No 20, September 7th 2020. The Virtual Wisdener
The Newsletter of the Wisden Collectors’ Club
hen I told my family that following the last edi on of the VW I had received have a new challenge and I what could only be described as ‘almost hate mail’ (well, a lot of strongly- W know that every single one worded emails and five telephone calls), Libby looked at me with loving concern and I of you is going to say one of said ‘Can you drive me back to Uni on the 10th please?’ Abbey, the eldest and most two things. like me (for which I am so so so sorry), responded with, ‘Can we have roast pork on ‘Yippee, A New Challenge’ or Sunday?’ And Lorraine, life-partner, best friend, fellow long-walker and all-round ‘Not another one.’ stunningly beau ful woman commented, ‘What have you done now?’
Like me you are probably shocked and taken aback by the lack of support, but you So here it is: may also be wondering, why has poor young Bill been receiving such things as ‘almost Let us all look ahead 12 short hate mail.’ Well, let me take you back in me, guide you to a period when the world months and whether you are was, well - exactly the same as it is now; an era of cricket behind closed doors; of Australian or English, choose keeping your distance from friends and avoiding large crowds…yes I am talking about an 18-man squad to fight for the last VW newsle er, under two weeks ago. The 2021-22 Ashes. Your squad must contain two As my family o en tell me, I am the wi est, most sarcas c and humour-filled person wicket-keepers and you must they know…well actually they have never said that, in fact no one has, but let that not nominate a captain. I know it is knock us off track…in my desire to add a line of humour to the VW I suggested, no, I a li le unfair on Australian demanded that a new name for The Ashes be ins gated with immediate effect and my readers as you have had no sugges on was the Warne-Atherton-Sky Trophy, well that went down well, didn't cricket since the start of the it!!!!!! year but give it a go please. The only posi ve response I received was from someone at SKY, Maddock or One other proviso, the squad Murtagh…not sure really, who said it was the best idea he had ever heard and he is must contain two players that going to tell the democra cally elected body of people who control cricket to do it. It have never previously played will probably be announced in the next few days, a er an emergency mee ng with TEST cricket. the tle “CashCow says we have To Do This” takes place.
The Furmedges are on countdown. I am going to whisper this, but both girls are back Contact details on the back at University from Saturday and what is both refreshing and inspiring is the way both page. Universi es have engaged with the students in the run-up to arrival. Both are in their second year. Libs is a ‘Freshers Captain’ - in my day that meant someone who drove us The Next Auc on on a mythical boat around the many pubs in the area, but not now. On the main You have all waited pa ently for University of Trent campus they have second and third year students to ensure that the next auc on, so I delighted first years (the majority away from home for the first me) are regularly checked on, to say that in a few days an encouraged into social areas to mingle and given support, guidance and help in their email will be sent out with early weeks. It happened to Libby in her first year and the older students are s ll more details, including: friends today. Other universi es do this and it is lovely to know that, especially with so *Auc on start date much uncertainty around, that the experience of student life is star ng off so *Lots posi vely. *How to Bid
The same thing is happening with Abbey and she has thrown herself already into arranging things for the new arrivals, with the support of other older students and the So, please don't be offended if University. another email is sent soon. For Lorraine and I, we get the house to ourselves. Nothing much will change. Lorraine will s ll be doing her daily ‘on-zoom’ fitness classes, teaching and doing her personal The Auc on will be open to all training. Her ‘on-zoom’ classes mean that from 9 - 10.30am every day I avoid the Wisden Collectors’ club house, which is not a bad thing. I will do as I always do. members. If you are not a member and would like to take It will be very odd without the girls here, a er all it has been nearly six months and let part, please wait un l you get us all hope that all the good , and all the hard work and scarifies we have all made the email, which will have over that me result in no second wave and no more lockdowns. No ma er what further details on how you can. happens, we have shown we can be so much be er, so much kinder and so much more respec ul and that can't be bad Thank you for your pa ence Bill, Lorraine, Abbey and Libby (the la er two deser ng their loving father)
1 A Look at the 1987 Wisden
raeme Wright succeeded John Woodcock, who 1986 English summer and G stood down to become associate editor, and he delicately raises some immediately faced the same problems of cramming in interes ng points on the the ever-increasing programme of cricket. His first set ac ons and inves ga ons of Notes followed a depressing theme for English of those involved in cricket with reasons being sought for the poor looking at Botham standards. Gubby Allen, the former England player, previous misdemeanours received a special portrait for his knighthood that year. and the correla on or Vic Marks, the England and Somerset offspinner, made absence of, spectator his Almanack debut, with "Time present and me behaviour and how it is or past", illustra ng how much the modern player is now is not addressed. under the media spotlight. Meanwhile, Jim Laker, who Geoffrey Boyco re red took 193 Test wickets for England, died at the age of from cricket a er he was 64, the day before his old Test team-mate Bill Edrich. not offered a new contract by Yorkshire, despite him
The Palmer Report (a TCCB enquiry into the Standards finishing top of the Yorkshire averages with 890 runs at of Play of English Cricket in Test and First-Class County 52.35. He had amassed 29,485 career runs for the Cricket) was on the mind of the new Editor when he county at 58.27. wrote his notes. The report had concluded that the Australian bowler Jeff Thomson also announced his one-day game was the main reason for the decline of re rement. He took 200 Test wickets at an average of standards in the longer game, but Graeme Wright 28, 100 of which were England batsmen in Tests. In all wisely commented “ We live today in the age of the first-class cricket he took 675 wickets at 26.46. instant, be it the microwave oven, the fast-food outlet or the cricket match. So it seems inevitable that, if the Robert Bailey of Northants scored two double public wants ac on and a winner to cheer, a match it hundreds and reached 1915 season runs…and yet can watch from beginning to end, the coun es will didn't receive an England call-up. supply it; not only because there is public interest but Graeme Hick, referred to in the Wisden also because where there is public interest there will Worcestershire county notes as ‘the best batsman in be sponsors.” the world of his age’ scored over 2,000 first-class runs Wright also pointed out that even though the report including two consecu ve double centuries. had highlighted the one-day game as the reason, the Both Gordon Greenidge (Hampshire) and Martyn TCCB had introduced another limited-overs Moxon (Yorkshire) scored a hundred in each innings of compe on for the Second XIs. a first-class match. The Palmer report advised that young cricketers were Gordon Greenidge of Hampshire topped the first-class entering the first-class game underprepared, but as averages a er scoring 2,035 runs at 67.83. Sixty-one Wright wrote, “ I am reminded of the television batsman scored 1,000+ first-class runs in the English programme, Yes Minister, in which the Civil Service's domes c season. answer to any call for ac on was to set up an enquiry. By the me it had reached its conclusion, everyone Three bowlers took 100+ plus wickets in the English would have forgo en why it had been commissioned.” season. Malcolm Marshall taking 100 at 15.08 for Hampshire. Courtney Walsh with 118 at 18.17 A er eleven Tests without a win and abysmal 1986 (including 9-72 against Somerset at Bristol) and Neil home series defeats against both India and New Foster of Essex with 105 at 22.37. Zealand, England defied the odds to retain the Ashes on the 1986 - 1987 tour, this is men oned in the J.K. (John) Lever of Essex had bowling figures of 9-9, 2 Editor’s notes, but the full details would be in the 1988 wickets for 0 runs in the Essex v Cambridge University edi on. match.
