Yesterday I was spoilt to the max being invited as one of four guests to The Willow Suite at Lords home of the MCC in St John’s Wood London. I know the ground well having lived next door for many years. I sometimes had coffee with the Head Groundsman who spoke of his pitch like it was a child, his child, his baby. I learnt quite a lot about grass , he knew so much and made me green with envy. At aged 11 I did fall foul of the Management as I sat on the boundary and ran on to get the ball before it hit the rope..My last memory was throwing it diligently to Freddie Truman the English bowler who in Yorkshire swear berated me as I was led from the ground. Truman was the famous English bowler whose son married Raquel Welch’s daughter and who berated her when Raquel showed up at the Wedding Reception half clad.
Despite a native of Irish origin I only discovered that Ireland had a cricket team when I saw their Under 21 team play the USA cricket team in Queenstown New Zealand in the World Cup. I remember having a full Irish breakfast before the match which essentially was full New Zealand English with a pint of Guinness. Over breakfast I met the USA Manager who told me that the office of President of the United States was a title chosen by the founding fathers as they knew that the President of the Village Cricket Club was the most important person therein.
Sorry straying somewhat a bit like the Irish batsmen who opened their innings and were quickly 19 runs for 3 wickets. As green turned to embarrassed red we prayed for rain to stop play. As one batsman scored zero and was out on his second ball I claimed to another guest that even I could do better till he reminded me I would have been out in one ball. The bowler sends the ball down the chain of grass ( 22 yards ) at an average 92 miles per hour and as it heads towards the wooden stumps he has to get his Willow out ( yes I said Willow ) and try hit the ball to score runs. The lavatory terminology chain , balls and runs I assure you is not a deliberate convenience. Ireland left the field being bowled out first innings for 173 runs. England stepped out with their willow and as I write on the second day of the Test are 353 runs for the loss of one wicket.
The Irish team seem to have matched the first quarter performance of GDP today which fell 2.7% to 4.6%. Don’t however write off the Irish they are renowned survivors and if the men can’t beat the men we will send out the women ( do we have a team ? ). Lords is the home of cricket and what a marvellous stadium it is in the very heart of London thanks largely I recall to the generosity of John Paul Getty Junior. John Major ex Prime Minister loves the place and lives next door as I once did. To join the MCC is of course a lifetime wait and they say that you can see the place from eternal heaven. Hallowed Ground it is and to have been there again yesterday and not be escorted out of the ground a delight. I have already thanked my hosts and look forward to reciprocating their generosity sometime somewhere. England now 400 for 2 Wickets , eat your heart out England it’s a comeback.
qbitblogger 