10 of your best Gideon. Particularly liked the Macbeth reference … more please. Keen to hear more of your reflections on Old Blighty too … I spend a fair bit of time there and find the weather is one of the least depressing aspects of the place.
We can't have Kylie-Clive James Cup instead of Ashes: that speaks too much to our unquestioned cultural dominance. It's only fair that the Poms get to name Leo Sayer or 'Aussie' Joe Bugner.
I feel like the obvious choice for an Ashes replacement would be the Botham- Chappell Trophy. Not even for anything they did on the field, but for the seemingly eternal emnity between the two Ians when it seems obvious to the outsider that what could unite them is far greater than what divides them. And yes, I feel like keeping the two in that order would absolutely be the funnier option, chronology be damned.
That figurine of Harold Larwood looks more like Warnie bowling a leggie out the back of his hand.
To replace the Ashes, I propose the two old enemies play for the Midwinter – Midwinter – Midwinter Cup. Billy Midwinter played two Test matches for Australia in 1877 before appearing for England in four Tests in 1881–82. Within a year he played for Australia again.
What does “being knocked into a cocked hat mean” ? One of my favourite sayings but never known what it means
It's also in my anthology On the Ashes. I live round the corner from the pub of which he was publican and have visited his grave in Melbourne General Cemetery.
Good question about 'into a cocked hat'.....This is from phrases.org.uk:
'Some etymologists have speculated that ‘knocked into a cocked hat’ derived from the game of Ninepins. The theory was that when the pins were struck so that just three were left, in a triangular cocked hat shape, they were too badly out of shape for the game to be won on one throw. Alternatively, the phrase is said to derive from the American version of the game, which used just three skittles and was known as ‘Cocked hat’. Theory appears to be the right word for these explanations, as there is no supporting evidence to back them up. It appears that the American version of skittles was named after the hat but was not otherwise connected with the phrase. A more likely derivation is that ‘to knock someone into a cocked hat’ was simply to pummel them so badly as to alter their normal appearance.'
An interesting statistic. Shane Warne in his Test career bowled 40707 balls and took 708 wickets, . Jimmy Anderson bowled 40034 balls and took 704 wickets Amazingly close. Two all time great bowlers.
10 of your best Gideon. Particularly liked the Macbeth reference … more please. Keen to hear more of your reflections on Old Blighty too … I spend a fair bit of time there and find the weather is one of the least depressing aspects of the place.
We can't have Kylie-Clive James Cup instead of Ashes: that speaks too much to our unquestioned cultural dominance. It's only fair that the Poms get to name Leo Sayer or 'Aussie' Joe Bugner.
I feel like the obvious choice for an Ashes replacement would be the Botham- Chappell Trophy. Not even for anything they did on the field, but for the seemingly eternal emnity between the two Ians when it seems obvious to the outsider that what could unite them is far greater than what divides them. And yes, I feel like keeping the two in that order would absolutely be the funnier option, chronology be damned.
Welcome home
That figurine of Harold Larwood looks more like Warnie bowling a leggie out the back of his hand.
To replace the Ashes, I propose the two old enemies play for the Midwinter – Midwinter – Midwinter Cup. Billy Midwinter played two Test matches for Australia in 1877 before appearing for England in four Tests in 1881–82. Within a year he played for Australia again.
What does “being knocked into a cocked hat mean” ? One of my favourite sayings but never known what it means
Billy Midwinter - Greg, that is a magnificent call. Have you read my piece about him?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/cuts-and-glances-william-midwinter-crickets-trailblazer/news-story/2231e7c602d1d587ffda13fe55d5886e
It's also in my anthology On the Ashes. I live round the corner from the pub of which he was publican and have visited his grave in Melbourne General Cemetery.
Just read it then, thanks, what a tragic story. Many of the very early players had fascinating background stories, people like Tom Wills.
Good question about 'into a cocked hat'.....This is from phrases.org.uk:
'Some etymologists have speculated that ‘knocked into a cocked hat’ derived from the game of Ninepins. The theory was that when the pins were struck so that just three were left, in a triangular cocked hat shape, they were too badly out of shape for the game to be won on one throw. Alternatively, the phrase is said to derive from the American version of the game, which used just three skittles and was known as ‘Cocked hat’. Theory appears to be the right word for these explanations, as there is no supporting evidence to back them up. It appears that the American version of skittles was named after the hat but was not otherwise connected with the phrase. A more likely derivation is that ‘to knock someone into a cocked hat’ was simply to pummel them so badly as to alter their normal appearance.'
An interesting statistic. Shane Warne in his Test career bowled 40707 balls and took 708 wickets, . Jimmy Anderson bowled 40034 balls and took 704 wickets Amazingly close. Two all time great bowlers.
Excellent stat, Chris. Kudos!