Smudger's Test Match Recollections

Lady like lobs?!?!?

In his late teen's our venerable erstwhile 2's skipper Mr Smujinder Smudgergee attended his first ever Test Match. He feels it bears some relevance to my recent grumbly post about skippers who seem unable to try something different.

His account shall do it more justice than anything I could attempt.

Looking at your contribution on the web, I'm surprised no one has repeated what the bow tied Lord Harris (England skipper) did in 1884 at Lords when playing Australia. This was the first time, a team passed 500 (Aus) in tests. It also saw the first individual double ton (Murdoch).

Anyway, as the score passed 500, the bow tied one got so fed up with the England wicket keeper - the Hon. Alfred Lyttleton - criticising the bowling that he put him on to bowl. Dr. WG went behind the stumps and bowling with his pads still on, the Hon. Alfred bowled a "succession of lady like lobs", taking 4 for 19.

What's more, as the Hon. Alfred never bowled in tests again, at 4.75 he has the best bowling average of either side in the history of the Ashes. Eat your heart out Warnie, Larwood etc.

Reminds me of the two seasons in a row my figures were 1-1. For a captain to get a bowler like me to have figures like that CONSISTENTLY, must have been one heck of a (cynically and selfishly opportunistic) skipper!!!!!!!