The Catholic Contribution to Cricket and English Language
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32 Follow The Catholic Times on twitter @CatholicTimesUK theCatholicTIMES 24.5.19 SPORT The Catholic contribution to cricket and English language Mgr Vladimir Felzmann bowlers and holds the record of most wickets for England in both THE 2019 Cricket World Cup will test and one-day international (ODI) be hosted by England and Wales, cricket. He is the only English bowl- from 30th May – 14th July. As I sat er, and the sixth overall, to pass 500 on a 148 bus passing Tyburn Convent test wickets. Since arriving on the by Marble Arch, I suddenly got the international scene in 2002/03 he has urge to research the contribution of represented England in over 140 test Catholics to cricket. It seems that matches and nearly 200 one-day in - Catholics played a major role in its ternationals. He is England’s all-time development. English cricket, the distinguished strange to include Cardinal Man - the West Indies, he made 325 – the highest international wicket-taker when The cradle of cricket is often con - cricketer William Ward, MP saved ning’s name in a cricket obituary, first triple hundred in test cricket: combined across all three formats. sidered to be the Hambledon Club the club by buying the ground for but inasmuch as he played for Harrow the highest score by anyone in their Cricket is one of the most ‘value in Hampshire. The club’s first captain the astronomical price £5,000. against Winchester at Lords in 1825, final test match. driven’ team games in the world, its of that club was Richard Nyren Ward’s son, W G Ward, was an in the first match that ever took Later, Bob Taylor became a regular language part and parcel of our whose son, John, moved to London Oxford convert and his grandson, place between the two schools, his in the England side in 1977 and everyday speech. When in an awk - and in the 1790s established himself Bernard, was not only the president claim cannot be disputed.” played 56 tests, keeping wicket with ward situation we are said to be on as the first great cricket writer. His of St Edmund’s College, Ware, but If the 19th century was the golden distinction, a player of unfailing a sticky wicket; when flummoxed works include The Cricketers’ Guide became the first Bishop of Brent - age of the ‘gentleman amateur’ – courtesy and sportsmanship. in a meeting and unable to answer a and the Young Cricketers’ Compan - wood. Another Catholic who was a the 20th century saw the rise of the Since 2000, the brothers Adam tricky question we have been bowled ion . Meanwhile the Marylebone keen cricketer was Cardinal Man - professional, enabling many Catholic and Ben Holioake, played test cricket ‘a googly’; when intimidated we Cricket Club was founded in 1787. ning, Archbishop of Westminster. cricketers to get involved and play for England, but undoubtedly the have been bowled a ‘bouncer’; we In 1813 it moved to St John’s Wood; He received the greatest posthumous at the highest level. most famous Catholic cricketer of are encouraged to ‘play the game’ at that time an open area of London. honour the game can bestow: an Andrew Sandham, a Londoner, recent times is James Michael ‘Jim - and if someone cheats us we com - The owner of the ground, Thomas obituary in Wisden Cricketers’ Al - played for Surrey between 1911 and my’ Anderson OBE. He grew up in plain that ‘it’s not cricket’. Lord, realised that the site would manac , the bible of the game. It is 1937, and represented England in Burnley and attended St Theodore’s So, in order to play the game as it be suitable for housing and wanted in the 1893 edition that Wisdom 14 Tests between 1921 and 1930. RC High School. He is the all-time is meant to be played, it is necessary to sell. Luckily for the history of noted that: “It may seem a little In that final year, playing against leading wicket-taker among fast to have a moral code, yet where and how does someone acquire one? Obviously, in the first instance, it is in the home as the Church teaches that parents are the first educators of the child. Secondly, in the Church. How are children going to learn values unless they are taught them? That is why the Church places so much emphasis on education and why it has faith based schools. Thirdly, in schools. It is clear that if a school has a clear mission state - ment setting out its values and that they are lived out in reality, pupils will prosper. Finally, in the club’s themselves. It is essential that young people learn through excellent teaching delivered by good role models; the very people who can promote the game, espouse and live out its values and inspire the next generation. The John Paul 2 Foundation 4 Sport [JP2F4S] encourages everyone to aim to surpass their own PB, their personal best – no matter at what level they play – in whatever sport they love. Through sport, they can acquire the virtues that will en - able them to delight in life and make a great contribution to society, as the cricketers we have seen made in their own life times. Upwards and onwards Catholic cricketers – wher - All-time great – England’s James Anderson bowls during the 1917/18 the Ashes series test match at the Adelaide Oval Picture: PRESS ASSOCIATION ever you are around our Global City. Published by Universe Media Group Limited, 2nd Floor, Oakland House, 76 Talbot Road, Manchester M16 0PQ. Tel 0161 820 5722. 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