Thursday 5 May 2011

Great Televised Cricket Matches of Our Time #1

1. Bloke who smuggles drugs in his wheelchair's Old Boys XI (Spoiler alert) vs Some Posh People, Inspector Morse, 'Deceived By Flight', 1989.

Directed by Antony Minghella, would you believe. Now, some things to look out for (worth skipping around unless you want to watch some horrible acting).


First up, not to be discriminatory, but I don't know about having a wheelchair-bound umpire. Hardly encourages the bowlers to get close to the stumps. GREAT catching technique at 06.36. Appealing for a bowled at 07.20 - why not? Shows you're playing in the right spirit.

Ultimately though, this one's all about Sergeant Lewis. Comes in at 10.10, asks for middle and leg while holding the bat the wrong way round. Interesting grip too. But he can do that, because he's clearly a player.



Now into part 7 and Lewis isn't going to be phased by some ponce giving it the big outswinger first up. Bit of Atherton in that back foot forcing shot. More great catching at 0.21. Then it all goes tits up twenty seconds later. Selfless stuff from the Sergeant. I wouldn't have moved an inch. That dick goes on to get 50 too.

We're back out at 05.35 and fuck me sideways if our man isn't showboating in the field. One handed for no good reason whatsoever. And it'd take a stronger character than me not to shed a tear at the sight of Morse dozing through the whole thing. Poor Lewis. But never mind, just wait till 06.14. Shit's about to get real. Posh bloke who I think is also involved in the whole drug smuggling thing might hit his loosener for a couple, but you don't leave it outside off to a guy with a chest-on action and a solid wrist position. Stitch that. This is high-class stuff: at 7.22 he moves one the other way and gets his man fishing, but butterfingers behind the stumps drops a sitter. Wonder what happens to the ball at 07.43? I'm thinking it knocked all three out. Finally, good to see a knifing in the pavilion doesn't stop them taking tea.

7 comments:

  1. I'm going to contest your accusation that Lewis is holding the bat the wrong way round.

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  2. Well, he's got the face pointing down the wicket which means he's literally asking for middle *and* leg.

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  3. I've seen quite a few competent batsmen take guard like that. Think the idea is that you're setting the bat up how it will be in your stance.

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  4. Hmm, I guess that kind of makes sense, but surely the point of the guard is to establish as precise a lateral mark on the crease line with which to take your stance as possible? If I take a middle stump guard, say, then my head's over off so I can leave anything outside my eyeline, or at least try to-why would you introduce any variation, even if it's just a half inch or so, into what youre doing each time by using the width of the bat?

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  5. Given that Lewis was muttering 'watch the ball, watch the ball' to himself as the bowler started his run-up, I'm not convinced he was working within such precise margins. Neat little tuck through point second ball, though, so maybe he doesn't need our advice.

    Consider the following clip for future CC Great Televised Cricket Matches of Our Time. Saw a Doctor Who documentary which said this was the first ball Peter Davidson bowled and the batsman hadn't been told to miss it. Lovely action.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5l6f2y2_xM&feature=player_detailpage#t=144s

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  6. That's a fantastic spot. I've been looking for clips of the film of the 'The Go Between', but Youtube has given me no joy at all.

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  7. Having watched the Doctor Who clip again -- and it's worth watching from the start to see the Time Lord dismantling a club attack on a slow pitch in thoroughly agricultural fashion -- what's most pleasing about his action is the very full follow-through. He really runs through the crease very nicely. He's definitely been coached with Buddy's bit of string.

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