The state of Australian cricket is men oned and the In the 1985-86 Australian season, covered in the 1987 fact that no Test match day during the 1986 matches almanack, Allan Border hit six centuries in scoring against India and New Zealand was a sell out enforces 1,247 runs at 73.35, his Queensland team-mate Kepler the belief that a strong Australia is needed in the Test Wessels scored 1,030 runs at 49.04. One other match arena. batsman, David Hookes of South Australia scored over a thousand runs, 1,001 at 47.66. England’s second successive 5-0 series defeat to the
West Indies is laid bare in all its detail in a forthright tour analysis. The 1987 Hardback has steadily risen in price over the years and a splendid 9/10 or be er edi on will be around £35-£40. The editor men ons the ban on Ian Botham that had A so back edi on around £20-£25) made him unavailable for all but the last Test of the
2 Mike Hendrick - Derbyshire and England
here have been mes in the life of Mike In 1979 Mike Hendrick, the Derbyshire bowler was T Hendrick when he has scratched his head and interviewed by Alan Lee and the then England fast-medium wondered if there has been something wrong bowler readily admi ed - “I began to wonder if I was in the with his bowling. It is comfor ng to know that the right job.” The VW is delighted to reprint the ar cle here. man himself cannot understand why this most If Eddie Barlow has been the strongest recent talented of England seam bowlers will so consistently influence, Hendrick recalls with affec on and make good batsmen look like park novices . . . amusement some of the earlier advice he received. without ge ng them out. Dennis Smith, the former Derbyshire coach, told his Hendrick has lost count of the mes people have aspiring young bowler: called him an unlucky bowler a er he has beaten the “The best thing thaa’ can do, lad, is get thee’sen wed.” outside edge so o en without hi ng it. He says that Brian Jackson, a predecessor in the county side, this label has led him into periods of self-doubt. “I have tackled Hendrick as he came out of the showers with a played more than 20 Tests,” he reminded me, “and glass of orange juice one day.
taken something over 70 wickets. But the drama c “You’ll be no good with that stuff — you’d best get analyses, like five or more wickets in an innings, too some ale down thee,” he urged. o en go to other bowlers. It must show that I’m consistent. But it also means I’m not a The first and most las ng cricket bowler who makes headlines. impressions were made by Hendrick’s father, who opened the a ack for “Some mes it is hard, when I’ve Darlington CC and might well have bowled a long spell on a good line and turned professional but for the length without taking a wicket, to see outbreak of war. “I went to watch him someone come on, pitch two feet play most Saturdays and Sundays, and outside off-stump, and the batsmen it was natural that I should develop an have a swing and get out. It has made interest. By the me I was 11, I was me think that perhaps I should give up playing in Darlington’s third team, and trying to be accurate, and just spray when we moved to Leicestershire I the ball around.” started making my way through the ranks of the Barlow was right. county.” Hendrick’s self-confidence was at its lowest in 1976. He Hendrick, in fact, played for Leicestershire Colts for was fortunate that the ideal cure arrived on his two years, spent another season in the Club and doorstep in the shape of Eddie Barlow (Pictured, Ground and Second XI and did so well that four other below) , who was beginning his three-year term as coun es expressed an interest in him. Derbyshire captain. “I was bowling at the first-teamers in the nets one “I had been in and out of the Saturday morning when Mike Turner, the secretary, England team, I had broken told me that Derbyshire were a er me, but that I was down too regularly and I began to talk to nobody without telling him first. At the me, to wonder if I was in the right Leicestershire seemed keen to keep me. I gave up my job. Eddie made me realise that I job with the electricity board and was set to devote was not doing myself jus ce. He myself to cricket. Then, at the end of that season, they told me some home truths and, said they didn’t want me. at the me, they hurt. “It came as a big blow but, by accident, I was playing “He had no complaints about for Derbyshire almost before I had me to worry about the way I bowled. But he told it. I met an old friend of my father when I was me that my a tude was wrong watching a match at Leicester and he asked me to and that I was not fit enough. I suppose I could have come and play for Derbyshire Seconds. I took a couple taken those sort of comments two ways, but of wickets in that game, they invited me back for a fortunately I just set myself to ge ng fit. I was far from month’s trial and I have been there ever since.”
being the only Derbyshire player in that posi on, and Hendrick graduated to Test cricket in 1974 and recalls within a year I was feeling the benefits. Since that chat his debut against India at Old Trafford for two reasons with Eddie, I have not broken down once and I can — both connected with the Indian all-rounder “Ekkie” honestly say I enjoy the game more. I am not only Solkar. “My first over for England began with two no- fi er, I’ve got a fresher outlook on cricket.” balls. The first legal delivery had Solkar caught by Bob
3 Willis at gully. Then, in the second innings, I took what English bowler to take an ODI five-for. is s ll the finest catch of my career — round the corner Then came the 1981 Ashes — Hendrick bowled Yallop at short-leg off Derek Underwood. Solkar was again the and Trevor Chappell in the first innings at Trent Bridge batsman”. but did nothing else and England lost the Test. England Perhaps it is only now, more than five years a er his included John Emburey in lieu of Hendrick at Lord’s: first Test, that Hendrick can feel reasonably secure of the Test was drawn. his England place. It is a feeling he wants to retain. “My With Willis seemingly injured Hendrick was almost a future is increasingly on my mind,” he says. “For any certainty for the third Test at Headingley. But Alec fast bowler of 30 years old it has to be. But I want to go Bedser insisted that Willis prove his fitness, which he on playing for England for as long as I’m good enough did. The day before the Test it was announced that and fit enough. I shall know when to get out of this Willis would play the Headingley Test. game — it will be the day that I realise I am just not enjoying it any more.” Hendrick made a comeback in the last Test at The Oval when Old was injured. He picked up 4 for 82 in the Hendrick, who is by no means the country bumpkin second innings (including three top-order batsmen). that his rural Derbyshire image might convey, thinks deeply about cricket and will not consider any future The Rebel Tour which totally divorces him from the game. He may well Money was always a crucial driving factor for Hendrick. become one of the few re red first-class players to He once said: “For too long, too many coun es have take up umpiring. taken advantage of players’ in-built love of the game. Well, a brain surgeon loves his job, no doubt, but he In the mean me he will go on enjoying his shoo ng in gets well paid for his skill. I like to think I am now a the Derbyshire dales — “It gets me right away from the cra sman who has served most of his appren ceship, pressures” — and try to spend more me with his but I know I will never stop learning.” wife, Kathleen, and his sons of six and four. He will con nue to drink decent beer and feast off his It was probably this that led him to become a part of favourite meal of roast beef and treacle sponge. the rebel tour of South Africa in 1981-82. The team Eventually, when he is no longer pounding in on that also included the likes of Boyco , Underwood, Gooch, kicking run and bea ng the bat with ball a er ball, Old, Emburey, and Alan Kno . As things turned out, people will realise just how good he was. Hendrick played in only two matches and he lost the —————————————————————— chance to play for England forever.
