It's a knockout
Caravans stop play and play stops pigeon
Jenny Roesler
26-May-2008
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Toothless display
With the IPL bandwagon in full charge, gloom-mongers are all too quick (rightly or wrongly) to compare Test cricket to pulling teeth. But what about pushing them? New Zealand's Daniel Flynn had a second Test to forget when a James Anderson bouncer knocked out a tooth - even though he was wearing a helmet. Flynn had surgery but was readmitted to hospital as he was sick several times. Sky Sports' slo-mo repeats of the tooth hitting the turf would not have helped.
With the IPL bandwagon in full charge, gloom-mongers are all too quick (rightly or wrongly) to compare Test cricket to pulling teeth. But what about pushing them? New Zealand's Daniel Flynn had a second Test to forget when a James Anderson bouncer knocked out a tooth - even though he was wearing a helmet. Flynn had surgery but was readmitted to hospital as he was sick several times. Sky Sports' slo-mo repeats of the tooth hitting the turf would not have helped.
Coo de grace
In another big blow at The Oval, a pigeon was struck dead at deep third man while Sussex were fielding against Surrey. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan carried it off to applause from a displaced members' stand over in the OCS. Matt Nicholson's scythe, which caused the damage, was, appropriately, a late cut.
In another big blow at The Oval, a pigeon was struck dead at deep third man while Sussex were fielding against Surrey. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan carried it off to applause from a displaced members' stand over in the OCS. Matt Nicholson's scythe, which caused the damage, was, appropriately, a late cut.
Money and candy for Billy Bowden?
Don't be alarmed, but Billy Bowden could soon be selling sweets to children. The flamboyant umpire, already the face of the Arthritis New Zealand campaign, has now been snapped up as a brand personality by Indian communications agency Creatigies. "We felt that here was a guy who could appeal to the child - candy, chewing gum, energy drinks - or the financial sector," said Creatigies CEO Navroze Dhondy, who then related the following tale: "Today we met for lunch in a mall in a suburb of Delhi. He was mobbed in his Bermudas and t-shirt. He was immediately recognised. Girls and children came running to him, saying: "We love you, you are so good, we love the way you give a 4 or a 6." And how, pray tell us Mr Dhondy, does Billy take the attention? "He loves it."
Don't be alarmed, but Billy Bowden could soon be selling sweets to children. The flamboyant umpire, already the face of the Arthritis New Zealand campaign, has now been snapped up as a brand personality by Indian communications agency Creatigies. "We felt that here was a guy who could appeal to the child - candy, chewing gum, energy drinks - or the financial sector," said Creatigies CEO Navroze Dhondy, who then related the following tale: "Today we met for lunch in a mall in a suburb of Delhi. He was mobbed in his Bermudas and t-shirt. He was immediately recognised. Girls and children came running to him, saying: "We love you, you are so good, we love the way you give a 4 or a 6." And how, pray tell us Mr Dhondy, does Billy take the attention? "He loves it."
Caravans stop play
Cricket matches have been interrupted by all manner of interventions over the years - dogs, cows, even penguins, to name but a few examples - but a game couldn't even get underway in Kent last week because of ... caravans. Gypsies have moved in on the public ground, South Road, in Hythe, and the local club, Hythe CC, has in its turn turned into travelers, being forced to relocate a third-team match from the caravan-infested pitch to one of the Medway grounds. It is believed an injunction is around the corner.
Cricket matches have been interrupted by all manner of interventions over the years - dogs, cows, even penguins, to name but a few examples - but a game couldn't even get underway in Kent last week because of ... caravans. Gypsies have moved in on the public ground, South Road, in Hythe, and the local club, Hythe CC, has in its turn turned into travelers, being forced to relocate a third-team match from the caravan-infested pitch to one of the Medway grounds. It is believed an injunction is around the corner.
Not cricket
One person who's not letting things get in the way of his enjoyment of the game is John Howard, Australia's former prime minister. Howard was watching Australia's first Test against West Indies when news came through that his house in New South Wales had been broken into. He waved play on. Meanwhile, Japan's team had £1000 worth of valuables stolen at the cricket ground they were playing at in England. A thief removed items from their kit bags while they were playing an MCC side at Knebworth Park CC last Tuesday.
One person who's not letting things get in the way of his enjoyment of the game is John Howard, Australia's former prime minister. Howard was watching Australia's first Test against West Indies when news came through that his house in New South Wales had been broken into. He waved play on. Meanwhile, Japan's team had £1000 worth of valuables stolen at the cricket ground they were playing at in England. A thief removed items from their kit bags while they were playing an MCC side at Knebworth Park CC last Tuesday.
Play it again, Shane?
It's enough to strike terror into England, Shane Warne threatening an Ashes comeback. Although Michael Slater dismissed Warne's speculation as "all fantasy", not everyone is ruling it out. But another rumour, that Pakistan batsman Younis Khan was going to play for Western Australia, was quickly dispatched for good.
It's enough to strike terror into England, Shane Warne threatening an Ashes comeback. Although Michael Slater dismissed Warne's speculation as "all fantasy", not everyone is ruling it out. But another rumour, that Pakistan batsman Younis Khan was going to play for Western Australia, was quickly dispatched for good.
Meanwhile, Warne was apparently caught smoking in a banned area during the IPL and now he has an NGO on his back. The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) has demanded a BCCI inquiry into Warne smoking at a ground, and that Warne promise "no public display of his disgusting vice". "We demand that act of Warne should be promptly reported to ICC as well as appropriate authorities in Australia," NOTE puffed.
Quotehanger
"It is a $5 bit of cloth. I haven't got one, haven't had one since the day I finished. I don't need to look at an Australian cap to remind me of what I did."
Ian Chappell isn't getting sentimental about his (lack of) baggy green.
"It is a $5 bit of cloth. I haven't got one, haven't had one since the day I finished. I don't need to look at an Australian cap to remind me of what I did."
Ian Chappell isn't getting sentimental about his (lack of) baggy green.
Jenny Roesler is an assistant editor at Cricinfo