Wickman doesn't know WHAT to think. In a week when some Texan billionaire is about to make Kevin Pietersen so rich that he doesn't have to bother playing IPL the English 2020 season has started.
Wickman is fully intending to head to London cricket grounds twice next week (must remind the wife) to watch the slogathon, listen to snatches of music and drink beer with people who know a lot about cricket. Which is surprising.
One's a Middlesex member who knows his onions. Many's the time Wickman has been wrapped up in what one can only describe as a "windcheater" in the top deck of the Compton watching whatever crud the ECB serves up in early May (usually Zimbabwe, New Zealand or latterly the poor old West Indies), glass of something fizzy in hand, feet and moments away from £100 worth of Marks & Spencer scoff with Middlesex Member muttering about over rates.
The other's been watching cricket for a long as Wickman and is a Surrey member. She's about as knowledgeable as a girl can be about cricket. From time to time she'll get on a bandwagon, elbow the driver aside and whip up the horses - most notably championing Jack Russell's inclusion in the England team every time the selectors left him out. She was not for turning. But she knows her cricket.
Both of these old sticks make Wickman look like a dangerous revolutionary who would demand 1010 if given a chance. Neither in previous years would have been seen dead at a 2020. But this year? They are there. The sheer sodding entertainment of it, the sheer sodding "I can get out of work at 5pm and watch a game of cricket"ness of it has seduced them.
Its not as if they are deserting the longer form of the game. Oh no. Middlesex will be at the first four days of the South Africa test. Surrey will likewise be there for the first four days of the Oval test. She's probably got tickets for Lords too because at heart she does like a trip to NW8.
They just love their cricket.
Wickman, as he said earlier, doesn't know WHAT to think. Look what's happening to our cricketers. If KP, Freddo (Wickman's assuming), Luke Wright et al beat the Windies in November they are going to head towards being seriously minted. KP has already married a member from a popular beat combination called Girls Aloud or something. What next? Belly hooking up with Gwyneth Paltrow when she gives up that moody cock from Coldplay? Monty P pulling Britney Spears? Everyone off to Oceana to have the Kingston totty pawing over them after a win at the Oval?
Wickman wonders whether Stanford could have started something. If Punter Ponting can only pick up a small six figure pay cheque for playing IPL what's to stop him upping sticks and picking up residency over here... or even becoming West Indian...
Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club * 1863 - 2013 * 150 Glorious Seasons
Friday, 13 June 2008
2020
Wickman doesn't know WHAT to think. In a week when some Texan billionaire is about to make Kevin Pietersen so rich that he doesn't have to bother playing IPL the English 2020 season has started.
Wickman is fully intending to head to London cricket grounds twice next week (must remind the wife) to watch the slogathon, listen to snatches of music and drink beer with people who know a lot about cricket. Which is surprising.
One's a Middlesex member who knows his onions. Many's the time Wickman has been wrapped up in what one can only describe as a "windcheater" in the top deck of the Compton watching whatever crud the ECB serves up in early May (usually Zimbabwe, New Zealand or latterly the poor old West Indies), glass of something fizzy in hand, feet and moments away from £100 worth of Marks & Spencer scoff with Middlesex Member muttering about over rates.
The other's been watching cricket for a long as Wickman and is a Surrey member. She's about as knowledgeable as a girl can be about cricket. From time to time she'll get on a bandwagon, elbow the driver aside and whip up the horses - most notably championing Jack Russell's inclusion in the England team every time the selectors left him out. She was not for turning. But she knows her cricket.
Both of these old sticks make Wickman look like a dangerous revolutionary who would demand 1010 if given a chance. Neither in previous years would have been seen dead at a 2020. But this year? They are there. The sheer sodding entertainment of it, the sheer sodding "I can get out of work at 5pm and watch a game of cricket"ness of it has seduced them.
Its not as if they are deserting the longer form of the game. Oh no. Middlesex will be at the first four days of the South Africa test. Surrey will likewise be there for the first four days of the Oval test. She's probably got tickets for Lords too because at heart she does like a trip to NW8.
They just love their cricket.
Wickman, as he said earlier, doesn't know WHAT to think. Look what's happening to our cricketers. If KP, Freddo (Wickman's assuming), Luke Wright et al beat the Windies in November they are going to head towards being seriously minted. KP has already married a member from a popular beat combination called Girls Aloud or something. What next? Belly hooking up with Gwyneth Paltrow when she gives up that moody cock from Coldplay? Monty P pulling Britney Spears? Everyone off to Oceana to have the Kingston totty pawing over them after a win at the Oval?
Wickman wonders whether Stanford could have started something. If Punter Ponting can only pick up a small six figure pay cheque for playing IPL what's to stop him upping sticks and picking up residency over here... or even becoming West Indian...
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