Post 1979 Career Finale Derbyshire gave Hendrick his benefit season in 1980. It Hendrick got a contract from No nghamshire in 1982 raised £ 36,050 pounds. However, it was from this and played for 3 more seasons. He played 34 matches season that his Test career began to go downhill spanning over 3 seasons and bowled superbly; he steadily. He picked up his only hat-trick against the picked up exactly 100 wickets for No nghamshire at touring West Indians early in the season at Chesterfield 16.81 and was deemed one of the best bowlers in the by removing Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, and Joel country at that point. Garner. By the me Hendrick reached his last season the The Tests, however, turned out to be a different story No nghamshire a ack was led by Richard Hadlee and altogether. Hendrick picked up 2 wickets from the first Clive Rice, which meant that Hendrick was reduced to two Tests and was dropped from the rest. He also bowling first-change (or some mes second-change, disappointed in the Centenary Test at Lord’s, picking up behind Kevin Cooper). Hendrick announced his a solitary wicket for the cost of 120 runs. re rement that season: even in his last match he routed Hampshire for 127 with figures of 18.1-12-17-5 In the first ODI of the 2-match Pruden al Trophy at Bournemouth. England scored 248 for 6 at The Oval. Botham decided to open with Old and Robin Jackman and he himself Post Cricket. came on first-change and even brought on Graham Mike Hendrick had successful coaching roles with Gooch. Then came Hendrick who clean bowled Allan Ireland and his old county Derbyshire. In 2019 he was Border, had Greg Chappell caught-behind, and bowled diagnosed and treated successfully for bowel cancer. Graham Yallop in a short burst, from 68 for 2 Australia had slumped to 75 for 5. Career Details The next wicket saw 86 runs being added before 267 First-Class matches, 770 wickets at 20.50, with Hendrick was brought back again; he immediately best bowling figures of 8-45. He scored 1,601 runs at removed Rodney Marsh and Dennis Lillee in successive 10.13 with a top score of 46. deliveries. Australia finished with 225 for 8 and He played in 30 Tests, taking 87 wickets at 25.83. Hendrick with 5 for 31. Hendrick became the first Scoring 128 runs at 6.40, with a top score of 15.
4 Floodlit Flop
he first ever compe on under lights to be Another li le Wisdener challenge - I challenge anyone to T entered by all 17 first-class coun es was tacked tell me that they remember anything about this on to the end of that momentous summer of 1981. compe on. There is a bo le of milk from the day a er The Ashes series had gripped the public and the the final match in 1981 for the best entry received. Twenty20 Cup wasn’t even a twinkle in a marke ng man’s eye. small, even for the finals night at Stamford Bridge, and it was dropped a er one year. Coverage in the press The context for this innova on by the TCCB was, of was cursory at best and it was afforded only six lines in course, the success of Kerry Packer’s World Series the 1982 Wisden (See foot of next page). Cricket: night- me matches under floodlights, white balls, coloured clothes, aggressive marke ng, Peter Lush (then TCCB marke ng manager): It was all unconven onal venues and, most importantly, very experimental. It was a toe in the water to see spectators. While WSC had finished in 1979, the lesson whether night cricket would be a rac ve to spectators it le – that revolu on in this most conserva ve of in this country. sports could bring in the crowds – was not lost on Graeme Fowler (Lancashire batsman - Pictured, English administrators. below): I had just been capped by Lancashire and we The first experiment in bringing the spirit of WSC to had finished in the bo om four of the Championship English shores was in 1980 when the touring West so we thought if we Indies side lost to Essex in a rain-curtailed 40-over were going to play in fixture under lights at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge. This this compe on we was shortly followed by a similar charity fund-raiser at may as well try and Ashton Gate between an England XI and a mouth- win it. watering Rest of the World XI (including Gavaskar, IVA Clive Lloyd (Lancs Richards, Abbas, Rice, Lloyd, Marshall, Hadlee). While captain): It was my some sneered at the spectacle, people came: 11,000 to first year as Lancashire the first, 8,000 to the second. captain. We had lost in the semifinal of the NatWest The Floodlit Cup, sponsored by Lambert and Butler when we should have won and I hoped the Lambert & was a seven-a-side thrash, using white balls, played on Butler would give us a bit more of a cricke ng profile. ma ed wickets and was held at football grounds The first-round matches were split into regions with around the country. Each side had 10 overs and the Home Coun es playing at Crystal Palace's Selhurst bowlers were allowed to bowl two each. Park, the South West at Bristol City's Ashton Gate, It was new, it was funky, and it was designed to catch Midlands at West Brom's Hawthorns Ground and the the eye of those who didn’t normally a end cricket North sec on at Manchester United's OldTrafford. matches. Alan Butcher (Surrey batsman): It was a bit of a The problem was that it didn’t really work. novelty to us and we were quite looking forward to it. While, in Australia, Packer had used alterna ve We just saw' it as a bit of fun and treated it like that. I grounds to host World Series Cricket, those were great remember Robin Jackman arriving in a helicopter and big ovals. In England, football pitches are rectangular, landing on the pitch. It was his benefit year and he meaning that – however you laid the ma ng for a made an entrance. cricket pitch – two of the boundaries were always Graeme Fowler: Playing on a football pitch made a lot going to be ludicrously short. of difference. The grass was longer for a start so if you Together with longer grass compared to that on a hit it along the ground it would go very slowly so the cricket field, the obvious route for runs was aerial and best thing to do was try and hit it in the air. The the ball was des ned to fly into the crowd repeatedly. bowlers knew they were going to take a pounding and The idea of a fes val of boundaries may have seemed their run-ups were bumpy. en cing but like any delicacy, when overdone, became With ma ng pitches and short square boundaries, dull. runs were plen ful and one of the stars of the first night was Butcher. He hit 21 sixes and scored 239 runs One ba ng collapse by Yorkshire aside, this was no fair in three innings during the compe on. contest between bat and ball. Surrey’s Alan Butcher had a field day in his side’s qualifier versus Kent, hi ng Alan Butcher: It was a bit of a giggle at the end of the a century off 28 balls in 25 minutes; a final season but then it got more serious the further we got contribu on of 130 not out (14 sixes, 7 fours) to in the compe on. I must have been seeing it well that Surrey’s 185 for 2. A run rate of 18.5 an over. night to score runs so quickly at Selhurst Park. All you Despite the presence of Ian Botham, David Gower and could do as a batsman was throw your hands through
