Category Archives: Lords cricket ground

Ranjan Mellawa’s Magnum Opus on Sri Lankan Cricket

Mahinda Wijesinghe, in Island, 19 May 2020, where the title runs “Winds behind the willows. An Encyclopaedic history of SL cricket with”warts and all,

  a rare photo taken in Colombo (October 1930) of S.P. Foenander, then the Sports Editor of ‘Ceylon Observer’, gifting a replica of the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy (Temple of the Tooth) to Don Bradman. Foenander is carrying Australian skipper Bill Woodfull’s son, Jack, in his arms. (Courtesy State Library of South Australia – PRG 682/16/108)

Almost a century ago, S.P.Foenander, referred internationally as the ‘Wisden of the East’, authored his 268-page classic tome ‘Sixty Years of Ceylon Cricket’ (Ceylon Advertising & General Publicity – 1924). That was the first book which authoritatively enlightened the cricket world about cricket and cricketers between the years 1863 to 1923, in the then fair isle of Ceylon. One must also remember that Foenander, who even rubbed shoulders with the legendary Bradman – see photo below- must have experienced the difficulties at that time in collecting/collating information and statistics and so on in compiling his book. After all, the print media at that time was not developed; TV nor Internet was not even thought of. In short sophisticated communication systems were not even in its infancy. So the accolade of being the pioneer of cricket journalism in Ceylon falls squarely on the shoulders of the late S.P. Foenander.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under confrontations on field, cricket and life, cricket governance, cricketing icons, English cricket, International Cricket Council, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, player selections, politics and cricket, unusual people, World Cup 2015, World Cup 2019

Galle Cricket Stadium tops the Twitter Chart

Rex Clementine in Island, 1 May 2020 where the title reads “Galle voted world’s best cricket ground ahead of Lord’s”

Galle International Cricket Stadium has been voted as the best cricket ground in the world ahead of home of cricket – Lord’s and other leading international cricket grounds. In a survey conducted by cricket statistician Jarrod Kimber through twitter, an audience from all over the world voted and Galle earned the top price. 

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Adelaide Oval, cricket and life, cricket governance, cricketing icons, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, performance, politics and cricket, Rex Clementine, sanath jayasuriya, Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket, unusual people, unusual statistics

Jofra Archer empties the LORD’s Bar

A REVIEW from one ERROL in a Note to one GAVIN, 18 August 2019

The message I am receiving is that it is all over and Tim Paine already has the Ashes in his suitcase. Of course, this may well be true. However, I merely want people to hold on a moment because I would always back the side bowling fourth. I would hate to be the side chasing even one hundred to win a match. The nerves and tension are usually unbearable.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under cricket and life, cricket tamashas, cricketing icons, English cricket, Ian Botham, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, performance

Ireland at Lords: From Dream Start to Apocalyptic Crash

George Dobell, in ESPNcricinfo, 26 July 2019, where the title is “Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad wreck Ireland dream in a session”

England have completed one of the great comeback victories in Test history after bowling out Ireland for 38 in the fourth innings at Lord’s.

Not since 1907, when England defeated South Africa in Leeds despite having made just 76 in their first innings, has a side won a Test having made such a low first-innings score. But despite England being bowled out for 85 before lunch on the first day, a devastating spell of new ball bowling from Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad saw Ireland bowled out in just 15.4 overs to leave England the victors by 143 runs. It is the fifth lowest first-innings total in history to have resulted in a win and the first Test since 1887 in which two sides have each been bowled out in a single session.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under cricket and life, English cricket, George Dobell, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments

Touche! Skanda is on the Ball: Cricket is A LEVELLER

Somachandra Skandakumar

The two semi finals of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will go down in cricket history as ones that reminded us all again that this great game we call cricket which has stood the test of time is also the greatest leveller.

While more than a billion Indians reflect on opportunities missed in a dream shattered, Australia had their batting tested and bowling seriously embarrassed. It has often been debated that both losing teams have from time to time displayed  arrogance and conduct  not consistent with the spirit of the game. They were both humbled way beyond expectations.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Australian cricket, cricket and life, English cricket, fair play, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, performance, politics and cricket, sportsmanship

When India surprised the Mighty West India in 1983 World Cup

Item in Outlook India, May 2019 with this title “Howzzat! Clive Lloyd’s West Indies Vanquished! Thr Fascinating Story of India’s First Limited Overs victory”

March 29, 1983 is a milestone in Indian cricket. India defeated the mighty West Indies by 27 runs in the second outing of a three-match series to register their maiden victory in the limited-overs format. This fantastic win helped India believe that it could play this format. Effectively, Kapil’s Devils went on to win the Prudential Cricket World Cup in 1983 at Lord’s. Veteran journalist ASHISH RAY remembers this epic win in his book “Cricket World Cup: The Indian Challenge”.

