KBGS Old Boys' Forum
A place to discuss Keighley Boys' Grammar School.
Not a lot being said on this website just now about events unfolding on cricket pitches in Australia, where, it seems, the natural order of things is being restored in no uncertain terms - Can anyone explain this silence to me?
Doug
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
Without checking up, I doant think the Ozzies had a lot to say on their last tour of England, wingeing apart
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
It's tomorrow now, Terry, not yesteryear... But didn't England win last year not because they were particularly good, though clearly they thought they were with their childish peeing on the pitch etc, but because the Aussies were so weak, which was not surprising, they being at the end of a cycle and having lost several of their key players of recent years into retirement. But they are rapidly building a team that's looking unbeatable, at least so far as the England team are concerned - that same, virtually unchanged England team that was so self-indulgent in its triumphalism just a few months ago. As I say... the natural order of things...
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
For some of the team members it is one tour too many. Bring in Bresnan.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55-60
Current location (optional) Harrogate
Might we expect all 4 Yorkshire Players in next match ? Then we will beat them. Probably not, as they wont drop Prior for Bairstow. Bresnan will be back Im sure.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Oh for the days of Brian Statham and Frank Tyson. One of my most memorable moments as a young bloke in Australia, my first year in 1954, and I made my first visit to the MCG with a lady from work and her husband who hailed from Shipley.(aside--- She told me that she went to school with Jim Laker.) that 3rd test over the New Year holiday was a fantastic experience for me, when our quicks went through the Aussies like a dose of Epsom salts. In those days new Poms took a bit of stick for their accents and what the cricket team would do to the Poms. I had a lot of pleasure in getting a bit of my own back. Happy memories. Makes up for the agony of watching these upstarts who think they can bat and can't get behind the ball or play a straight bat when required. I ask myself sometimes "Do these chaps actually get paid to do that?" That's a grumpy old cricket lover sounding off. Enough. Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
I think, Doug, you have passed too many saisons in Oz and that, mixing as you have with Lotoz Eaters, you have drunk deeply of the potion that makes men forget their country - to seh nowt of their county.
Not enough Tykes i't teeam. Tha' sud a spotted that.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Well, Terry, to tell tha'truith, when a were in such places as darkest Melbourne this last summer, a kept on sayin to 'em, tha's noan sayin a lot abaht cricket as y'ave in't'past, why's that a wonder...? An t'only answer they 'ad were to pass me another stubby! Glad a'm not there now tho'!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
Too much short stuff. Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55-60
Current location (optional) Harrogate
Being unaware of this effect may promote the outcome where the underdog comes out on top. viz Colchester Utd v Leeds Utd etc.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Cloud-cuckoo land calling, Terry! A question of temperament, being overawed by the context...
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
"Exceptio probat regulam"
Alec, I'm desperately searching for your 'exceptiones', but in vain. The 'regula' however, seems to be holding firm, indeed, uncomfortably so!
Doug
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
Not enough Tykes i't teeam. Tha' sud a spotted that.
That's what I thought at first. Now I'm thinking that there are not enough Kiwis in the team. The young fella Ben Stokes did alright eh? Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
I checked up on his credentials, Bill, and this is what I found
http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/311158.html
I didn't need to read he was born in Christchurch etc - he just looked "Kiwi"
What is it that makes a Kiwi look one?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
It's about time that only players who were actually born in England were selected. That goes for the coaching staff also, as far as I am concerned.
Like him or not, and I DO, Geoff Boycott speaks, and always has, A LOT OF SENSE!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959 - 1966
Current location (optional) Shoreham-by-Se
It's about time that only players who were actually born in England were selected. That goes for the coaching staff also, as far as I am concerned.
Like him or not, and I DO, Geoff Boycott speaks, and always has, A LOT OF SENSE!
If Yorkshire players are as good as Brian suggests then they should be selected but as long as we have so many South Africans , and Piertersen in particular, in OUR team then we'll never do anything.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1959 - 1966
Current location (optional) Shoreham-by-Se
What is it that makes a Kiwi look one?
