A Lollapalooza of a day!

In sport, and more or less only in sport, we can cast our eyes once again over 

the sepia-tinted heroscape of lost youth

Simon Barnes at the Beijing Olympics: The Times

Hi everyone!

When you are 5 (OK, very nearly 6) a day watching cricket can be tiring.

And so it was that - not too long after he had got back Home - the Young Boy lay in bed and thought back over his Very First Day at Cricket.

It really had been A Lollapalooza of a day!

Though he could not even begin to imagine it, 7 June 1958 – exactly 60 years ago today – had all the ingredients that were to form the basis of lots of the very best days at Cricket over the many, many years ahead:

Good Weather: It was gloriously sunny on that Saturday long, long ago!

Good Company: The Young Boy – even when he grew Old – loved nothing better than watching with Friends. And his Dad was the Best Friend he would ever have!

Good Cricket: Kent v Sussex at the Nevill, Tunbridge Wells is always a closely fought game between Old Rivals!

Good Picnic: Steady on the Salad, please. The Young Boy’s Mum had catered accordingly!

The Young Boy and his Dad had set off from Farmcombe Road at just before 10.30, for in those days County games started at 11.30 rather than the 11.00 of more recent years.

Along Cavendish Drive and over the footbridge that crosses the Tunbridge Wells to Hastings railway line, within little more than 10 minutes they were at the Nevill Ground.

They bought a scorecard.

The Dad knew about several of the Kent players: Stuart Leary, Alan Brown & Colin Page.

And rather more about the Sussex players: captain Robin Marlar, Alan Oakman (from Hastings, like the Young Boy), Ken Suttle, Ian Thomson and Richard Langridge (son of former Sussex stalwart Jim Langridge).

They settled into their seats at the Railway End, between the Sightscreen and the iconic marquees.

The Nevill, looking towards the Railway End

The iconic marquees on the left

What can I tell you about the Nevill?

Well, EW 'Jim' Swanton, latterly Cricket Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph and the doyen of cricket writers in the 40 years after WWII, said the Nevill "is no mean contender for the most delectable of cricket grounds."

The Nevill is famous for its rhodendrons

Sussex won the toss and chose to bat.

The first Sussex wicket fell at 20: Langridge bowled for 20 by Ridgway.

And the second at 58: Don Smith LBW Ridgway for 30. 
(Editor: at the date this blog is published, Don is the Oldest Living England Test player.)

The Young Boy heard the announcer say the name of the incoming Sussex Batsmen.

Aged 26, the son and nephew of two former Sussex players and already a England Test player, the Sussex No. 4 was THE player whom the Young Boy had come to see.

Though he had never been to a County game before, the Young Boy knew all about Heroes & Legends. 
And the difference between them:  

He well-knew that the No.4 was already a Legend to his Mum.

And he knew that to be a Legend you Must Have:

Performance: the incoming batsman would end his career with over 36,000 runs, almost 1,100 catches and 93 stumpings. Not to mention 51 wickets; and 46 Tests for England!

Panache: a flamboyant confidence of style or manner. 
‘Lord’ Ted Dexter himself would write of the No.4: “You could pick out his style from a mile away, open stanced with his hands high on the handle. No furrowed brow for this prince of sweet ball strikers.”

Delivery:  you must be able to deliver when it really, really matters.

And so it was that - with the Young Boy looking intently on - the No. 4 took guard at the Pavilion end and looked round the outfield.

As Fred Ridgway ran in from the Railway end it was: Time to Deliver!!

There was only the one shot to play: the one bounce 4 through midwicket into the marquees.

And the Sussex Legend played the shot to perfection, the ball ending up barely 25 yards from where the Young Boy and his Dad were sitting. 
John Pretlove, the Kent No. 4 and 5 times UK national singles Rugby Fives champion, retrieved the ball.   

What an innings it was.

Soon into his stride, the No.4’s score rapidly reached 30 and then 50 not too long thereafter.

Would he make a Century?

Sitting next to the Young Boy and his Dad, a mum and her daughter were Sussex fans who had driven up from near Chichester.

As the Tea interval and a Century both approached, the Deal was done: a Century by Tea would lead to the mum giving the Young Boy a piece of her Carrot Cake  - with extra frosted cream cheese!!

With 2 balls remaining Tea, a wonderful cover drive brought up the Century.

Was the Carrot Cake the Best Ever?
 #NeverInDoubt !!

Not too long into the final session of the day and the No.4’s innings was over.

The scorecard will show Forever: JM Parks c Catt bowled Brown 127

Young Jim at the Nevill

….

The Young Boy’s Mum came upstairs to Kiss him Goodnight.

“So you enjoyed your day, Richard?”

“Oh, Mum. I’ve had a Great Day.”

“Did you have a Favourite Player?”

“Young Jim, Mum. He scored a Century. He’s my Favourite Player.”

“Mine too, Son. Mine too.”

====

Maybe you can afford to wait.

Maybe for you there's a tomorrow.

Maybe for you there's one thousand tomorrows, or three thousand, or ten, so much time you can bathe in it, roll around it, let it slide like coins through your fingers.

So much time you can waste it.
But for some of us there's only today. 

And the truth is, you never really know.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

When you are 65 (OK, very nearly 66) a day watching cricket can be tiring.

And so it was that the Old Boy felt his eyes beginning to close.

No shame in that up at the Cromwell Road end at his beloved Hove where many a spectator has a gentle nap after lunch.

The Old Boy thought - as his often did – of the many games he had watched and of the great cricketers he had seen.

Of course, it is invidious to compare cricketers from different eras. Each former player is forever in their own ‘sepia-tinted heroscape of lost youth.’ 
But there’s no doubt that the No. 4 would have been at ease in modern times. A certain pick for the Aussie Big Bash and the Indian IPL; and the well-deserved riches they bring.

He knew only too well that none of us know how many Todays remain.

(Editor: We all know that Lord Ric is already booked in for the lunch in May 2039 – when he will be a mere 87 -  to celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of the founding of Sussex County Cricket Club; the Oldest professional cricket club in the world and the Best!!)

The Old Boy hadn’t nodded off for that long - honestly!! - when a wicket fell and he heard the announcer say the name of the incoming Sussex No.4.

Time to start watching again for: “The incoming batsman is Jim Parks”

He'd only ever had the one Favourite Player.

With Young Jim at the wicket  ... It really was going to be A Lollapalooza of a day!

---

With charmed strokes. And abstractedly watching,

Drowning, I struggle to shake off the past

Whose arms clasp like a mother, catching

Up with me, summer at half-mast

JM Parks at Tunbridge Wells by Alan Ross

Jim Senior: Cricket's a game, son, and a game to be enjoyed!

Young Jim & his Dad

So, dear reader, how about coming and watching some Cricket with me?

I can’t promise you that Young Jim will be playing.

Jim’s 86 now; though quite frankly Sussex’s top order this season could benefit from some of his runs!!

"One bounce 4 through midwicket into the marquees"

After all ….

Why read a Lord Ric Cricket Blog, when you can star in your own. 

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

Follow me on Twitter: LordRic52

PS

I still like my Picnics to be: Steady on the Salad !

A Pork Pie is always welcome; Obviously!!

And at Tea: Carrot Cake  - with extra frosted cream cheese !!