So Memory weaves a charm to keep

 

The ivy climbs by brick and stone

About the buttressed Hall;

So Memory weaves a charm to keep

Her servitors in thrall.

 

And whiskered leopards think with awe

Of Bab-el-Mandeb's Straits

Where in the days of long ago

They wrestled with the fates.

The Leopard Song by Percy Shaw Jeffrey

Hi everyone!

If it had been another County visiting, I might well not have gone along …

But – just as they were on my First Ever visit to cricket at Hove back in May 1960 - the latest visitors to the South Coast were Yorkshire.

Ever since the Fixtures for 2023 had been published, I had been planning to watch for a couple of days.

I had a longstanding work engagement on Thursday - Day 1.

On the Thursday evening, the Met Office weather forecast for the Friday – Day 2 was for rain much of the day. Because a friend of mine had a long journey to make to get to the ground, we decided to cancel.

In fact, we would have seen all but an hour’s play.

And so it was that  - shortly before 08.30 on Saturday morning  - I left Merryfield and walked to Chislehurst station to catch the 08.47 to London Bridge & then the Thameslink down to Brighton.

There was just time to walk down Queen’s Road into Sainsbury’s Local to buy a Pork Pie.

[ Editor: In a Lord Ric blog …Has there ever not been time to buy a Pork Pie?]

I caught the No.7 bus via Seven Dials.

And by just after 10.30 I was in prime position… Watching from the Deckchairs up at the Cromwell Road.

A mere 3,285 weeks since I had watched the Yorkshire game with Dad … I was within a few yards of where we had been sitting that Saturday long, long ago!

All set to go!

At start of play on Day 3 the game was well-balanced.

Helped by 95 from Tom Alsop and a 57 run last wicket stand from Carson and Crocombe, Sussex had scored 361.

Yorkshire were 216 for 7; with 3 wickets remaining, 145 runs behind.

Yorkshire did well to get to 298, helped by No.11 Ben Coad scoring 45, including 5 sixes. Jack Carson took 5 for 79.

As Sussex’s second innings started, they were 63 runs ahead, which they increased to 102 before the first wicket fell.

Ali Orr was unlucky to be run out for 26 by a straight drive by opening partner Tom Haines which the bowler, Ben Coad, deflected onto the stumps.

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Up in the Deckchairs it had indeed been a day when Memory weaves a charm to keep her servitors in thrall.

As I walked round the outfield in the Tea interval, I saw several youngsters playing softball cricket … just as Young Ric & his Dad had done all those years ago.

One day, Dad, I'm gonna play for Sussex & England !!

As many of you will know … I am passionate about Softball Cricket on the Outfield.

In the early part of Season 2022 …(unbelievably) it wasn’t allowed.

My oft-said view is that:

Just as Gibraltar will be lost if ever the Barbary Macaques leave the Rock, so will Sussex cricket be dead if ever softball cricket on the outfield is banned at Hove.

I am really, really pleased it has been re-introduced!!!

 

Of course, I thought of the players all those Seasons ago back in May 1960.

Mainly born in the 1930s, they were in their 20s then.

I hope that Father Time has treated them well.

Father Time is not always a hard parent and though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigour. 

With such people the grey head is but the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a notch in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life. 

Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens

The Visitors had a very strong XI.

Led by Vic Wilson, the first Professional to Captain them, Yorkshire would go on to win the Championship in 1960.

They had 7 Test players, including two future England Captains in Brian Close & Ray Illingworth.

And in Fred Trueman they had a tremendous fast bowler; who would be the first to take 300 Test wickets.

As for what one might term the “Not Outs”, 5 are still alive and I trust enjoying a long innings!!

 

And Sussex?

They too would have a good Season 1960, finishing 4^th in the Championship.

So many familiar Sussex Legends whom I would watch regularly throughout the 1960s …

Alan ‘Oaky’ Oakman, Les Lesham, Ken Suttle, Tony Buss.

The heart of the team were the Captain & Wicketkeeper, the Nos3 and 4: Lord Ted Dexter & Young Jim Parks.

I’m probably never going to select my Sussex Alltime Dream XI without Ted as Captain and batting No.3.

And – trust me - Jim ALWAYS keeps wicket and bats at No.7!!

That Saturday Ted  - in his first game at Hove as newly appointed Captain - was in wonderful form.

Did he really hit Fred Trueman first ball through cover for 4? Must have done !!

Certainly, the score book will record forever: ER Dexter caught Illingworth bowled Platt for 96

And Jim?

When you’re a little boy aged 7 and a Hero comes to the wicket …

Well, you are only thinking about what you’ll be writing in your blog 60 years on!!

The No.4 was off the mark with a single off bowler Brian Close, to fine leg – just near where Dad & I were sitting.

The next over he took guard to face Fred Trueman - bowling down the hill from the Cromwell Road end …

The Scorecard never lies: JM Parks bowled Trueman for 1

I cried  … Dad consoled me.

It was a hard, but necessary Lesson to learn …

Even the Best Players don’t score a 100 every time they bat.

As I learnt that day when my Favourite Player was out for 1 …

Heartaches are to be Born with Fortitude.

Plenty of lives well-lived amongst those well-loved names …

 

This Season is the 60^th anniversary of Sussex winning the first Gillette cup in 1963.

Let’s hope that there will be a Celebration Lunch … with Les & Tony as Guests of Honour!!

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After my stroll round the outfield, it was time to face up to reality.

Having lost their first wicket at 41, Sussex contrived to score but 96 more to be all out for a very modest 137.

The innings included 7 LBWs. Sussex have played at the county Ground since 1872. Only once have there been more LBWs in an innings – against Essex in 1992.

As Yorkshire started their 2^nd Innings they needed 201 to win.

They fought well, recovering from 39 for 3 to score 99 more without loss.

At 138 for 3, 63 runs are needed with 7 wickets remaining.

 

It had been a tremendous day Watching from the Deckchairs !!

The weather forecast for Sunday is for rain much of the day…

But … if does clear up and there is time for some play …

There’s only the One Winner for me !!

Come on, the Mighty Sussex !!

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Season 2023 is in its infancy.

Time to get your Diary out …

How about a day with me Watching from the Deckchairs?

After all…

Nobody ever looked back over their Life

And wished they had spent less time Watching from the Deckchairs

I can’t promise you a very close game, with Sussex just winning.

Though it surely will be by the time I write the Blog !!

After all ….

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

See you soon!!

Lord Ric of Beckley Furnace

 

PS

On the train back from Brighton to East Croydon and then Tram and Bus across South London to Bickley, it was a time for Reflection.

I thought of what  - 2,000 and more Seasons ago - Virgil wrote:

 

Here’s hoping I’ve still got a decent number of Not Out Seasons still to come … …