Ken Rutherford, with so much time
elegant, chanceless
the ball riding the grass.
Mark Greatbatch
arching up and away
a catch against a heart-break sky
Martin Crowe’s pull
so strong
Henry Blofeld could say only:
“Oh, my word’’
Australia needing 117
de Villiers,
eyes burning,
arm pumping.
6-43.
Or
The boy no one wanted to bowl
showing he could
The father stretching his fingers across the seam
to show his boy.
‘’Like this, son. Like this.’’
- Not even sure this is a poem, but it all happened.
I’ve been hit in the head a few times with a tennis ball; i was always too careful against a cricket ball. enjoyed this, John, & i also love cricket. i don’t remember Greatbach being a joy to watch tho – i might be mistaken but wasn’t he a bit of a slugger? (tho here i understand he’s in the field). But Gower, yes! He was beautiful w his languid stance & yellow curls. Who’s the father/son? Cairns?
Greatbatch was a slugger in the short game but less so in Tests.
I remember watching him in the nets at Lancaster Park and he was practising hitting sixes.
He launched into one and I caught it. He shouted good catch and to keep the ball, which I still have.
Thanks for reading.
i’ve had a few bruises to the chest and stomach on failure of that pull shot. was beautiful to watch…like david gower
Yes, Gower a master. All class. I was ok on the pull shot but I got pinned badly by a quick: the ball came at me high and swung late. I tried to step away but I could I was too late so thrust an arm up and it caught be on the elbow. The pain was memorable.