Cricket things that annoy you

[Rabish Binney]

Free cartons of darts to the MOTM

I remember the Benson and Hedges signs (underneath the sight boards) at each end of the grounds when they sponsored cricket in Australia

Ian Chappell; Keith Stackpole; Rod Marsh & Doug Walters (amongst others) were all sponsored by different Tobacco Companies and all received free cartons of smokes to give out and promote that certain brand.

Jeez, how times have changed.

 

[PhatBoy]

I remember the Benson and Hedges signs (underneath the sight boards) at each end of the grounds when they sponsored cricket in Australia

Ian Chappell; Keith Stackpole; Rod Marsh & Doug Walters (amongst others) were all sponsored by different Tobacco Companies and all received free cartons of smokes to give out and promote that certain brand.

Jeez, how times have changed.

What a time to be alive. I think I’ve mentioned this here before but to this day the best batsman in our first grade comp - and bear in mind it’s not a micky mouse comp, it’s produced some state level players and a current ACT Comet among others so it’s a generally decent standard - is a 50 year old Indian man who stands at first slip when he fields and last I knew (I haven’t played at that grade for some time but I know for a fact he’s still a heavy smoker) he would still take to the field with a 40 pack of Holidays in his pocket and every time a wicket fell, a plume of smoke could be seen from the huddle as he choofed one down at breakneck speed before the next batsman arrived. The bloke sees the thing like it’s a planet and hits it as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen so I don’t suppose he has to worry much about running

 

[Gough]

What a time to be alive. I think I’ve mentioned this here before but to this day the best batsman in our first grade comp - and bear in mind it’s not a micky mouse comp, it’s produced some state level players and a current ACT Comet among others so it’s a generally decent standard - is a 50 year old Indian man who stands at first slip when he fields and last I knew (I haven’t played at that grade for some time but I know for a fact he’s still a heavy smoker) he would still take to the field with a 40 pack of Holidays in his pocket and every time a wicket fell, a plume of smoke could be seen from the huddle as he choofed one down at breakneck speed before the next batsman arrived. The bloke sees the thing like it’s a planet and hits it as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen so I don’t suppose he has to worry much about running

You could see AB puffing away when things were going bad for us which in the 80s was most of the time. Alderman, Reid and Matthews all smoked as well that I remember.

 

[Rabish Binney]

What a time to be alive. I think I’ve mentioned this here before but to this day the best batsman in our first grade comp - and bear in mind it’s not a micky mouse comp, it’s produced some state level players and a current ACT Comet among others so it’s a generally decent standard - is a 50 year old Indian man who stands at first slip when he fields and last I knew (I haven’t played at that grade for some time but I know for a fact he’s still a heavy smoker) he would still take to the field with a 40 pack of Holidays in his pocket and every time a wicket fell, a plume of smoke could be seen from the huddle as he choofed one down at breakneck speed before the next batsman arrived. The bloke sees the thing like it’s a planet and hits it as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen so I don’t suppose he has to worry much about running

How do guys do that?

Towards the end of my cricket career, I played down in the C grade as still had the desire to play and wanted to play with my mates (we all ended up down there after our A grade days were over).

As it was a bit more relaxed than our previous playing days, 3 or 4 of them would have a couple of beers before play started & I just couldn't get my head around how they could do it.

I love a beer more than most people but the thought of having a couple before going out and fielding for 65 overs in 35c heat just put me off.

What's more they'd have another 1 or 2 at afternoon tea!!

 

[Rabish Binney]

You could see AB puffing away when things were going bad for us which in the 80s was most of the time. Alderman, Reid and Matthews all smoked as well that I remember.

I recall Greg Matthews getting into trouble with the ACB (as it was back then) after he was filmed ripping a packet of smokes in half?

Something to do with a corporate company promoting a healthy lifestyle I think

B & H were the sponsors back and and they were less than impressed apparently.

 

[Gough]

How do guys do that?

Towards the end of my cricket career, I played down in the C grade as still had the desire to play and wanted to play with my mates (we all ended up down there after our A grade days were over).

As it was a bit more relaxed than our previous playing days, 3 or 4 of them would have a couple of beers before play started & I just couldn't get my head around how they could do it.

I love a beer more than most people but the thought of having a couple before going out and fielding for 65 overs in 35c heat just put me off.

What's more they'd have another 1 or 2 at afternoon tea!!

In Yakking Around the World Simon Hughes talks writes about playing grade in Auckland and players putting out joints as they walked onto the field.

 

[PhatBoy]

How do guys do that?

Towards the end of my cricket career, I played down in the C grade as still had the desire to play and wanted to play with my mates (we all ended up down there after our A grade days were over).

As it was a bit more relaxed than our previous playing days, 3 or 4 of them would have a couple of beers before play started & I just couldn't get my head around how they could do it.

I love a beer more than most people but the thought of having a couple before going out and fielding for 65 overs in 35c heat just put me off.

What's more they'd have another 1 or 2 at afternoon tea!!

