[February 22] Well the World Cup is almost upon us and I am busy trying
to pack three weeks worth of clothing and my photo kit plus laptop in a manner
acceptable to Virgin Atlantic. It is not proving easy... Phone calls to Mumbai
(or was it Delhi) have not helped a lot either, although the guy I spoke to did
his best I feel sure. Ah, well - 23 hours later I'll be able to see how well I
managed with the fragile items.
Never having visited Australia before I am looking forward to the tourist sights
as well as the cricket, and the camera will be busy on both! This is possibly
the most exciting World Cup for many years with the odds so difficult to
predict. I am often asked "Who will win?" by friends and acquaintances and I
have been honestly replying "It's between at least four teams". I haven't asked
any bookmaker for odds and wonder what they might be. Having the competition on
home soil (and by the way shouldn't England get to host it soon?) is an obvious
advantage, as is playing at the end of your own season rather than coming from a
cold (especially this year) winter. However, England will have excellent
memories of their last trip to this part of the world so who knows..??
On the home page you will find a note about TV coverage. I have to hope the UK
will receive more than one match but I suspect even England in the final might
not mean more than a quick mention somewhere in the news. I do hope I am wrong!
If I am right, tempting more women and girls to play the sport is a very
difficult proposition... In this day and age, TV coverage is the best publicity
you can get.
[March]
With passport and Australian bills already in my pocket, comes
the amazing news about Jenny Gunn. I say amazing for the simple reason that she
has (as far as I know) played all summer in Australia - and previous summers -
and if anyone had felt her action suspect, should not some comment have been
made earlier?
![[Jenny Gunn]](images/080830_232-Gunn-Jenny-Eng.jpg)
TMS (BBC's "Test Match Special" to those outside the UK) has
just broadcast a pre-recorded interview with Ebony Rainford-Smith. Yes, I don't
know who she is either although the voice did sound very familiar. I took
the liberty of emailing them and asking about England men's captain Andrew
Smith but it hasn't, as I type, elicited any correction - but then it
wouldn't, would it - they are only women after all... It's a shame that this
kind of error is allowed to creep into such a superb commentary service.
Well, I am finally back. I say "finally" but actually the
almost three weeks on the trip seemed to fly by. The only time to run slowly
was the flight. I must first and foremost thank my travelling companions,
Lou Colvin, the Taylor family, (Helen, Ralph and Alex - Sarah Taylor's lot
that is) and Marion Collin. One could not have asked for more relaxed
company!
And then the players of all countries deserve nothing but
praise. From the boundary, the game appeared in all cases to be played in
the best traditions of cricket. The standard of umpiring, oddly mostly from
one of the better known umpires, caused the occasional frown (even scowl),
but I noticed nothing in any player's conduct that would have caused the
match referee any concerns. Perhaps I was not looking in the right
direction, but I hope not.
Also most satisfactory was the ICC's clearance of Jenny
Gunn's action. The nonsense that preceded the tournament was able to be
forgotten and if some were hoping it would phase Jenny then they would have
been disappointed. Indeed her action in withdrawing from the final at the
very last moment showed she was thinking very clearly and showed great moral
courage. If there was a medal for "Most Courageous Decision" then Jenny
should certainly have won it. I have had a quick look at the technical notes
about her assessment and must admit to being befuddled by the jargon.
Perhaps they are on the 'Net somewhere if you're interested. Wasim Akram
made some explanatory remarks in the commentary on the India/England game
and he sounded positively jealous of the way she can turn and flick her
wrist at release. His comments raised a smile, coming from someone with such
a record.
So much has been written (and isn't that a pleasure to see!)
and the TV coverage proved much more thorough than I had anticipated. I am
crossing my fingers we'll get the T20 semis and final later this year. I
have watched all of the matches and have only praise for the commentary
teams in the UK. While the girls did well, Akram really would be best advised to
stick to what he does best (or should I say 'did' although I wouldn't fancy
being 22 yards away when he has a ball in his hand even now). Nick Knight in the
studio was, as ever, top drawer! Watching a game on TV after you've
seen it live gives a completely different experience. The TV cameras, of
course, always get the best seats in the house, and you have the benefit of
replays and (sometimes) skilled analysis, but there still nothing like being
there!
And since returning we have the news that for the first time
in its long and revered history, Wisden is to include a woman in the 'five
cricketers of the year'.
I remember writing back in 2006 ...
The first of the one-days, played at Lord's, provided the innings of
the summer. Claire Taylor's record breaking 156* from just
151 balls (picture above) was truly amazing. Anyone who can break a record set by a
certain I.V.I. Richards has to be rather more than special. And what a
venue to do it! And a good crowd too! Can she possibly top that in the rest
of her career?
Well, has she? Some might well say "yes". Indeed it is hard
to think of where to go now...
I had to raise a smile when one Guardian correspondent
suggested she was possibly the only one of the five worthy of the accolade.
I managed a scowl however, when another in the same paper
went on about "not calling them batsmen" but batters, for as regular readers
(are there any?) will know I hate the term.
As far as I am concerned she's the most consistent batsman in the world
currently and England are fortunate to have such a player.
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