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Legends
Jul 3, 2024 21:11:30 GMT
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Post by byased on Jul 3, 2024 21:11:30 GMT
At a conference at Edgbaston today. It coincided with a match, England v India, in a world legends competition that is going on. I watched the last hour of it. There was another game to come later. Bell and Pietersen played, opening the bowling for England were Sidebottom and Shazhad. The likes of Yuvraj and Harbijan for India. All looked fit, Sidebottom dropped a sitter then took a great catch in the next over. India won with an over to spare. Another nail in the 4 day game coffin? There was a good crowd. Far more than you would get for a county game, with a broad age range of spectators.Good for the old pros, but even less days for the championship. All the food outlets were open, so Edgbaston would have done well out of the day Heading towards the way golf and tennis keep the old players going, and the spectators really enjoyed it by the looks of it
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Post by davemorton on Jul 3, 2024 23:04:57 GMT
Whatever the standard you were, you don't just 'lose' it, overnight. At 37 you were a good player, at 41 you are totally inept. No! The pros tend to keep themselves fit, a lifetime habit, and they would still more that compete with elite amateurs up to 50 and beyond
Yet so few of them continue as active players. I think it's the memory of the days of glory, and they feel it's better to step away completely. I am reminded of a Kipling poem about an old soldier, who fought against the Boers, but now finds himself doing odd jobs for the squire.
Chant-Pagan (English Irregular, ’99-‘02)
Me that 'ave been what I've been - Me that 'ave gone where I've gone - Me that 'ave seen what I've seen - 'Ow can I ever take on With awful old England again, An' 'ouses both sides of the street, And 'edges two sides of the lane, And the parson an' gentry between, An' touchin' my 'at when we meet - Me that 'ave been what I've been?
Me that 'ave watched 'arf a world 'Eave up all shiny with dew, Kopje on kop to the sun, An' as soon as the mist let 'em through Our 'elios winkin' like fun - Three sides of a ninety-mile square, Over valleys as big as a shire - "Are ye there? Are ye there? Are ye there?" An' then the blind drum of our fire . . . An' I'm rollin' 'is lawns for the Squire,
Me!
Me that 'ave rode through the dark Forty mile, often, on end, Along the Ma'ollisberg Range, With only the stars for my mark An' only the night for my friend, An' things runnin' off as you pass, An' things jumpin' up in the grass, An' the silence, the shine an' the size Of the 'igh, unexpressible skies - I am takin' some letters almost As much as a mile to the post, An' "mind you come back with the change!"
Me!
Me that saw Barberton took When we dropped through the clouds on their 'ead, An' they 'ove the guns over and fled - Me that was through Di'mond 'Ill, An' Pieters an' Springs an' Belfast - From Dundee to Vereeniging all - Me that stuck out to the last (An' five bloomin' bars on my chest) - I am doin' my Sunday-school best, By the 'elp of the Squire an' 'is wife (Not to mention the 'ousemaid an' cook), To come in an' 'ands up an' be still, An' honestly work for my bread, My livin' in that state of life To which it shall please God to call
Me!
Me that 'ave followed my trade In the place where the Lightnin's are made; "Twixt the Rains and the Sun and the Moon - Me that lay down an' got up Three years with the sky for my roof - That 'ave ridden my 'unger an' thirst Six thousand raw mile on the hoof, With the Vaal and the Orange for cup, An' the Brandwater Basin for dish, - Oh! it's 'ard to be'ave as they wish (Too 'ard, an' a little too soon), I'll 'ave to think over it first -
Me!
I will arise an' get 'ence - I will trek South and make sure If it's only my fancy or not That the sunshine of England is pale, And the breezes of England are stale, An' there's something' gone small with the lot. For I know of a sun an' a wind, An' some plains and a mountain be'ind, An' some graves by a barb-wire fence, An' a Dutchman I've fought 'oo might give Me a job were I ever inclined To look in an' offsaddle an' live Where there's neither a road nor a tree - But only my Maker an' me, An I think it will kill me or cure, So I think I will go there an' see.
Me!
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Post by byased on Jul 4, 2024 6:07:51 GMT
Very good poem, not come across that one before. Most players keep pretty fit, but a few exceptions I guess. I suppose the main thing is maintaining enthusiasm for something you have done for a number of years, like any job or hobby, you can just get bored with it, and decide to spend time doing something else, or change vocation. Ian Bell still looked more than capable. Pietersen did not get many, but I did not see his innings. Schofield took 4 wickets in 4 overs, and looked useful. Cant remember if he played much for England? surprised Mustard was the wicketkeeper, thought he was still playing "proper" cricket.
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Post by slowleftarmer on Jul 4, 2024 7:05:23 GMT
A lot of former players stay involved in the game in a coaching capacity which I assume keeps them fit if they are out and about in the fresh open air most of the year. Cricket is far better than football for this sort of thing. I recall the Masters football they used to have on Sky Sports and most teams rocked up with a squad of players that had doubled in weight and looked like they had eaten all the pies.... and drunk all the beer.
I think Schofield was on a par with Parkinson and to some extent Borthwick when he played for England in that we felt the need to pick a mystery spinner as the likes of Warne and a string of Pakistan twirlymen were successful elsewhere. The problem was our spinners were just not very good.
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Post by newby on Jul 4, 2024 7:55:07 GMT
World Championship of Legends, I didn't realise this event was quite so extensive with teams from India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England and the Windies. 18 games in all.
I get marketing stuff from Northants and they host the games from the 8th to 12th of July and I had been wondering how it was supposed to work financially for them. Looking at the full picture I now see Edgbaston has it from the 3rd to the 7th of July and then take the final on the 13th.
Some big name players in all the teams, emphasis in the blurb on the India v Pakistan game on Saturday perhaps indicates where the money to fund the event is coming from. The timings too look to be aimed at an Indian evening TV audience.
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