Howzat! Came the cry.
Another wicket in this twice yearly match;
Sixth man out.
Now it’s my turn, and we need quite a few runs
To win this battle, against this well known foe.
I walk confidently, purposefully, onto the field
Pull on my gloves, adjust my cap.
I reach the crease.
“Middle and leg, please Mr Umpire”
Stand up and look around the field
To see where the fielders are hidden.
The bowler approaches,
Mike, the younger of the Southwell brothers
He bowls outside my off stump,
Let it go, don’t go reaching
And get an edge to the waiting slips.
Accumulate some runs,
Nothing flashy, just play safe.
Howzat! Another wicket,
Seven down, but I am still there,
Playing safe, experienced.
More runs are added until yet again,
The crash of ball into stumps is heard,
And our eighth wicket, falls,
And our ninth, the next ball.
But I am still here
Here he comes, our finest bowler!
Taken so many wickets with
His phenomenal speed.
Batsman – huh!
Barely knows which way to hold the bat.
Still he has two balls to face,
Hope the cricket God is smiling on us.
The first ball, he plays an elegant
Forward defensive, to the bouncer
That went over his head!
The next ball he leaves alone,
Not realising that it came back
And barely missed his wicket.
Still he survived.
Now it’s my turn; the final over.
Eight runs to get against Alan,
The other Southwell, their best bowler.
Only six balls from this excellent man
For me to face, can I get the runs.
The first ball straight but a half volley
I stroke it past Alan for four glorious runs.
Now only four to get,
Five balls to come.
The next ball on my off stump
But it cuts away
From both bat and stumps
Excellent delivery, I am lucky
Not to have touched it.
The third delivery bowled short;
I sway back as I avoid the ball
As it passes my chest;
Alan smiles, I smile back,
And full of bravado,
Nod my acknowledgement,
To a ball well bowled.
The fourth ball, a half volley
On the leg stump.
I hit this ball as hard as I can
Up, up it goes flying like a bullet
Over the boundary,
Over the pavilion.
We have won the match!
MY six, won the match!
The finest shot I have ever played!
My team cheer, cheer me!
Thirty seven not out.
We all meet at the pub
Both teams.
As I walk in Alan stands up and comes at me,
With a snarl on his face!
The snarl changes to a grin,
“Can I buy you a pint Andy? Well played”
-
Author:
Goldfinch60 (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: September 18th, 2018 01:41
- Comment from author about the poem: When I read w c's poem entitled Team Player it reminded me of a poem that I had written a few years ago.This memory has stayed with me since the early nineteen eighties when I was playing cricket for Viking Cricket Club in Kent, UK.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 30
Offline)
Comments7
A fine write Gold.
Thanks Orchi
to tell you the truth, I know nothing of this game.
still, congradulations on yer win.
Thank you onepauly, it was a very long time ago, in the 1980s.
I have learned so much about the game I knew little about from this excellent poem and thanks for sharing your triumph with us Andy.
Thank you Fay, there is another poem of mine on here call "The Rules of Cricket", that one explains things about cricket.
Thanks ANDY ~ Tenors (and Tenners) always tug @ the string of my HEART. "Cricket Lovely Cricket it was at Liverpool where I first saw it ~ Lancashire always Crème Tea de la Crème Tea !" My Dad was a great Cricketer so I carried his BAT and played for the 1st 11 @ School ~ AMEN ! I love CRICKET in all its EDWARDIAN GLORY of Whites & Pads & Gloves & Stumps & Bright red (or is it Pink ?) BALLS. For most Schools in the 21st C (except the GRAMMAR & PUBLIC) it is too elitist ~ slow ~ expensive & academic etc ~ so like so many EXCELLENT THINGS it is dying. I started playing (in earnest) in the late 90's but I could see its demise. Our main opponents were other GRAMMARS & the PUBLIC SECTOR. A proper GAME of CRICKET (like CHESS) is always a BATTLE and its not over until the Cucumber Sandwiches and Warm Beer appears ~ Prepared of course by Rotund Ladies who do sing (G & S !) Your elegant ode captures the essence of REAL VILLAGE CRICKET on such Fields was the BRITISH FIGHTING SPIRIT forged. This poem has made me take my BAT out and OIL it ! Thanks for sharing Yours as ever BRIAN ~ ANGELA send her love to JOYCE XXXX
Thank you Brian, at school I played tennis for the school and in the 1960s I was the Kent Youth Club tennis champion.
Any other final line would simply not be cricket sir! You made this game, one which i find intensely boring, quite quite readable and exciting.
A really good example of your writing prowess Goldfinch. This certainly has the 'unputdownable' quality. One has to see it thru to the finish.
Excellent.
Thank you da, I always enjoyed playing cricket but the best part was always where both teams went to the pub after the game.
Thank you again for your wonderful comments on my poem.
Well this took some time to read and a good read to boot.
Thank you Michael, most kind.
Andy,
A fascinating read! I’ve never seen this game played live. I’ve only seen in movies! Your words brought it to life...in my mind! I envisioned you playing it to the end! Congratulations!🍻
All my love to Joyce and you!
~Laura~
Thank you Laura, it is a very good game ad I enjoyed playing it.
Your love to us both is very much appreciated
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