Clive Lloyd, the compe on was a flop. Crowds were the ball. It was a bit of fun but you soon realised that
5 the boundaries were so small that the ball was Graeme Fowler: We sat on the bench by the side of disappearing into the stands almost every delivery. It the pitch because at football grounds the dressing got quite boring because regardless of the quality of rooms don’t have windows and were too far away the shot, it went for four or six. It was pre y obvious from the middle anyway. We played well on the finals that night that it didn’t have a very long shelf life. night and the score we got in the final was just too While Butcher was the star at Selhurst Park, the Roses much for Leicestershire. I remember we ended up match at Old Trafford was being se led single- celebra ng in a punk rock night club in Covent Garden handedly by the Lancashire captain Clive Lloyd. He hit that night. 12 sixes against Yorkshire and No nghamshire, and The compe on was quietly dropped by the me the the ball was lost on three occasions. 1982 season started and floodlit cricket was not held in Graeme Fowler: There was a young lad in the crowd England again un l 1997. that night called Neil Fairbrother. We didn’t know him Peter I.ush We had to pay pre y considerable fees to at the me, but he paid to come and watch us at Old the football grounds but the biggest problem was that Trafford. They only opened one stand and there wasn’t you could not replicate cricket on a football ground. much of a crowd there. I remember Paul Allo and Graeme Fowler: It was good fun and it was a shame myself were the young guys in the team. We wanted to we didn’t repeat it. I’ve s ll got the medal in a shoe get to the final because we knew it would mean a box somewhere. At least Lancashire are reigning couple of nights out in London. It rained but we just champions. carried on anyway. They only opened the main stand All 17 coun es took part, divided into four groups followed and they charged football prices which made it a bit by semi-finals and a final - played at Stamford Bridge. expensive for cricket fans. That’s probably why the First semi-final. crowds were so small. Lancs 95-0 (CH Lloyd 81*); Somerset 94 (IT Botham 58). Clive Lloyd It was marvellous to play at Old Trafford. Lancashire won by 6 wickets. When I first came to Britain I went to Old Trafford Second semi-final .Leicestershire 127-2 (Dl Gower 48*, RW every weekend that I wasn’t playing club cricket. To Tolchard 41; Jackman 2-21); play on the same ground as heroes such as Best, Surrey 124-3 (AR Butcher 54, MA Lynch 45; PB Cli 2-17). Charlton and Law was very special. Leicestershire won by 4 wickets. Final Lancashire 151-3 (Lloyd 83*); Lancashire made it through to the finals day at Stamford Leicestershire 136-4 (Roberts 52*). Bridge along with Leicestershire, Surrey and Somerset. Lancashire won by 15 runs. Graeme Fowler: We quickly realised by playing at Old In retrospect, while the idea of floodlit cricket was Trafford that 10 runs an over was the par score. I kept good, the infrastructure had not been ready. The wicket which was pre y boring because the ball hardly necessity of hiring football stadiums to facilitate the ever came to me. We were also using a proper cricket move to night- me had been costly for the organisers ball which travels a long way on a football field financially, kept spectators away with higher cket especially when someone like Clive Lloyd hit it. prices and had affected the very dynamics of the Alan Butcher: The idea was pre y good but because game; the damp September se ng not helping every ball was either four or six it became a circus. The ma ers. It had been new, it had been inven ve, but it difference with Tweny20 now is that a six is s ll pre y had not been right. In December 1981 a short rare so there is something special about it. For the final paragraph appeared in The Times: a crowd of only 2,564 turned out to see Lancashire “The Lambert and Butler floodlit compe on staged beat Somerset to reach the final against Leicestershire. this year with the blessing of the TCCB is to be Clive Lloyd I vividly remember playing at Stamford discon nued. Although the sponsors remain willing the Bridge. I ba ed pre y well there and we had a few weather tends to be against it and the cricket played supporters watching us. has lacked convic on. There is some talk instead of Graeme Fowler: I opened with Clive Lloyd in the semi- staging at some future me a world double-wicket final against Somerset and he got 80-odd and I think 1 tournament.” made about nine or 10 as we won by 10 wickets. Fie absolutely destroyed the bowling. He hit one six that Wisden 1982: would have been out the ground at any cricket venue. The first floodlit compe on by all seventeen first-class It hit the roof of the third er of the main stand. coun es took place on September 17th and 18th, In the final Lancashire made 151 from their 10 overs 1981. Sponsored by Lambert and Butler, to the tune of which proved beyond Leicestershire and their star £10,500 and played on the football grounds of Bristol David Gower. City, Chelsea, Crytal Palace, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion, it was won by Lancashire, who Clive Lloyd The floodlights were not too bad for cricket beat Leicestershire in the final. Each side fielded seven because they were close to the ground. We got the players and could not bat for more than ten overs. The hang of the game pre y quickly and by the me we compe on had the support of the Test and County were in the final we had got in a good rhythm. Cricket Board.