If I told you that Terry we would both know! Actually, there are at least two South Africans in the NZ team. They are everywhere after fleeing their own country. I totally agree that it should be birthright to play for your country. I saw a short clip last night of an interview with Geoffrey and he was of the opinion that the English coach needs to go.
ps when I am back in Yorkshire I am rarely taken for a local (good or bad?) haha!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
>>ps when I am back in Yorkshire I am rarely taken for a local (good or bad?) haha!
I was walking by the Great Ouse near Huntingdon last summer and talking to a few people who were fishing or walking. They seemed quite sceptical that I was English, despite my having been born and raised within 30 miles of there. The fishing bailiff who checked my permit when I was later fishing, seemed to think I was there to eat the fish.
The past is a foreign country. Perhaps someone who returns after a gap of 25+ years appears like a stranger to those in the "now".
I learned decades ago, when I knew a Tazzie, that my best strategy when the subject of cricket was raised was the first line of the old Yorkshire saying - "Hear all, see all, say nowt."
Best to stick to that now.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65
Current location (optional) Leeds
So, really, Shaun. back to the silence from which this thread started. RIP - both cricket and the thread.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
Not quite Doug!
I can't resist adding my two penn'orth to Dave's comments about Boycott's common sense observations. I'm just a bit disappointed that it's taken Geoff so long to realise, or perhaps bring himself to dare remark (unlikely given his predilection for "telling it how it is"), about Pietersen - something that's been manifestly evident to me, at least, for ages!
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
Yes, Brian, I couldn't agree more! Did you see Ricky Pontin's comments about the England side - quite restrained for him - but he certainly singled out Pieterson as found wanting. But more appropriately, I thought, he did suggest that these things go in cycles and Australia are at the beginning of an upswing in their fortunes again, and England, after a brief period of supremacy, are tottering - I can't see me getting to Australia again for three or four years... wouldn't dare!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Cottingham, E. Yorkshire
I don't recall Boycott ever playing for England. Boycott played for Boycott.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 55-60
Current location (optional) Harrogate
Boycott's column in daily Telegraph today begins with this sentence. I mean, talk about stating the obvious.
'The reason England are in a mess is that they have batsmen who cannot score runs and bowlers who cannot take wickets' !
Very deep thinking Geoff !
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Whoever he played for, Alec, at least he delivered out on the pitch when things weren't always rosy, which is more than can be said for certain of our current "team-men".
And, if this is just the beginning of an Aussie "upswing", Doug, God help us next series!
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
True, Brian, one could almost guarantee a draw when Boycott played.
And wouldn't that be an "upswing" in England's current predicament?
Current location (optional) Dudley, West Midlands
And if we drew the next two games we'd still lose.
Australia's first innings in the Boxing Day Test went downhill with Yorkshire players having a hand in 7 out of their 9 lost wickets.
I think Brian Moate should take over from Andy Flower.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
This is beginning to sound like mysticism, Terry...
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
By the natural order, do you mean an even balance?; for according to Wikipedia Australia have won 32 series to England's 31 (this series inc).
But to make sure I don't let this slight imbalance disturb me, I get out and play my 3 disc DVD set "The Ashes - The greatest series" (ie 2005) And that puts a different perspective on the stats - mysticism? No - mastery!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
LOL Terry, I think they will play Ballance in last test, but probably Bresnan will not play as they will give Boyd Rankin a go.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Thanks, Brian. The job's yours.
See what I mean, Doug?
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
We will know in about 4hrs what the team is, I suppose there's a chance we might get 4 Yorkshire players, but 3 is more likely.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Oops, got that wrong, they kept Carberry and dropped Root. Carberry promptly got a duck !
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Root hasn't an impressive record against Australia. Take out his top score and his average is around 20. Not good enough for a "top order batsman".
Alec that's true, but hes done better than Carberry. His off spin may be useful too.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
......and just noticed Root took two catches fielding as a 'sub' !
