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The Week That Was ... June 11 - June 18
The Price of fish
Will Luke
June 18, 2006
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Once you've tasted international cricket, nothing else comes close. Much like cod and sardines in fact.
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The Price of fish
The price of fish these days is extortionate. Indeed, the ever-reliable cod has risen to £40 a stone, battering the local chippy out of business which leads us neatly onto Ray Price - Zimbabwean, dogged batsman, very useful left-arm spinner, you know the chap - who wants to play Test cricket again...for England. "You miss it [international cricket]," he said. "It's a bit like eating cod and then having to go back and eat sardines. Once you have tasted it, there is nothing like it."
Umpire strikes back
Umpires have a rubbish deal these days. All these whiz-bang technological improvements are fast reducing the poor white-coated wonder to that of a radio engineer behind the lines in a conflict. Never fear, Ryan Bardsley is here. Young Ryan - just 13 years old, from Astley Sports College near Dukinfield in Northern England - has become the youngest qualified umpire to officiate in a cricket match. Today, he takes charge of Dukinfield Under-13s against Glossop. "I'm really looking forward to the game," he told the London Metro newspaper. "I've been told some players might try it on but all I've got to remember is I have the best view."
Ganguly versus Pakistan
Sourav Ganguly instils fear, love and loathing among millions - something our feedback team are all too well aware of. How, then, will Pakistan react to the news that they will face him in a few week's time during Ganguly's brief stint with Northamptonshire? What a mouth-watering encounter that promises to be - not to mention a vital one for Pakistan: it's their only warm-up game in between the first and second Tests against England.
Was spielen sie?
As the rest of the world goes football World Cup crazy - in particular in London, where you can't move for the red-and-white of a dozen fluttering flags hanging forlornly out of shop windows (and even people's pants) - it was comforting to hear of a cricket match being played smack bang in the middle of Germany, between two opposing football team's supporters. Much like the Irish defied being trampled on at Stormont last week, so Trinidad & Tobago's footballers gave England a tougher time than many expected. Before last Thursday's 2-0 defeat, the Trinidadians gave an impressive account of themselves with willow in hand just outside Nuremburg; confused German folk watched, scratching their kopfs and tickling their kinns but remained none the wiser. Bill Frindall, Test Match Special's scorer and president of German Cricket, wasn't on hand to lend his wisdom.
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For now, fans visiting The Oval will have to buy their beer at the bar
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Yes sir, no sir, three bars full sir
In a depressingly predictable turn of events, The Oval has bowed down to the ICC's "ruling" in banning the "importation" of alcohol into the ground. You can, though, continue to buy beer, wine and so forth when safely ensconced inside the gates. Now then, this is all rather curious because The Oval (any ground, in fact) could have applied for exemption. Lord's did just this when the MCC were granted one in May after proving to the ICC that their alcohol management policy was strong enough. Either the executives at The Oval are utterly blind to this, or acutely aware of the potential revenue from the bars inside the ground. In a statement released by the club last week, they assured the public that "[the prices] of beer have NOT risen this season. In fact, they have remained the same for three years". Indeed.
Mine's a pint...of Ribena
Cricket grounds have changed beyond recognition even in the last decade. And in an attempt to keep their coffers afloat, clubs are increasingly introducing new and more innovative fundraising events and ideas. Kent were first off the blocks in hosting a concert by Elton John recently. And Gloucestershire announced last week that they are now catering for wedding parties where excited couples can have a "wicket ceremony" (their words, not ours). Even wicketer, though, is the news that Nottinghamshire have introduced a crèche at Trent Bridge for the Twenty20 cup. No doubt milk and Ribena, assuming the latter hasn't yet been banned by the ministry of madness, will be available on tap at the bars.
Will Luke is editorial assistant of Cricinfo
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