6 The Wisdener Panel
Which Cricket book or books have you The Panel posed, thanks to Abbey, a number of different ques ons, ranging read and did you enjoy it/them or not? from the film you enjoyed during lockdown to whether Cornish Pasty’s formed welcome part of your diet, or not. As always thank you to everyone Mike Comber: Fay & Kynaston - Arlo , for sending in your thoughts…enjoy. Swanton and “ The Soul of English Cricket" - Fantas c - especially remembering my The latest li le posers are on the front page of this issue Dad in the late fi ies watching cricket on a very Grey & Black TV with the sound off and the Radio book as it is a collec on of essays on a variety of (Medium Wave of course!) on with both Swanton and themes rather than being on one topic, nearly half of Arlo commenta ng. which have been published in various newspapers I also re-read (in light of other issues going on) C L R before. I had not read any of them, however; the other James “Beyond a Boundary” - s ll a good read and (I 25 essays are all new for this book. As it happens, I like think) very applicable even today! reading books with short chapters, or (as here) with Graeme Hughes: Only book with a Cricket essays that are mostly less than 10 pages long - one connec on Trevor McDonald's autobiography " An can dip in and out of them, and not worry about Improbable life" (He played cricket un l his 60s) forge ng what is happening if one goes a few days Interes ng read about an interes ng life. without picking the book up. So for me 'On Cricket' is Ian Barker: I read Duncan an ideal choice, and I'm pleased to say that it didn't Hamilton’s book on Cardus disappoint. I'll certainly be I have recently read Fay and Kynaston's 'Arlo , and then ‘Second Innings’ by looking out for Brearley's Swanton, and the Soul of English Cricket'. It is an Cardus. I read the first companion piece from a excellent book and has changed my perspec ve. I because I enjoy Hamilton’s year earlier 'On Form'. was once a huge follower of cricket, but in recent style and I found Cardus the Perhaps for the 'Second years have almost en rely lost my love for the game. man to of li le interest to Wave' and a further lock An overcrowded and complicated fixture list, me. Sadly his book confirmed down! different sets of players specialising in different forms what I thought. James Connor: I found of the game, the con nued under-selling of the Hilary Richardson: Clearly ‘Coming Back To Me’ by County Championship as bedrock of the senior game, there have been great Marcus Trescothick an the degrada on of standards of behaviour (players opportuni es for reading incredibly honest and at and spectators both), etc, etc. cricket books in recent mes, difficult to read and months. I have tried for Fay and Kynaston gave me a thought. Instead of difficult to put down book. about the fi h me to read following the game today, I have decided to follow For my birthday last ‘The Cricket Match’ by Hugh the game in years past. Why not re-live the test series November my wife gave me Selincourt, regarded as a and county matches of years gone by? There are very ‘Grovel’ by David Tossell, the classic by many but which I many that I didn't see or haven't read about. story of the 1976 England v
find hard going, perhaps Why not admire Hedley Verity rather than Chris West Indies Test series. I had because of its slightly archaic Woakes? And so I have started with a process of put it at the bo om of the language. acquiring all the Wisdens since my year of birth pile because that was the Mark Bailey: ‘One Long and (1967) un l the Year 2000, whilst meanwhile going first Test series I took a Beau ful Summer: A Short back from that year to get into the detail of previous serious interest in and it le Elegy For Red-Ball Cricket.’ players, matches, and issues. Thank you to Fay and me wondering what had by Duncan Hamilton Kynaston. gone wrong with my (Strongly recommended). Andrew Firth beloved West Indies…a Pam Evere : I have been cracking book that I wish I meaning to read ‘Silence of the Heart’ by David Frith had read sooner. and finally I did, a wonderful yet sad book. But I am Kate Cormack: Lockdown gave me me to read what I glad that I read it. I also read ‘It’s a Funny Game’ by had been promising to read for years and to also get Brian Johnston and I wish I hadn’t. We all give the rid of what I had no inten on of ever reading but had commentators of today a lot of s ck, but I for one hoarded ‘just in case.’ From the first category I read prefer them to the privileged ramblings of the TMS Fred Trueman by Chris Waters and from the second I team from the 1970’s and 1980’s…Johnston’s book read ‘One More Run’ by Stephen Chalke…the la er is made me realise what I don't miss. my favourite and I wish I had read it sooner, but I Giles Falconer: I've read a few this year - and have would definitely recommend the former. enjoyed them all. Perhaps the best, or perhaps I should Stanley Wa s: I re-read CLR James’ Beyond a say, the one I enjoyed most, was Mike Brearley's "On Boundary and once again, it proved to be a sublime Cricket" from 2018. In a sense it is not a wholly 'new' work of joy. 7 8 Keith Beardsmore: The first cricket book that I ever History of English Cricket by Derek Birley: Eleven Gods read was The Archie Jackson Story by David Frith and it and A Billion Indians, by Boria Majurmdar: Wounded was my go-to book when I realised that I would have Tiger, by Peter Oborne, ‘Larwood’ by Duncan Hamilton an awful lot of me on my hands. It did not disappoint. and one very kind reader, who is not a member of the A wonderful book. immediate family suggested Desert Island Wisden, by Alex Cormack: Picking through my Wisdens was a joy. someone called Furmedge. In normal day to day life it is easy to forget how much they can be relished and enjoyed and especially during Which book/s (any subject) have you read and the pandemic, when the pace of life slowed and me did you enjoy it/them or not? could be taken to sit down and breathe. It has been Mike Comber: Becky Chambers - "The Long Way to a such a long me since my wife and I sat in the garden, Small Angry Planet" - good Sci-Fi - pulp fic on! each with a book; chuckling, sighing, gasping, tu ng Stringer & Andrews - "The Complete World of Human or laughing out loud and not feeling the urge to explain Evolu on" - fascina ng - and out of date as soon as it any reac on. But I have to choose a favourite and it was published - such is the rate of progress in this has to be - The Cricket War - Gideon Haighs excellent fascina ng field. book on the Kerry Packer World Series. Roberts - "The Penguin History of the 20th Century" - Howard Clayton: I have a huge library of cricket books Dense - not fun at all! and have read many but not all (as yet). Simon Wilde`s Graeme Hughes: Since lockdown I have read nine "England the Biography 1977 to 2019" was fascina ng James Bond and seven Hornblower novels. Plus a for his dissec on of selectors and selec ons down the second world war true life story by a member of an years. aircrew called " A Raid over Berlin" Enjoyed all, out of Alan O’Brien: I was bought Ba ng For The Poor by the novels the Hornblower novel Flying Colours was David Sheppard and I don't know why but I put off the best. reading it, sorry I did. It is a superb book. It is not just Ian Barker: Since learning of its existence I have tried about cricket and Faith, but even if it were, it would to read ‘Catch-22’ many mes, giving up along the way. s ll be the best book I have read in years. Well, finally I read it and at least I can ck it off the list. Murray Hedgcock: I feel the query on cricket books The two books that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and is tricky, given the size of my collec on (in the would highly recommend are: The Volunteer, by Jack thousands), and the fact that different books appeal Fairweather and Adolf Hitler - His Part in My Downfall, when in different