February 27, 2022, 4:53 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized
His death has been announced. Might this be the best of tributes?
The match finished on a Thursday, the tourists had Friday free and on Saturday they had a bit of fun in Southampton scoring 539-4 declared in 142 overs (all bowled in one day). Roy Marshall scored 135 and the rest is (Hampshire) history.
Simon Heffer, somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun but often amusing about cricket is having a rant in the Telegraph today about the decision of the MCC to axe the Eton v Harrow and Oxford U v Cambridge U matches from Lord’s. His distress is based on something called “tradition” and he’s concerned about the impact on Lord’s, saying “If, one by one, the heritage fixtures that have created this aura around Lord’s ground are removed, Lord’s becomes just another Test ground, no different from the Ageas Bowl”. Cheeky huh?
Perhaps the Bowl should offer to host the Universities match to start a new tradition. There’s already a link, as the land was previously owned by Queen’s College, Oxford before being acquired for what was then called the Rose Bowl.
In July 1939 the cricket fixture schedule was reorganised due to the immanent threat of war. This lead to the Middlesex v Notts game on July 15,17 and 18 being moved to the Oval so that Lord’s would be available for the Eton v Harrow match. No doubt Simon Heffer would say that people had a better sense of priorities in those days.
Comment by Colin Price
February 28, 2022 @ 3:46 pm
He also grumbles that removing the Universities from the first-class games has had an impact on the quality of English cricket – he’s probably remembering those wonderful undergraduates of a couple of seasons past May, Cowdrey, Dexter (etc). And what about Gentlemen v Players for goodness sake!
If the MCC/Lords is no longer home to traditional cricket fixtures then over to an XI from Hambledon to challenge an England XI? Before or after harvest time to suit…time for a new and improved inclusive tradition!
Hampshire Cricket History 
Simon Heffer, somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun but often amusing about cricket is having a rant in the Telegraph today about the decision of the MCC to axe the Eton v Harrow and Oxford U v Cambridge U matches from Lord’s. His distress is based on something called “tradition” and he’s concerned about the impact on Lord’s, saying “If, one by one, the heritage fixtures that have created this aura around Lord’s ground are removed, Lord’s becomes just another Test ground, no different from the Ageas Bowl”. Cheeky huh?
Comment by Dave Allen February 28, 2022 @ 11:40 amPerhaps the Bowl should offer to host the Universities match to start a new tradition. There’s already a link, as the land was previously owned by Queen’s College, Oxford before being acquired for what was then called the Rose Bowl.
Comment by Hedgehog February 28, 2022 @ 1:10 pmGood idea Hedgehog. The more longer-form games we have at the Bowl the better.
Comment by James February 28, 2022 @ 1:33 pmMorning dress? Top hats? We might even be allowed to perambulate on the outfield during the lunch intervals
Comment by Dave Allen February 28, 2022 @ 3:40 pmIn July 1939 the cricket fixture schedule was reorganised due to the immanent threat of war. This lead to the Middlesex v Notts game on July 15,17 and 18 being moved to the Oval so that Lord’s would be available for the Eton v Harrow match. No doubt Simon Heffer would say that people had a better sense of priorities in those days.
Comment by Colin Price February 28, 2022 @ 3:46 pmDelightful!! No doubt indeed! Cheers
Comment by Dave Allen February 28, 2022 @ 5:12 pmHe also grumbles that removing the Universities from the first-class games has had an impact on the quality of English cricket – he’s probably remembering those wonderful undergraduates of a couple of seasons past May, Cowdrey, Dexter (etc). And what about Gentlemen v Players for goodness sake!
Comment by Dave Allen February 28, 2022 @ 5:14 pmIf the MCC/Lords is no longer home to traditional cricket fixtures then over to an XI from Hambledon to challenge an England XI? Before or after harvest time to suit…time for a new and improved inclusive tradition!
Comment by stephenfh February 28, 2022 @ 7:23 pm