Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
For Cricket Fans:
Samuel played two First Class games for Dublin University against Northamptonshire in 1925 and 1926, scoring 35 runs in his four innings and conceding 64 runs without taking a wicket.
He is the only Nobel Prize winner to have played First Class cricket.
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Hi everyone!
First Game of Season 2024.
AND ...
The first day for me of Season 65 watching from my beloved deckchairs up at the Cromwell Road end at Hove Actually.
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It was always going to be a day of Nostalgia.
I know, I know … Nostalgia just isn’t what it was !!!
I was up early for there were Chores to do.
I dropped off a parcel for EVRI
collection at the Co-Op in Western Road.
Where I did my first good deed of the day: I told the lady in front
of me that I couldn’t get the label printer to work either !
Paid in a couple of cheques to NatWest in Church Road.
And headed to Gwydir Barbers in Palmeira Square – “Closed today due to staff sickness”.
No time to waste … I tried Charlie Clark Barbers.
Barber Keith was free; and we soon
starting chatting.
Born in Durban, South Africa, Keith is cricket fan too.
He was at school with Allan Lamb, who played for England &
Northamptonshire (Sussex’s opponents) in the 1980s. In a poll in 2020 Lamby was
voted Northamptonshire’s Greatest Player.
Keith’s Aunt married Barry Richards,
the best batter I have ever seen at Hove. He was also chosen by Don Bradman as
a member of his 20th century team as an opening batsman.
More on Barry in a Blog later this Season.
Keith said “Hope Sussex do well !”; and I was on my way.
By 10.50 I was wandering through the Palmeira Avenue Gates … in good time for an eleven o’clock start.
Only to hear the Steward telling me that a wet outfield meant no play before lunch.
A couple of pitch inspections later and
by early afternoon we were good to go.
Just to the left of the sightscreen.
In the white floppy hat.
Yes… the Ol’ Boy with his eyes closed !!
As I sat in my deckchair by the sightscreen, it was time for a Moment of Reflection.
Exactly as Godot knew: The essential doesn’t change
Ø Memories … Of #SussexLegends from long, long ago
No one was needing to invent Bazball when Greigy & Lord Ted were playing !
Ø Hope … Like all Sussex Fans, at the start of every Season I’ve got plenty !!
What did Emily Dickinson write:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
Ø A Tinge of Regret … Would that there were 65 more Seasons for me !!
Editor:
Oh come on, Ol’ Ric – stay positive !
It is the Summer of 2039. You turn 87 and Sussex celebrates its 200th Birthday.
We all know that you are already booked in for the Celebration
Lunch.
And … you’ve already written down your Sussex Alltime Dream XI,
haven’t you !!!
Remind us … Who is keeping wicket & batting No. 7 ??!!
Out on the pitch Northamptonshire recovered from 66 for 2; both wickets falling to Sussex debutante Jayden Seales, who plays for the West Indies.
It was good to see Ollie Robinson after several months of ‘troubled times’ running in well down the hill.
For Northants Luke Procter with 92 and
Karun Nair with 57 (the quickest batsman to hit a
maiden triple-hundred in Test cricket history in term of number of matches
played) were the main contributors to a total of
371.
Seales took 4 for 86, with 3
wickets for Coles (who looked to have really gained confidence from winter
coaching from former England off-spinner Graeme Swann) and 2 for Robinson.
On Day 2 the Sussex Cricket Museum had its seasonal re-opening.
Guests of Honour were Family Lenham: son Neil, grandson Archie & grandad Les.
Les was playing in the first game I saw at Hove that Saturday now long, long ago in May 1960.
No shame in being out for 47 caught Trueman bowled Close.
I remember that the score was 140
when the second wicket fell.
But for the life of me … I can’t remember who the Sussex No. 4 was !
Editor:
Oh come on, Ol’ Ric – the No.4 was out for just 1 bowled Trueman.
You know exactly who he was !!
What did you write back in 2015:
“ 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.”
Looking round the Museum one of
their wonderful booklets caught my eye:
I am now the proud owner on No. 130 of a limited edition on 150.
There are some wonderful stories … Don’t worry you’ll be hearing them ALL very soon !!!
The Sussex innings was led by Tom Haines
scoring 133.
His 10th First Class
century, encouraging to see him back on good form after (using his words) a below par
Season 2023.
Might England beckon?
By the end of Day 3 the game was evenly poised.
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Work commitments meant I had to follow the game online on Day 4.
It ‘ended’ with Northamptonshire on 170 for 9, just 63 runs ahead.
In fact the game had to finish early because of Bad Light.
Oh yes, I can sense you thinking: What about the Floodlights? Why weren’t they on, as in the past few seasons?
Well, Up in the Deckchairs we do like
a Good Controversy.
Was it a cost saving?
Or a sensible decision based mainly of the appropriateness or otherwise of playing red ball cricket under floodlights?
Has anyone got £1 million for new LED lights which are quicker to turn on ?
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Season 2024 is in its very 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
Dozing up in the Deckchairs
PS
In the Museum there is a new
exhibition of photos from Arthur Smallwood.
The wonderful photos – including the
one of Greigy & Lord Ted in this Blog – are of players from the 1960s &
1970s.
More photos and tales in blogs
later this Season.
Also in the Museum is an exhibition
on Tony Buss, one of my favourite Sussex players.
The Scorecard is from Royal Navy v
Royal Navy at Lord’s in August 1962.
The RAF No.7 was Leading Aircaftman
A Buss.
The following year Tony would be
back at Lord’s to win the first Gillette cup for the Mighty Sussex.
The RAF No.5 was wicketkeeper and
captain Squadron Leader MD Fenner.
You may not have heard of Maurice.
33
Matches with 708 runs at an average of 15 with 47 catches and 13 stumpings.
BUT ..
If (Editor: surely ... When) you
come to my Funeral Service you will hearing about the Squadron Leader.
Only time for the one Cricket Top
Tale at the Funeral.
And – by one of those AMAZING co-incidences
that so often occur in a Lord Ric Blog – Maurice was playing in my Favourite Game Ever!
In fact, he played a crucial part
even before the game started…
OK … Of course, you could wait until
the Funeral.
But … Remember I am already booked
in to the Sussex 200th Celebration Lunch in Summer 2039.
So … Why not come & watch some
cricket with me this Season … and hear what did Really Happen in my Favourite
Game Ever ??!!
I've saved a Deckchair for
YOU !!!
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