tries to draw a line under the recent events in India
"While it's certainly been a challenging chapter in my cricket career, it hasn't left me hurt or scarred. But I have been slightly embarrassed by it all."
Andrew Symonds tries to draw a line under the recent events in India
Andrew McGlashan is a staff writer at Cricinfo