mention the word?
The Senior Cat has a number of cricket crazy cousins. They are not happy. One of them in particular may still be pounding the walls in frustration.
"We can't b...... play!" "Another one gone!" "What's wrong with them?!" and (I suspect) worse.
If there is cricket or Aussie Rules football on when he comes to visit he dashes for the remote control for the television set.
"Why aren't you watching?" he demands.
The Senior Cat smiles and says, "Yes, I know. It's important." The word "not" is never said but it is thought.
The Senior Cat was never a sports tragic. He didn't really play sport. He could never see well enough to see the ball coming at him. He dislocated his right shoulder twice trying to bowl the ball - not just painful but awkward when you are right-pawed.
The Senior Cat sees no point in an activity which does not produce something useful at the other end. If you want physical activity then go and dig the garden or chop wood or saw timber in the shed. If you want to walk then, as he did, go for a walk with your partner. He is, at best, only mildly interested in cricket - and every other form of sport leaves him cold.
Brother Cat played cricket at school. He didn't mind. He preferred to field, "because you can stand there and think about something else". He was never very good at any form of sport.
Middle Cat played everything that was ever played with a ball - including cricket. It was not her favourite ball game. She preferred faster moving games.
But there is something about cricket I suppose. The psychology of the game interests me. The idea that you have to be an outstandingly good individual at so many things and still be able to play as a member of a team interests me - up to a point.
I can remember Cousin Cat's partner telling me, "We're going to the cricket."
This was in the summer of course. It was going to be a very warm day - hot perhaps? I looked at her. She shrugged.
"He wants to go."
He likes her to go too.
"What are you taking to do?" I asked her.
She grinned.
"I have a book to read, a sketch pad and some new pencils. It might be a bit warm for knitting but I'll put it in just in case."
Now that is the way to watch cricket - but I am not sure it will help the team win.
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3 comments:
I'm fond of cricket. I grew up listening to it on the radio, essential background to summer. I still like to watch/listen to it from time to time, usually still as background. I am also in the position of having dual British/Australian nationality, so I can cheer for either side!
Oh cricket ... it's chess on a field. and I love it. I've been twice this summer - and both times seen some wonderful British bowling. Without wishing to rub any Aussie noses in the doo-doo, I seem to remember a certain amount of back slapping not so long ago when you beat us 5-0. And so I, for one, am still grinning - this is a wonderful summer, and we have a wonderful cricket team!
I remember hearing cricket on the radio too. My grandfather would listen to it, turned low, while he worked on things in his shed.
And I love the idea of it being "chess on a field" - that's a wonderful description!
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