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Loading ...I think it’s rather more than 20 miles to France from Hove, as well. Anyway, well done Will - we’ve just got to find a cricket writer in this country to wrest Gideon Haigh’s title off him, and you’re as good a prospect as any 
Hove is where it’s at
By Will 2 years ago, mid-April Leave a comment on this post
Just got back from my first press conference at Hove (Sussex for the uninitiated, compassless among you). It was bloody cool. A bit of a shambles, if I’m honest, and the press girl there admitted as much (”It’s usually a lot better organised”) but it was relaxed and I managed to speak to Mushtaq Ahmed, who was both interesting and very intelligent. He had some interesting stuff to say about Pakistan, religion, spin and other stuff. What a legend. I wanted to scream out “Bowling mushy!” but managed to restrain myself. Of particular coolness was when a photographer barged his way into our chat and said “quick ‘ead ‘n shoulders musha would you?” Now, apart from mispronouncing his nickname - a cardinal sin - he was downright rude, and Mushy retorted with “Not now, I’m speaking to Cricinfo” which rather put the little weezle-snapper in his place, not to mention wake me up to the fact that I actually work for Cricinfo. It’s all very bizarre.
Another geezer wasn’t at all impressed at my employers, and rather looked down his roman nose at me as if to say “pah. Cricinfo. PAH. Bunch of johnny come latelies.” I’m sure it won’t be the last time that happens but it’s nevertheless surprising that CI produces that response.
I was one of only two written “journos” there, that I noticed. There were four radio people (four! Surely there can’t be more than one radio station in Hove?) and a couple of TV people. Annoyed that I didn’t get to speak to more players, one of whom was particularly elusive; after his photo shoot, he sprinted into the pavillion never to be seen again! Ah well, twas a good learning experience (nail them, in other words, when you can).
Before getting there, I managed to get lost, and sought help from an elderly gentleman who, with a red jumper, looked like one of those people from Butlins. He looked fairly respectable and knowledgeable (doesn’t that always go through your head when you’re asking for directions? “He won’t know where xyz is. Look at him, he’s a wreck”). Anyway, he then proceeded to eff and blind like a good ‘un.
“Fackin ‘ell, you want the cricket graaaand? You’re miles out mate, fackin miles.”
“Oh bugger. I thought I’d gone wrong, yeah. I was heading down to the sea”
“The sea? You’ll end up in fackin France and you wouldn’t want that.”
I didn’t bother mentioning that the sea was probably a hypothermic 4c, nor the fact that I would rather stick pins in my eyes than try and swim 20 miles across the English Channel. The cheery old fella was useful enough and I found the ground in good time. I wasn’t fackin miles out, actually.
Now preparing for the county season which begins tomorrow. We have a whole mass of previews going up, so keep your minces peeled on Friday. Am off to Lord’s hopefully tomorrow, and almost certainly on Saturday, so will bore you with photos and thoughts on MCC v Nottinghamshire.
Ta Scott for keeping the blog fresh and tasty,
Tags: county-season, hove, lords, minces, mushtaq-ahmed, mushy, pakistan, sussex |
8 Responses to “Hove is where it’s at”
April 13th, 2006 at 3.34 pm
April 13th, 2006 at 7.35 pm
You talked to Mushy! You interviwed him! You lucky Will! There’s this person locally, in India actually, whose name is Lucky Ali. I think we should all start calling you Lucky Will or something.
Hope you have a fun day at Lords, I look forward to reading all about it here at CoU.
April 13th, 2006 at 7.39 pm
Oh and yeah, whilst on the subject of Sussex, how far is this blace called Battle from Hove, I’m just wondering since this band I used to like says on its profile they’re from Battle, in East Sussex.
And isn’t Oxshott in Sussex too, or was that Surrey? Becky Bloomwood’s parents lived in Oxshott in the Shopahollic Series…
April 13th, 2006 at 7.56 pm
That was very honest and from the heart talk Will. Very happy for you. 
April 13th, 2006 at 8.57 pm
Battle is about 30 miles from Hove, more or less at the other end of Sussex. I don’t think the County play there - I can only find Hove (which is really part of Brighton) and Arundel as venues, at least for first-class matches.
Oxshott is in Surrey.
April 13th, 2006 at 9.01 pm
Thanks Innocent.
April 14th, 2006 at 8.53 am
Arundel is spectacularly beautiful. Whenever you book a world tour of cricket grounds, check it out.
Well done, Will. Great to hear you are moving and grooving up there with the greats but are still one of us Bless ya!
April 15th, 2006 at 6.24 pm
Good to see you’re off the mark, Will. Went to a couple of Kent press conferences in the early 1990’s and got to interview Mark Benson, Matthew Fleming and Martin McCague; Benson’s views, particularly on overseas players (he was in favour of three per county) made for interesting reading.
The other fellow who was particularly interesting to talk to was Daryl Foster who had a rather portly Kent side doing aerobics. I believe he is now working biomechanics at the Uni of Western Australia.
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