The Cricketer Magazine – June 2018

No.4 (and probably a No.2) instead of constantly
monkeying with the top order as I fear Ed Smith
will do.
Michael Walton, via email

I was at Lord’s for the fi rst two days and I left
feeling that it had been poor value for money,
especially when the players fail to complete 90
overs even with an extra 30 minutes. Nigel Owens
doesn’t blow for full-time after 75 minutes of a
rugby international and Roger Federer doesn’t
pack it in at four all in the fi nal set. No doubt
MCC were happy, because the ground was more
or less full for both days and the membership
waiting list grows ever longer, but the cricket
drove spectators to the bars and gardens. By way
of contrast, on the Saturday morning I ran an All
Stars session at my local club, aimed at fi ve to
eight-year-olds. They are, I hope, the future of
the game, and appear to derive huge pleasure
from these sessions. But would I recommend
Test cricket to them or their parents? Not from
what I saw on those two days.
Desmond High, Maidstone

100 club
Vic Marks is spot on. One short-term tournament
is fi ne and necessary, but having two is ridiculous.
The Blast is likely to su er from 2020 onwards
and, should this happen, what are the potential
consequences?  Almost inevitably there will be a
reduction in counties with amalgamation taking
place. Throwing money at the clubs is not the
only answer.
Les Bone, Basingstoke

When I read the articles and looked at those
wonderful photos of Denis Compton in

The Cricketer, I remembered why I used to love

the game. When I read the articles and looked

at the pictures of today’s cricketers I know why

I don’t love cricket any more. Cricket is a game,

like chess, that you have to put a lot of thought

into to get enjoyment out of it. If they ever bring

in 100-ball cricket then that really will be the end

of a fantastic game that has given me 60 years

of enjoyment.

John H Reynolds, Worcester

Some years ago, MCC put out a questionnaire

in which one question was, ‘Which three words

do you most associate with the club?” Refl ecting

on the hierarchy at the time, my answer was:

Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge. A single

word now also encompasses my feelings about

The 100-ball concept: balls.

Malcolm Watson, Berkshire

I’ve recently subscribed to your superb mag

after my local newsagent shut down. I have

been reading it for about 40 years. Just fi nished

your June issue and read the last paragraph of

The Googly. Great minds think alike. There is

absolutely no reason why a 20-over innings

cannot fi t into 75 minutes. Wiping the ball, having

a drink, organising the fi eld, captains running

up to the bowlers to have a chat and the one

that really drives me balmy: the time-out... why?

If the players got a move on we wouldn’t need this

new format.

Richard Parker, Birmingham

Ed Smith’s defence

Michael Henderson (The Bouncer, June) lays a

hefty charge sheet against Ed Smith. But since

when has it been the principal requirement

of the national selector that he be popular or

even likeable? What he needs above all else is

high cricketing intelligence, sound judgement

and independence of mind. Having read

Smith’s books and columns and listened to him

broadcasting, my fear is that his Achilles heel may

rather be a tendency to over-theorise. I only hope

that he has the openness to take on board the

common sense articulated by Philip Collins a few

pages later. In the last 25 years only 20 per cent of

English batsmen have a Test average higher than

their fi rst-class average. Expect 10-20 per cent

lower and then refl ect on whether or not a man

should be selected.

Paul Cli ord, Kirtlington

I am delighted to hear that Ed Smith has been

appointed as the new England national selector,

and, from reading his noetic articles and

appreciating his articulate commentary, I believe

he will be well suited to the role. This optimism

is tinged with a slight disappointment that we’ll

not hear him on TMS any longer. It was a breath of

fresh air to again listen to an ‘old-style’ measured

commentary (if that’s not too paradoxical),

punctuated by felicitous pauses. It was a

wonderful antidote to the supererogatory chatter

that seems to be in vogue today. Let’s hope

that the BBC, and now indeed TalkSport, will

remember that sometimes this sedate, sagacious

style is what the listener wants.

Chris Rushton, via email

What has Ed Smith ever done to Michael

Henderson? The latter’s ‘Bouncer’ column

was a deeply unpleasant, wounding attack on

Smith, based largely on hearsay evidence, and,

seemingly, personal dislike. This was, in my view,

Subscriber

of the month

Andrew Layton,

Calwell Australia,

54

What made you subscribe? The Cricketer

features balanced, well-written and

informative articles about cricket across the

world. I also appreciate reading a perspective

often quite di erent to stories in Australia.

How long have you followed cricket? Since I

started to play cricket on my home-grown

turf pitch in my backyard on the Gold Coast in

Queensland about 48 years ago.

Happiest cricket memory? As a teenager,

visiting the MCG to watch Rodney Hogg bowl

England out in the third Test of 1978/79. The

crowd roar when Hogg bowled Boycott for 1

was unbelievable and the good humour of the

English supporters (with their Union Jacks and

champagne) in front of me made for a great day.

Favourite thing about the magazine? I enjoy

reading ‘The Inside Track’ and ‘The Bouncer’.

Both writers provide a balanced and analytical

account of current issues.

What else would you like to see more of in the

magazine? More prominent coverage (images

and pages) given to the Test reports.

How do you rate the current England team?

Highly as an ODI team because beating

Australia convincingly in Australia this year was

a fi ne e ort. However, the Test team is relying

too heavily on Broad and Anderson and their

batting (like Australia’s!) is prone to collapse.

Which county do you follow? Middlesex. I

admired the teams of the 1980s and Lord’s, the

museum and public tour are memorable.

Our subscriber of the

month receives this

exquisite hand-made Italian

leather cricket ball wallet

designed by The Game.

http://www.thegame.cool

In defence of

Ed Smith

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