EYE OF THE STORM
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:10 am
EYE OF THE STORM
© Jeff Thorpe 19 December 2021
Imagine, armed with a stick, not five inches thick,
dodging a projectile hurled at 90 miles per hour
like carving waygu beef with tool of a chopstick,
prospects of evasion seemingly quite dour.
Yet, this setting is quite normal in the game of cricket,
the stick called a bat designed to shun the call “howsat”,
the missile a leather ball flung at a wicket
from 22 yards by one for sure no diplomat.
And amazingly, those batting wear no suit of armour,
facing the assault, gladiators in the pit,
fronting the bowler with poise of a snake charmer
possibly with more pluck than they’d care to admit.
Yes, they wear some padding, protecting vital parts,
helmets though a relatively recent addition,
a cricket pitch hardly a genteel School of Arts
more closely aligned with a derby of attrition.
Test Matches, cricket’s pinnacle, can play over five days
curiously, in that time, few injuries occur,
war time battles are done and dusted with less delays
and no wise men arrive with frankincense and myrrh.
Complex terms and procedures are adjudged by umpires two
bouncers, yorkers, lbws confuse the uninitiated,
overs, ducks, fours, sixes adding to the queue,
technology’s induction hints the game is overregulated.
Eleven players needed to complete a cricket side,
coin toss decides who will bat or field
wickets “fall” from sustained bowling floodtide
batters either bowled, caught or LB dalliance revealed.
As well, one can be “run out”, more rulebook complications,
bowlers “no balled”, fudging over their bowling line
sides may be “all out” or call declarations
or made to “follow on”, not a status to enshrine.
Played around the world with following immense
at times the competition downright spiteful,
England V Australia “bodyline” series truly saw offence,
actions on the field purposefully frightful.
Most recent Ashes matches saw bowlers brutal in the fray,
balls at speed striking helmets, ribs, limbs and family jewels,
causing opponents to drop by the way,
both sides bruised and battered though not illegal by the rules.
But, those with bat in hand have an ally there beside them
to shield them in the eye of the storm
can’t be given out on a no ball, statute that’s a gem,
middle finger to the bowler with advice how to perform.
Bradman, Tendulkur, Sobers, legends of the game,
their names forever etched in cricket’s annals,
records made by them still standing in the frame,
this sport where statisticians draw facts from many channels.
A family favourite game played on beaches round the land
each summer as a holiday pursuit
while Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test ably airs the brand
never failing in endeavour for spectators to recruit.
© Jeff Thorpe 19 December 2021
Imagine, armed with a stick, not five inches thick,
dodging a projectile hurled at 90 miles per hour
like carving waygu beef with tool of a chopstick,
prospects of evasion seemingly quite dour.
Yet, this setting is quite normal in the game of cricket,
the stick called a bat designed to shun the call “howsat”,
the missile a leather ball flung at a wicket
from 22 yards by one for sure no diplomat.
And amazingly, those batting wear no suit of armour,
facing the assault, gladiators in the pit,
fronting the bowler with poise of a snake charmer
possibly with more pluck than they’d care to admit.
Yes, they wear some padding, protecting vital parts,
helmets though a relatively recent addition,
a cricket pitch hardly a genteel School of Arts
more closely aligned with a derby of attrition.
Test Matches, cricket’s pinnacle, can play over five days
curiously, in that time, few injuries occur,
war time battles are done and dusted with less delays
and no wise men arrive with frankincense and myrrh.
Complex terms and procedures are adjudged by umpires two
bouncers, yorkers, lbws confuse the uninitiated,
overs, ducks, fours, sixes adding to the queue,
technology’s induction hints the game is overregulated.
Eleven players needed to complete a cricket side,
coin toss decides who will bat or field
wickets “fall” from sustained bowling floodtide
batters either bowled, caught or LB dalliance revealed.
As well, one can be “run out”, more rulebook complications,
bowlers “no balled”, fudging over their bowling line
sides may be “all out” or call declarations
or made to “follow on”, not a status to enshrine.
Played around the world with following immense
at times the competition downright spiteful,
England V Australia “bodyline” series truly saw offence,
actions on the field purposefully frightful.
Most recent Ashes matches saw bowlers brutal in the fray,
balls at speed striking helmets, ribs, limbs and family jewels,
causing opponents to drop by the way,
both sides bruised and battered though not illegal by the rules.
But, those with bat in hand have an ally there beside them
to shield them in the eye of the storm
can’t be given out on a no ball, statute that’s a gem,
middle finger to the bowler with advice how to perform.
Bradman, Tendulkur, Sobers, legends of the game,
their names forever etched in cricket’s annals,
records made by them still standing in the frame,
this sport where statisticians draw facts from many channels.
A family favourite game played on beaches round the land
each summer as a holiday pursuit
while Melbourne’s Boxing Day Test ably airs the brand
never failing in endeavour for spectators to recruit.