moods. In early days, my favourite by Spike Milligan (for the umpteenth me) - from one was Cricket Highways and Byways, by Ashley-Cooper, end of the World War Two spectrum to the other. largely because it included chapters on cricket books Hilary Richardson: I grasped the ne le and purchased and collec ng, as my interest in those areas expanded. Michael Henderson’s latest offering, with its And Cardus was discovered and read with huge uncontroversial tle, ‘That Will be England Gone.’ pleasure. Despite the warnings of xenophobia and old-fashioned I’m on The Cricket Writers’ Club panel picking the views in some reviews, I finished it in about two hours Cricket Book of the Year, and one book of special note and had neck ache from an excess of nodding. Couldn’t we considered was the study of what happened to the decide whether I should be proud or ashamed! West Indians who accepted money they would never Mark Bailey: I read and would recommend two: have earned in the Caribbean, to play in apartheid- ‘Bryant & May - Oranges and Lemons’ by Christopher isolated South Africa in the early Eigh es. The sad Fowler and ‘Fi y-Fi y’ by Steve Cavanagh (this was ending of many is far from “enjoyable” – but it’s a published earlier this year in Ireland). Both are good considerable work of research offering personal stories solid crime fic on although quite different in style & of extraordinary human interests. (It’s The Unforgiven tone. – Mercenaries or Missionaries, by Ashley Gray). Pam Evere : ‘Lockdown’ has made me a big Jodie Picoult fan and I would recommend, ‘My Sister’s The following Cricket books also received a ‘must read’ Keeper’ and The Pact, page turners and just what was from our very knowledgable readers - Some of these needed. are men oned above. Giles Falconer: I am a voracious reader, mostly of Eight suggested A Cricketer and a Gentleman - Bob books on cricket and thrillers or crime fic on. But the Willis: Six suggested One Long and Beau ful Summer non-cricket book I have read recently which I am sure by Duncan Hamilton: Five suggested, Beyond A will remain in my memory is Simon Winchester's Boundary, by CLR James: Five again for Graeme 'Pacific - The Ocean of the Future' (published in 2015). Fowler’s book, Mind Over Ba er: Four Suggested Winchester is a writer whose books I have long Silence of the Heart by David Frith and a different four admired ('Krakatoa', for example, is well worth seeking suggested ‘Bodyline’ also by Frith: Three each for Kim out, or 'The Map that Changed the World' - perhaps Hughes and the Bad Old Days of Australian Cricket: my favourite). Some might assume that Winchester is We had sugges ons also for, amongst others - A Social just a travel journalist, but that is wrong. Having
9 before becoming a journalist and writer, o en Which film did you find the most enjoyable and producing books based on geology or geography, or on why? the USA (where he now lives). In the last few years the rising aggressive na onalism of China may have Mike Comber: Greyhound - Tom Hanks (who I think is surprised some, but it pervades several of the chapters one of the best Actors around - as opposed to playing of Winchester's 'Pacific'. Over some 12 chapters, each the same character in different situa ons!) - I don’t organised around an event that happened since the usually like war films, but the Ba le of the Atlan c in Second World War in the Pacific, Winchester both the 39-45 conflict is one I am interested in - from code educates and entertains. I'd say it is impossible to read breaking to convoys/subs etc! This one is very good this book, and not feel both be er informed and quite and does capture some of the (probable) feelings/spirit angry about the way many groups of indigenous of this conflict. peoples of the Pacific have been mistreated. Graeme Hughes: ‘A Bridge Too Far’ - an all- me Kate Cormack: My daughter and I used to read an favourite. awful lot. We would read the same books and chat Ian Barker: I watched the en re Star Wars set, in the about them. Our own li le Book Club. We hadn’t done order they came out and a er being told that there is this for a couple of years - work, family, blah blah. As another, apparently, correct sequence in which to soon as lockdown was announced she said we should watch them, I shall be doing that soon. start up again and she recommended two books to me Mark Bailey: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and The Color Purple Emancipa on of One Harley Quinn) – pure escapism. by Alice Walker. I have told as many people as I could Pam Evere : I watched a lot of films and my husband about both books, both extraordinary reads. Since and I went through a fair few ‘box sets’ too. Top of the finishing them I have been reading a book a week. Bill list for films has to be ‘The Shack’ with ‘Blended' a has been sending ‘free’ Wisdens to my husband, well close second - I doubt whether any two films could be my husband says they are ‘free’ and whilst he has been further apart. I must men on ‘Boys’ as a box set to tucking into match reports I have been enjoying recommend. everything from Charles Dickens to Ian McEwan. Giles Falconer: Actually I realise that one of the films I Mike Rocastle: Each December, usually on my last day found most interes ng and memorable (on television, of work before the holiday, I venture into both WH of course) was actually based on a book by Simon Smiths and the Waterstones near my office and I Winchester which I haven't read - 'The Professor and stockpile magazines and books…I do the same at the the Madman'; it's a film of a true story that isn't always airport once through check-in. My various purchases easy to watch, but is, I think, very rewarding. But is it are a thoroughly mixed bag, anything from Viz (at 52 it the most enjoyable? Well, no, that's easy: Toy Story 4 s ll makes me chuckle) to The Oldie, but BBC History, wins by a huge margin. Perhaps as someone well into Sunday Times Travel magazine and The Economist my 7th decade I shouldn't admit this, but there it is! I thrown in too…on the book front I picked up The suspect it's the only film I seen this year I will happily Blunders of Our Governments, by Anthony King and watch again! Ivor Crewe in Waterstones last December and read it in Howard Clayton: "The Producers" with Mel Brooks two days back in April. I am s ll reeling at its content. and Zero Mostel - hilarious and "Avatar" by James Howard Clayton: All 20 of the "Cadfael" series which Cameron. Also the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy starred Derek Jacobi in the TV series of a few years Mike Rocastle: As a family we loved the Jumanji ago. remake - it was be er than the original that starred Murray Hedgcock: The century of volumes from Robin Williams. But Good Morning Vietnam with P.G.Wodehouse, all enjoyed, always enjoyable, Williams is my all- me favourite. immediately register. Jake Lawson: I watched all the films in The Hunger Phil Harris: I decided to re-read the Harry Po er Games series. My wife and I watched the first one on books from start to finish - a pure delight. Day 2 of lockdown. For those who do not know, it is a world in the not too distant future where one part of The VW had hundreds of sugges ons for this and here the na on lives in wealth and abundance and the are a few other sugges ons - in no order whatsoever. others (the losers in a previous war) are merely Fi y Shades of Grey, The Great Gatsby, A Passage to exis ng to serve them and once each year ‘candidates’ India, Animal Farm, An American Tragedy, The Bible, from the serving districts are brought together to fight. Three Li le Women, Sophies Choice, Lord Jim, A I think thats a good descrip on. Farewell to Arms, 1984, In Cold Blood, The Steve Thomson: We borrowed Bill’s idea (men oned Handmaid’s Tale, The Hobbit, The Alchemist, in a very early VW) and each of the family (my wife and Galapagos, The Girl With The Dragon Ta oo, The I and our three children, aged 12, 9 and 7) each wrote Siege, Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Gone Girl, The down five films that we wanted to watch - with the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, family. Each film tle was wri en on its own piece of Birdsong. paper and all were dropped into a ‘unused’