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
All Fall Down !!!!!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
I couldn't believe it when I watched the England captain "shoulder arms" to a straight one. How embarrassing! Maybe it is a sign of the times and getting on a bit but some of the English team look like they should be playing school cricket. Like policemen and soldiers, they look so young today! Haha. Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
Ah well its all over now ! Thank Goodness.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Time I came back, since I stirred up this particular can of worms (I choose my words carefully, Terry!). 'Balance' wasn't what/who I had in mind, although I must confess I had believed the Aussies to have won rather more and England rather fewer series than Terry assures us is the case. What I mean by 'the natural order of things' is simply the cyclic nature of the fortunes of both sides, indeed of all international cricketing or other team-sport sides, caused by 'ageing', injury or just becoming clapped-out, the old 'what goes around comes around'. I have the impression that for cricket teams the cycles are getting shorter, players not lasting as long as they used to, perhaps because they are playing far more test matches and one-day series than was the case in 'my day'. The pressures, especially from the media, must be enormous and some individuals weather them better than others. Press criticism has regularly become abusive and any player willing to shoot his mouth off in as vile a manner as he can (the latest being the Aussie Watson re-Trott) gets a hearing because that sells copy. And maybe the bottom line is that too much money is at stake and the players suffer in proportion to how much. But, if winning is all that matters then cheer up everybody, there's always tomorrow...
Soon, Terry, you'll be able to get the DVD of the worst series ever, to set beside your 2005 one... for me (and I was certainly partisan then) the greatest series had to be 1956 (if I have the date right), the 'Laker' series. What I didn't realise then, of course, was that the Aussies I saw beaten then were not the Aussies who had wiped the floor with England in the Bradman and post-Bradman years, even though several of the players bore the same names. Of course, as Bill reminded us, the Laker series must have been a follow-on from the Tyson series and England were in an upward phase, the Aussies in a downward one... I'm afraid I have long felt emotionally detached from the triumphalism occasioned by the win of the moment, partly because aware that tomorrow will show us something different, partly because 'sport' is a good deal less 'sporting' than it ought to be (they're only 'games' after all!) - once huge amounts of cash came on the scene sport was doomed - like the NHS, Higher Education, Public Transport... Maybe it's that detachment that allows me to play the Devil's advocate... but it does also carry with it a sense of something lost.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
I couldn't agree more about sport being "doomed" or changed forever once they started throwing the big money at it. You may have read over the last couple of weeks about a young Kiwi batsman, Corey Anderson, setting a new ODI record for a century in 36 balls against the West Indies, who are but a shadow of the team I watched in 1960-61 in a world record crowd at the MCG, the old ODI record standing since 1996. Corey is/was a promising young player until this happened. Now there are reports from India that they are very interested in him and are talking about million dollar contracts. Who wouldn't be interested? Cheers.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
Oh dear, this just arrived in my inbox from an Aussie friend. Cheers.
Subject: FW: It didn't take long and it was predictable
From my English Partner – he decided to get in first!
Q. What do you get if you cross the English cricket team with an OXO cube?
A. A laughing stock.
Q What is the height of optimism?
A: English batsman putting on sunscreen.
Q. What is the difference between an English batsman and a Formula 1 car at high speed?
A. Nothing! If you blink you will miss them both.
Q. What do English batsmen and drug addicts have in common?
A. Both spend most of their time wondering where their next score will come from.
Q. What does an English batsman who is playing in The Ashes have in common with Michael Jackson?
A.They both wore gloves for no apparent reason.
Q. What is the difference between Cinderella and the Pommy cricket team?
A. Cinderella knew when to leave the ball.
Q. What's the difference between the Pommy cricket team and a funeral director?
A. A funeral director isn't going to lose the ashes.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1947-51
Current location (optional) Auckland NZ
Bit of a red herring but we have Keighley born woman in the England team currently playing Australia, indeed she top scored with 68 in the first innings, and 35 in the second. This is Arran Brindle. She bats at no 5.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 58-64
Current location (optional) Wirral
Here come the girls! Watch out Wallies!and/or Roos. English Sheilas shine downunder.
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1952-60
Current location (optional) Nirvana
Don't be vulgar, Terry!
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Cottingham, E. Yorkshire
This appeared among my e-mal messages today, from where I have no idea. However, I'm sure that followers of this thread will appreciate it...
Federal Court Ruling on 7-Y-O Boy....
CANBERRA -
A seven-year-old boy was at the centre of a courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.
The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with the child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.
The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.
After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.
After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the English Cricket team, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
Doug
Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58
Current location (optional) Mid-Lancashire/ East Yorkshire