HOWZZAT! Clive Lloyd's West Indies Vanquished! The Fascinating Story of India's First Limited Overs Cricket Victory
Kapil’s Devils beat heavy favourites West Indies in the final of Prudential Cricket World Cup in 1983 at Lord’s to effectively change the history of the sport ….File Photo

One-day cricket was introduced domestically in England in 1963 to arrest falling gate receipts. In 1975 this format evolved into the inaugural World Cup. But the BCCI was indifferent to limited overs cricket and public interest in India in the shorter version of the game was also lukewarm. More crucially, Indian cricketers experienced very few one-day internationals and were not inclined towards these either. Indeed, they performed disastrously in the first two World Cups. So, what triggered the dramatic transformation in ability and mindset in the third World Cup in 1983? Here’s the intriguing, little known story in CRICKET WORLD CUP: THE INDIAN CHALLENGE, an eye-witness history of the tournament from an Indian perspective by ASHIS RAY, the world’s senior-most still active cricket broadcaster, just published by BLOOMSBURY. (Complete Cricket World Cup 2019 coverage)

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under cricket and life, cricket in India, cricketing icons, Indian cricket, Lords cricket ground, performance, West Indian Cricket

When India won the World Cup in England in 1983

October 29, 2014: 1983 Till the victory over Zimbabwe, India had looked shaky. After that, under Kapil’s leadership, they had the confidence to overthrow any team that came their way. ©Getty Images

Courtesy of http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/gallery/475151.html

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under child of empire, close finsihes, cricket tamashas, cricketing icons, Indian cricket, Lords cricket ground, memorable moments, performance, unusual statistics, West Indian Cricket

An Indian Summer of Cricket in 1946 …. After One Storm and before Another

Anindya Dutta, courtesy of The Cricket Monthly and ESPNcricinfo, 25 June 2018, where the title runs A dinner in 1946″

The year was 1946. England was caught between the exhilaration of emerging victorious from the Second World War and the devastation the war had wrought upon the country, both in terms of people and resources. Rationing was still in place, and the economy was in tatters.

 Lala Amarnath, Nawab of Pataudi snr and Shute Banerjee arrive in England for the 1946 tour

For six long years, while war raged, cricket had taken a backseat. There had been little first-class cricket, and the battlefields claimed some of England’s most talented players, like the venerated Hedley Verity. There were only 11 first-class matches in the 1945 season. Nineteen forty-six was the first year when a normal county season was scheduled and Test cricket could again be played. Cricket was seen as a way to restore a feeling of normalcy to a country severely affected by war and its consequences.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under child of empire, cricket and life, cricketing icons, Lords cricket ground, performance, unusual people

Sri Lankans at Lords in 1984: Video Clips

Courtesy of island.lk

http://island-cricket.com/videos/sri-lanka/cricket/sl-cricketers-at-lords-in-1984-famous-bothammendis-battle-and-sidaths-century

Sri Lanka at Lord’s in 1984 – the famous Botham-Mendis battle and Sidath’s century

Wettimuny cover drives -Getty Pics Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under Botham, cricket and life, cricketing icons, Hilal Suhaib, Ian Botham, Lords cricket ground, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength

Sangakkara’s Picture of An Innings bests his Artistic Shadow

Michael Henderson,  courtesy of  The Times, May 20 2017, where the title reads“Sangakkara produces a picture of an innings to put Surrey on top”

 Sangakkara passed his portrait at Lord’s before his 113 not out yesterdayGRAHAM MORRIS/THE TIMES
At 12.30pm yesterday, after a dank morning that had just admitted the first trace of brightness, something remarkable occurred. On the fall of Surrey’s second wicket Kumar Sangakkara left the dressing room and, on the stairs that lead to the Long Room, the great Sri Lankan batsman walked past a portrait of himself that had been hung on the wall only the day before. He then made 113 of the most lyrical runs you will see this summer, or any summer, to remind everybody that he remains a cricketer in the present tense. No sentimentalist, he. Five months short of his 40th birthday, Sangakkara continues to bring distinction to a game that he has adorned for two decades, and aren’t we the lucky ones!

Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under cricket and life, cricketing icons, English cricket, Lords cricket ground, performance, Sangakkara, Sri Lanka Cricket, tower of strength, unusual people