10 goldfish bowl (the previous occupant no longer with Under the circumstances, what are your thoughts us). We stuck to the rules - on ‘Film Night’ any of the on the cricket schedule put together for this 25 films could be chosen and we all had to watch it, no summer. excuses. I sat through Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Frozen Two, Lady and the Tramp, Finding Nemo Mike Comber: Tests - yes - Bob Willis trophy , only and Mary Poppins before one of mine was picked, because it honours the irascible Bob!! Bend it Like Beckham. Escapist, harmless and Graeme Hughes: I believe the ECB and par cularly the thoroughly enjoyed by one and all. One evening, kids West Indies Cricket Board put on a very good tucked away in bed, my wife and I s ll jumped at the programme - however very li le me for the touring scene, ‘that scene’ in the first Alien! My favourite film. team for recovery between matches. I did not think Just to reassure you, Alien was not one of the 25 in the much of the England second team that played the one goldfish bowl. day matches - poor quality Anne Hollies: A tricky choice. Either When Harry Met Ian Barker: Any cricket at all was unlikely, so I am Sally or just sneaking ahead, owing to its a li le more delighted with what has been done. modern, Twelve Years a Slave. My husband asked me Mark Bailey: I think it is the best possible at the to watch his favourite film with him for the first me, moment and keeps some of the income from TV but I had to give up a er less than five minutes - The flowing into the game. My purist heart may not like it Man With The Golden Gun did not get my interest but my hard financial head realises it may keep the firing. sport I love alive (I do think the Hundred is a step too Dan Weller: For light-hearted escapist fun may I far though and Warwickshire really do need to suggest four box sets that will hopefully have people improve). laughing out loud and si ng back and admiring the Kim O’Toole: Cricket did not come back un l the humour and the ingeniously talented writers and football season properly ended…this smacks in the actors: The Big Bang Theory: The Fast Show: face of SKY TV telling the ECB when they could start a Community and a very old favourite, Friends. shorter season. Can't have people who are isolated Murray Hedgcock: Carol Reed’s masterpiece The and alone possibly being given a choice of sport to Third Man made a huge impact when I first saw it in watch, can we?? 1949; it holds its drama c impact in the very different Sean Deacon: The hype around cricket being back on world of today. While Alec Guinness scored all the the BBC was ridiculous. The schedule seemed ok - it acclaim for his sharply-etched cameos in Kind Hearts would be nice if in the future a championship could be and Coronets, I always felt Denis Price deserved much played in the same way - fixed weeks for matches with more a en on for his portrayal of the scheming the Twenty20 and whatever else having set days etc. outsider, in a black comedy of absolute quality – don’t Pam Evere : To be honest I am a bit underwhelmed miss Arthur Lowe, long before Dad’s Army, in a ny by it and I think the VW hit the nail on the head when role at the end. And for sheer fun, the lively musical ques oning why the schedule for the coun es could Singin’ in the Rain entertains at ever viewing, as well as not be released/agreed earlier. It smacks of ‘no cas ng a sly eye on the bizarre world of Hollywood. supporters so no need to rush’ and that troubles me. Phil Harris: A er reading all the books and upon my The communica on between decision-makers and fans insistence (she hadn’t seen any of them) my eldest is abysmal, but then, it always has been. daughter (aged 11) and I watched all the Harry Po er Giles Falconer: Probably the best one they could films. Not only was it a wonderful thing to do together manage given the circumstances. We need all to hope but it also reaffirmed once again how important for dry September and early October! friendship, family and loyalty are. Colin Thatcher: More important things have been Will Ryder: Comedy - Blended. History - Ba le of The going on and whilst I don't like saying this - the Bulge. Ending - The Sixth sense. example of football - with every match being shown live, was one I wanted cricket to follow. Instead we had Twenty four people suggested watching Games of token gestures of the BBC ge ng some. Only a few Thrones from the start.. others suggested: The Fall (TV games were shown. series), Wonderful Life (not the James Stewart Jake Lawson: Honestly, I was only interested in the classic), Godfather 1, Godfather 2, Goodfellas, The Tests. But it wouldn’t surprise me if in a few years the Terminator, Shaun of the Dead, When Harry Met ECB use the lack of spectator support for the Bob Willis Sally, Indiana Jones (all, apart from the last one), The Trophy as an excuse to lessen the Championship even Matrix, Crash, LA Confiden al, Seven Brides for Seven further - Dictators have done the same throughout Brothers, Apocalyse Now, E.T., Shawshank history, distor ng the past and it would not surprise Redemp on, Jaws, Pulp Fic on, Casablanca, The me in the slightest if the ECB did the same. Usual Suspects, Line of Duty (TV), Schindler’s List, La Ravindar Jabba: May I say that the cricket supporters La Land, Toy Story, 1, 2, 3 and 4., The Grand Illusion, in England have been truly fortunate to have any Ver go, Mr Bean on Holiday, A Night At The Opera, matches at all. I have followed every ball of any match I Star Wars, Pulp Fic on, Chernobyl & Gomorrah (TV).
11 could and I wish cricket is safely back everywhere as spans and instant gra fica on, with youngsters in the soon as possible. maintained sector given rare opportuni es to engage Howard Clayton: Not too bad considering the in The Summer Game, its future must be highly circumstances but I wonder if ECB, who, in my opinion dubious. As to those who maintain that cricket must are the worst possible guardians of the tradi ons of get back on free-to-air TV and that will bring back the the great game, will use this year as an excuse to crowds – how many youngsters watch TV these days? I further reduce the County Championship to 3 groups welcome BBC involvement again – but I fear society pf 6 and just 10 game each and the spor ng world have moved on since those Robert Bull: Any cricket was a bonus and I am thankful days when the na on followed cricket as eagerly, but that any took place. not as obsessively, as it now feasts on football. Tony Richards: Under the circumstances any cricket Colin Thatcher: More matches from the past would be was a bonus, but part of me thinks that if Sky TV was good and maybe ar cles on old players. I do enjoy Bob not involved, would we have had any cricket at all? Bonds drawings! That is not a cri cism of Sky, maybe more of a grateful Keith Watkinson: Less of the family and more on nod in its direc on. cricket. Brian Williams: To be honest, Ive been completely Clive Wells: Definitely more on cricket from probably underwhelmed by it and it didn't make me miss pre-1970s. Without being sycophan c I have really cricket. enjoyed the ar cles in the VW and The Wisdener on The general consensus was that people are very happy old players and old matches. The other cricket to see some kind of cricket back, but there is a concern magazines hardly give the past any respect. as to what the future of the game will look like. Jez Parsons: The review of 1970 was excellent…it did have me following the season with my Wisden by my side. Am I alone in thinking that the old fashioned Is there anything you would like to see