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Times World Cup supplement
By Will last year, mid-March, No Comments; be the first!
Patrick has been slaving over The Times’ World Cup supplement over the past couple of weeks, which rolled off the printers and into the shops this morning. It’s a really good read (and not because I’m in it). Rod Gilmour, Nutley’s finest, also did a load of work for it before escaping to the Caribbean like the professional loafer he is.
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Just the facts, Ma’am
By Scott 2 years ago, mid-December, 5 Comments »
There’s an old saying where you only believe half what you read. Sadly, that applies to cricket journalism, too. For example, in the Times, Simon Wilde is writing about Ricky Ponting, and how to thwart him. Wilde thinks Ponting’s temper is his weak spot, and he writes:
And only three months ago, in a meaningless one-day tournament in Malaysia, he lost his rag so completely when umpire Asad Rauf made a call of “wide†that he was fined his entire match fee. Revealingly, the Sydney Daily Telegraph reported the story under the headline “Ponting’s bullying tactics: here we go again.â€
In fact, Ponting didn’t lose his temper at all. I was watching it on television. What actually happened was that Ponting reacted to umpire Asad’s call with a mixture of disbelief and scorn. It was the sort of scorn that doesn’t look good and it was that disrespect that he was fined for. Not ‘losing his temper’.
Why did Wilde make this blunder? I rather doubt it was from malice. I think he just read about the incident in the Australian papers, and took them as gospel. It is remarkable how gullible cricket writers are towards other writers, just as great salesmen can not resist other salesmen.
But who are you going to believe? Me, or your own lying eyes?
5 Comments »No Asian influence at Headingley
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of August, 3 Comments »
A thought-provoking letter at The Times giving a possible explanation to the lack of Pakistanis at Headingley (indeed, at each three grounds roughout this series). I’m pasting it here in full for posterity. In full at the paper’s website - thoughts very welcome.
3 Comments »Sir, Your article “Yorkshire upset as the Asian invasion fails to materialise†(Aug 5) attempted to explain the poor turnout of “Asian†cricket fans at the first day of the Headingley Test. The usual arguments were rehearsed — the problems of racism in sport, particularly in Yorkshire, and the apparent preference for one-day contests among those of South Asian heritage.
Having endured the second day of the Test in the West Stand on Saturday, another obvious explanation sprung to mind. Within about 30 minutes of the Pakistan batting session, a large proportion of those around us had obviously lost interest in the cricket and seemed more amused by tearing up sections of tabloid papers and flinging them on to the pitch during Mexican waves. Just in front of us, heavily built, alcohol-fuelled, shaven-headed men hurled abuse and expletives at the stewards. Although the usual costumed posses of young men were a spectacle, the overall impression was one of Grange Hill on a Friday afternoon. The only difference was that most secondary school children tend to have a more developed attention span.The childlike behaviour of the crowd may or may not have explained the glaring lack of interest in Pakistan’s brilliant batting in the afternoon. It certainly made concentration on the game well nigh impossible. More seriously, it was a situation that would probably be very intimidating and discouraging for those who do not drink alcohol.
The cult status of Monty Panesar might seem to be a mark of how British society is now comfortable with its diversity, but English, Welsh and Scottish sport continues to expose pugnacious and belligerent tendencies reminiscent of earlier eras. One day, perhaps we will be rid of them.
WILLIAM GOULD
Lecturer in Indian History
University of Leeds
The Times cricket blog
By Will 2 years ago, mid-May, 1 Comment »
Jess mentioned The Times have a cricket blog, which is a very significant turn of events. I’m not sure any other daily is blogging about cricket. I wonder how it will turn out? The Corridor suddenly has competition; best keep on my toes!
Patrick, if you’re reading, I’d be very interested to talk.
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