When I’d rather be at home than at the cricket. Not many but this was one
So I am (3.35pm)
I was having a day off from my radio duties today, as Viper Charlotte Taylor made her debut with Kevan, so I was sat very close to where Jo was yesterday but I was disguised as a statue of Rachel Heyhoe-Flint so not recognised
“Raise the Bat” it says – so Holland obliged.
Vince looked sublime (again) but then got out, and I saw too much of this (and more). The wind meanwhile, is even wilder down in Pompey.
There is a look of desperation in the batting as a score needs to be put on the board and get Leicester in to accrue bowling points?. Somerset and Gloucester may come out with a draw which helps them both. I would have like to have seen a winner there…
Watching the golf at the US PGA and the wind is howling there too, albeit accompanied by sunshine. Some golfers seem to thrive in foul weather, having experienced it growing up, or due to flexibility in shot-making, etc. Are there cricketers who have performed consistently well in bad weather? (Anecdotally, of course, don’t suppose there are stats.)
I suspect there aren’t any statistics but most obviously there are examples of players who were particularly effective in the old days of uncovered pitches. These were most lethal when rain on a hard pitch created a difficult surface, especially when hot sun then turned it ‘sticky’. There are many examples – one obvious one is Derek Underwood, last day v Australia at the Oval in 1968 (7-50). Derek Shackleton was also very effective in damp seasons like 1954, 1956 & 1958 (although he was pretty good on anything!). Jim Laker’s 19-90 for England v Australia in 1956 at Old Trafford is another good example, but there were batsmen who learned to play well on such pitches – generally playing with soft hands. Aussie Colin McDonald played well in that game. In two innings he scored 121 (32 & 89) from the twenty wickets total by Australia of 289.
That’s a proper answer – fantastic knowledge. Thanks very much. Being new to Hampshire, I’ve heard/seen you mention Shackleton a few times recenty – reckon I’d best read up on him. Any recommendations? (And please don’t be modest if it’s your work.)
Interesting. Other articles suggest that Hobbs, Trumper, McCabe and Sutcliffe were all better than Bradman on sticky dogs. So, would that be due to their provenance or technique. Is Bradman’s Bowral drier than Hobbs’ Cambridge?
Great stat! New one to me. I suspect someone like Herbert Sutcliffe, playing on uncovered pitches in Yorkshire was pretty good at it. One of our best was Neville Rogers but Barry Richards who didn’t grow up in Yorkshire was a master.
How on earth did I miss saying hello to you when you were that nearby!? I hope I didn’t manage to walk by you without recognising you……..I mistakenly thought you had decided to give today a miss (as if), I really should have known better.
Did you manage to get this one on camera……..my work was a bit wobbly (I blame the adverse weather conditions)
Hampshire Cricket History 
You’ve caught us sitting in the CIM stand trying to stay warm!
Comment by Paul Summers May 20, 2021 @ 2:50 pmThere is a look of desperation in the batting as a score needs to be put on the board and get Leicester in to accrue bowling points?. Somerset and Gloucester may come out with a draw which helps them both. I would have like to have seen a winner there…
Comment by Bill Seager May 20, 2021 @ 3:05 pmWatching the golf at the US PGA and the wind is howling there too, albeit accompanied by sunshine. Some golfers seem to thrive in foul weather, having experienced it growing up, or due to flexibility in shot-making, etc. Are there cricketers who have performed consistently well in bad weather? (Anecdotally, of course, don’t suppose there are stats.)
Comment by Chris Davis May 20, 2021 @ 3:31 pmI suspect there aren’t any statistics but most obviously there are examples of players who were particularly effective in the old days of uncovered pitches. These were most lethal when rain on a hard pitch created a difficult surface, especially when hot sun then turned it ‘sticky’. There are many examples – one obvious one is Derek Underwood, last day v Australia at the Oval in 1968 (7-50). Derek Shackleton was also very effective in damp seasons like 1954, 1956 & 1958 (although he was pretty good on anything!). Jim Laker’s 19-90 for England v Australia in 1956 at Old Trafford is another good example, but there were batsmen who learned to play well on such pitches – generally playing with soft hands. Aussie Colin McDonald played well in that game. In two innings he scored 121 (32 & 89) from the twenty wickets total by Australia of 289.
Comment by Dave Allen May 20, 2021 @ 6:23 pmThat’s a proper answer – fantastic knowledge. Thanks very much. Being new to Hampshire, I’ve heard/seen you mention Shackleton a few times recenty – reckon I’d best read up on him. Any recommendations? (And please don’t be modest if it’s your work.)
Comment by Chris Davis May 20, 2021 @ 7:36 pmVery interesting Dave about uncovered pitches. There is one statistic here Don Bradman averaged 119.90 in tests on dry wickets and 20.29 on rain affected wickets. http://www.cricketweb.net/the-curious-case-of-the-don-and-the-sticky-wicket/
Comment by Sean May 20, 2021 @ 8:12 pmInteresting. Other articles suggest that Hobbs, Trumper, McCabe and Sutcliffe were all better than Bradman on sticky dogs. So, would that be due to their provenance or technique. Is Bradman’s Bowral drier than Hobbs’ Cambridge?
Comment by Chris Davis May 20, 2021 @ 8:48 pmGreat stat! New one to me. I suspect someone like Herbert Sutcliffe, playing on uncovered pitches in Yorkshire was pretty good at it. One of our best was Neville Rogers but Barry Richards who didn’t grow up in Yorkshire was a master.
Comment by Dave Allen May 21, 2021 @ 5:29 amHow on earth did I miss saying hello to you when you were that nearby!? I hope I didn’t manage to walk by you without recognising you……..I mistakenly thought you had decided to give today a miss (as if), I really should have known better.
Did you manage to get this one on camera……..my work was a bit wobbly (I blame the adverse weather conditions)
Great shot Jo. I couldn’t immediately work it out. I was a bit more square ( unlike the 1960s) my view obscured by the umpire’s bum – so thanks.
Comment by Dave Allen May 21, 2021 @ 5:27 amDifficult to spot people when we’re all masked up!
Comment by dmashala May 21, 2021 @ 7:37 am