in The ‘diary of a season’ is a fascina ng read. Virtual Wisdener? You are all incredibly kind and thank you, if I printed Mike Comber: Nothing I can think of - I like most of everyone’s comments then it would be very very the ar cles and it is always a fun read - especially when sameish! other collectors send in their best XI, or best Wisdens etc….keep up the good work!! Graeme Hughes: The winning lo ery numbers for the Are you a Cornish pas e fan? coming week Mike Comber: YES YES YES - I was at University with a Ian Barker: I love the ar cles on past players and Devonian who used to make the biggest Cornish matches. Reading Bill Bowes thoughts on a match as in Pas es I have ever seen. When I asked him why it was the last VW was very flat he told me that was what made it Cornish (do not ask why a Devonian would make a interes ng. Despite saying ‘very much so’, it is with great Mark Bailey: More of the Cornish Pasty, I live far to close to disappointment that I write!! I have been on a diet Cornwall to want to see an same. for more months than I care to recall, with I hasten Irfan Dohain: If possible, outbreak of the Pasty Wars!). to add with some success (43lbs) so when I saw Graeme Hughes: Yes very much more informa on on today the latest VW, with Cornish Pas es in the overseas cricketers or so tle I thought great Bill has some connec on with Ian Barker: I have eaten the matches, especially a Pas e Company with a discount rate, but no, no rela ng to India. vegetarian Cornish pasty and I am discount and whats worse no details of the Pas e a fan. I hope Bill is on commission Pam Evere : It is great to company you have found online, never mind hear about the Furmedge from the Cornish pasty Society (if another bo le of Slimfast looms! there is one) because I found a family, but I think Bill’s Graeme Hughes wife and daughters should supplier online and I am now the give their side of things. proud owner of 12 Vegan CP’s. Living with a Liverpool FC fan in these troubled mes Mark Bailey: Only proper bakery made ones – not must be almost impossible. mass produced. Dan Williams: More compe ons and quiz’s…the Pam Evere : The thought of one turns my stomach. telephone quiz’s were brilliant and I know they took a Give you beef dripping and tripe any day….not really, long me to do, but even though my score never got honestly, no!!! into double figures, I really enjoyed it. Giles Falconer: In Cornwall I'd certainly eat one (I did Peter Tarbuck: I love reading about old matches and last me we holidayed there!). But will I buy one next old players. So more of this please. me I visit a supermarket? Unlikely. My 'bad for you Murray Hedgcock: It’s a pre y good mix as is, but I food' is more likely to be a pie of some variety, I fear! would be interested in the views of readers on the Probably steak and kidney. long-term future of cricket. In an age of short-a en on David Andrews: With lamb, not steak!
12 Howard Clayton: Yes but not my favourite. That is Proudly living in sunny Cornwall,I did not expect to roast meat, veg (not broccoli), mashed potato, gravy, hear anyone waxing lyrically in a Virtual Wisdener followed by apple pie and custard followed by a nap ! about the Cornish Pasty ! (Note- the singular spelling Murray Hedgcock: Bill, I follow your family is with a 'y', mul ple scoffings are with the 'ies' as adventures with interest, not least as we have their correct spelling. Interes ng to note you granddaughters aged 25 and 22, so there are dis nct savoured the Cornish Na onal Delicacy at Blenheim - links with your lot. But I read the par cular bulle n I trust if they were adver sed as Cornish Pas es that with especial approval, the Cornish Pasty angle striking they were actually made in Cornwall ? And the true a definite chord. I’ve always been an enthusiast, but Cornish Pasty should only contain the following - lately discovered the Ginsters cheese and onion beef, sliced potato, onion, swede and seasoning. If version - strongly recommended. My wife makes a they were not made in Cornwall and adver sed as most appealing potato salad (a product of her German such,, it was in breach of some European ruling upbringing), and I find a cheese and onion pasty, concerning where a speciality is actually garnished with potato salad, goes down a treat. manufactured - a bit like the bath Bun, Kendal Mick Dellmore: I have never been to England and so I Mintcake, Melton Mowbray Pork Pies etc etc. cannot comment on the merits of the Pasty, but I am Glad to hear you are subscribing to this wonderous sure we have equally delicious cuisine across Australia, delicacy - dont know if you have any other members although I have struggled to find any. living in Cornwall like me, but for future purchases, I Mar n Decker: I thoroughly enjoyed the latest edi on would suggest you look at the following websites, as I which set me off thinking about Cornish players who have sampled their offerings (on numerous occasions played first class cricket. One such of course was Mike !) and can thoroughly recommend these. They all Harris the No nghamshire opener who in the early offer a mail order service. 1970s was very close to earning an England call up. He h p://berrymansbakery.co.uk was naturally known as Pasty for obvious reasons. h ps://www.etherington-meats.co.uk/etheringtons- I recall that he was men oned as very likely to go to cornish-pas es/ Australia with MCC in 1974-5 but that didn't happen. h ps://www.primabakeries.co.uk My local paper ,never terribly knowledgeable on cricket. was discussing who was unlucky not to go and You can reassure your dear Lady Wife (who, if she is pinpointed Harris but whether it was lack of anything like mine, has to be Obeyed At All Times knowledge or misinterpreta on of poor handwri ng by Without Ques on!) that there is no reason for her to the reporter Harris was not referred to as Pasty Harris worry about your arteries - I have been on these but instead as TASTY HAMS!!! (only one per week) for over fi y years and am s ll Good old Liverpool Echo!! It s ll amuses me today! here to tell the tale. Neil Nelson: I grew up for a me in Helston in Trevor Bedell Cornwall and one of my treats was a pasty from Tracey Anderson: Well, now I know. A er healthy Wearnes (large at one shilling and threepence, small at cricket debate and many a panel in which opinions ninepence). Alas the shop is no more, but there is have been as varied as what Trump says on each day of another shop of that name s ll opera ng and they do the week on the same topic but with a different pasty-related jewellery - pasty earrings at 37.95, a demographic vote to catch, I have truly heard it all, the pasty bracelet at £87.95 (something that Mrs truth as they say has come out. Cornish Pastys…would Furmedge might appreciate, tho perhaps not) Stokes eat one? Would Eoin Morgan or Steve Smith be One of the a rac ons of cricket at Worcester, besides seen pouring on brown (or Worcester) sauce and the beau ful se ng, is the presence of a Cornish pasty devouring every mouthful with glee? I would say the shop less than 10 minutes walk away and thus easily answer is no. But now the Wisdener panel has reached accessible in the lunch interval. My me in Cornwall a new low…how about a ques on on whether readers has taught me that a true pasty should contain beef, prefer a vegan curry or a sweet potato and coriander swede or turnip and onion - anything else is just wrong soup…I dare you Bill!!! and while this par cular shop does do a very fine genuine pasty, it also turns out many strange flavour Thank you all so much for contribu ng to an unusual combina ons (turkey and cranberry, anyone?) panel and Tracey, I am tempted by your challenge (Bill) It is a pleasure to hear from a fellow pastyophile - enjoy your stash
Contact details are as follows: Telephone - 07966 513171 or 01480 819272: Email: - [email protected] or furmedgefamily@b nternet.com
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