Dizzojay's Dean Dreams

Some of you may be aware that here at my journal I've occasionally mentioned a love of an absurd little game called Cricket over the years.  I grew up with it, and have always enjoyed watching it.

Obviously I've always supported the England team, and also the Surrey team as that's been my home team since I was a child.

There was a player who played for Surrey and England throughout the 90's and early 2000's called Graham Thorpe.  He was a brilliant batsman, and dug us out of lots of hopeless situations over the years.  He played a hundred matches for England, many more for Surrey, and I don't know a single person who had a bad word to say for him.  Everything I read seemed to suggest he was a thoroughly unassuming, decent bloke.

It was a running joke that he wasn't a tall man, and over the years the other team members blamed his belligerent batting style on 'small man syndrome'. There may have been some truth in that!   The fact that he was quite easy on the eye back in the day didn't hurt either. (What, if you don't know I'm shallow by now, have you actually been reading my journal?)

I saw him play live many times, score a couple of centuries, and I'm so glad that I did, it was an absolute privilege.

Last week, we got the tragic news that Graham Thorpe passed away at the age of 55.  Taken far too young.

My thoughts are with his loved ones at this terribly sad time.

RIP Thorpey  Thank you for the memories x


( Pictures )
 

We did it!!

I feel like I've aged ten years after watching the game, and New Zealand were fabulous opponents who challenged us every minute of the game, but England evenutally triumphed in the last ball of a 'Super Over' (effectively a penalty shoot out because the actual game was tied).

For the last half-hour I was pacing round the room because I just couldn't sit still.

Well done England - it's been a long wait but what a win!

Now many of you may know that I'm rather fond of the daft little game called Cricket that we Brits love so much.   At the moment, our England team are touring in the test series in the West Indies and - unfortunately - not doing very well!

However, this post isn't about that.  as an England Cricket supporter, 'not doing very well' is in my DNA; I'm numb to it now!

Yesterday, it was reported that - as is often the case - things were getting a bit spicy on the pitch.  There was a bit of 'sledging' (or banter) and a bit of argy-bargy was going on.  That's not at all unusual, and perfectly fine - after all, a lot of energetic young guys in a high-pressure, competitive environment?  Of course, things are going to get a bit heated; that's only to be expected.

In the midst of one of these heated moments, a West Indies player, Shannon Gabriel, went nose-to-nose with our England Captain, Joe Root, and said something to him.  The stump mic didn't pick up what Shannon said, but it did pick up Joe Root's response.  Joe's words that were picked up on the stump mic were, "... don't use it as an insult; there's nothing wrong with being gay".

Being England Captain makes you a role model - whether you want that or not - and you become a focal point for the next generation.  Lots of starry-eyed kids will be watching your every move.  And with those twelve words, Joe Root has proven himself to be a role model of the highest order.



I love our daft little game just a little bit more right now!


(For the record, I choose to believe that Shannon's words, whatever they were, were poorly chosen ones spoken in the heat of the moment.  We've all been there; opened our mouth and instantly regretted it as a load of inappropriate shit came drivelling out.  Shannon has been handed a four-match ban, so he'll have plenty of time to reflect and learn from the incident, and I wish him well.)

I thought I'd rec something a little different today, so I'm reccing a piece of artwork that I made a few years ago and the story that goes with it.

The story was written for a 'round the world' challenge here on Lj, and the brief was to write a story involving a sport that is played in any country other than the USA.

As I'm in the UK, and Cricket is our national summer game, plus I also come from a Cricketing household, this was the result ...


( Ashes to ashes )

I don't know why, but the passing of Australian cricketer Phil Hughes has affected me quite profoundly.  I'm not a sobbing wreck or anything, but I'm definitely a little subdued - just in a bit of a contemplative and reflective mood, I guess.

Perhaps it's because I like cricket; I grew up with the game and I still follow it closely and so I'm familiar with the personalities involved.  Perhaps it's because he was an Aussie and I feel a particular kinship with our antipodean friends, being blessed in having both friends and family in Australia and New Zealand.

Whatever it is, the death of any 25 year old man, regardless of the circumstances is a tragedy.  When his death is so freakishly flukey, with odds against it that resemble a telephone number, it's just horrific beyond words.


( Bats out for Phil Hughes )