I’m the same beer wise I couldn’t understand how a few of the lower grade blokes could actually run around with a few under the belt. Having a couple and watching: no better pastime, or having a long neck at the speed of light as soon as the game is finished, but during? No thanks.

When I was actually ‘cricket fit’ and in my late 20s/early 30s the darts didn’t worry me TOO much I guess because I was always at the nets so if I really had to I could bowl a long spell though that NEVER ever translated to batting for some reason. I’ve never been fast, always been at best slightly pudgy and at worst straight out fat, and any innings longer than 20-30 was always likely to have me doubled over at the non-striker’s end gasping for breath at some point questioning why I ever smoked.

A feeling which of course lasted only until drinks at which point I would walk straight past the esky to get to my kit and have a durry

 

[Flogwater]

Free cartons of darts to the MOTM

Gold goblets to the MOTM.

Both captains receive cheques from the B&H kitty.

Great times ...

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I remember the Benson and Hedges signs (underneath the sight boards) at each end of the grounds when they sponsored cricket in Australia

Ian Chappell; Keith Stackpole; Rod Marsh & Doug Walters (amongst others) were all sponsored by different Tobacco Companies and all received free cartons of smokes to give out and promote that certain brand.

Jeez, how times have changed.

That came about in the 1950s because cigarette companies where one of the few companies prepared to give players time off to play Tests and tour other countries. Norm O'Neill with Rothmans, etc.

 

[eddiesmith]

I’m the same beer wise I couldn’t understand how a few of the lower grade blokes could actually run around with a few under the belt. Having a couple and watching: no better pastime, or having a long neck at the speed of light as soon as the game is finished, but during? No thanks.

When I was actually ‘cricket fit’ and in my late 20s/early 30s the darts didn’t worry me TOO much I guess because I was always at the nets so if I really had to I could bowl a long spell though that NEVER ever translated to batting for some reason. I’ve never been fast, always been at best slightly pudgy and at worst straight out fat, and any innings longer than 20-30 was always likely to have me doubled over at the non-striker’s end gasping for breath at some point questioning why I ever smoked.

A feeling which of course lasted only until drinks at which point I would walk straight past the esky to get to my kit and have a durry

Never smoked so that was never my issue, but could bowl all day but batting for some reason could never go too long. Must be a different kind of fitness I’ve never possessed and after today, probably too old to ever get it. Stand and deliver and try not to run was always the order of the day!

 

[PhatBoy]

Never smoked so that was never my issue, but could bowl all day but batting for some reason could never go too long. Must be a different kind of fitness I’ve never possessed and after today, probably too old to ever get it. Stand and deliver and try not to run was always the order of the day!

I think maybe the psychological thing with bowling was knowing that you can pace yourself maybe?? If you want to ease off a bit for a ball you can, if you want to just take an extra moment you can, etc etc.

If you’re batting, you don’t have much choice. Yes if you don’t have to run you aren’t exerting yourself but if you or your partner find a gap 3-4 balls in a row, you don’t have a choice, you have to smash yourself for maybe 20-40-60 metres at a time, basically as fast as you can run with full kit on, and then you have to suck it up and go again at whatever time frame the bowler dictates. It’s a lot of perceived pressure on the body I suppose that you don’t have a lot of control over

 

[nobbyiscool]

I think maybe the psychological thing with bowling was knowing that you can pace yourself maybe?? If you want to ease off a bit for a ball you can, if you want to just take an extra moment you can, etc etc.

If you’re batting, you don’t have much choice. Yes if you don’t have to run you aren’t exerting yourself but if you or your partner find a gap 3-4 balls in a row, you don’t have a choice, you have to smash yourself for maybe 20-40-60 metres at a time, basically as fast as you can run with full kit on, and then you have to suck it up and go again at whatever time frame the bowler dictates. It’s a lot of perceived pressure on the body I suppose that you don’t have a lot of control over

It's to do with different kinds of exhaustion and exertion. Bowling is short, sharp bursts of exertion, I'd argue that bowling is more athletic and physically exhausting. Batting is (hopeful) long periods of concentration, and learning to switch off at the appropriate times is in my opinion a key facet of learning to bat as a young boy or girl; I'd argue that batting is much more a mental challenge, and more mentally exhausting. The physical challenge of running between wickets is (or should be) about the easiest task in cricket.

When I was a young fella it was wicket keeping that taught me that concentration and knowing when/how to switch off, which in turn made me into a decent opening bat.

 

[Plugger35]

That came about in the 1950s because cigarette companies where one of the few companies prepared to give players time off to play Tests and tour other countries. Norm O'Neill with Rothmans, etc.

Doug Walters had a job with Rothmans too and he made the most of their free ciggies, he apparently smoked like a chimney.

Rod Marsh didn't mind a dart either, I saw him smoking outside a roadhouse when I was a kid on holidays in South West WA.

Dennis Lillee didn't smoke and Kim Hughes and Terry Alderman didn't smoke when they coached me in Subi Floreat juniors.