Taking sport too seriously

Sachin is currently playing his last test match, probably pound for pound the most truly beloved man in the world, so the hype is to be forgiven. He is a superstar. He does seem lovely. He has been a great batsman and has broken the records in terms of runs scored, appearances made, centuries made etc. My brother once saw him buying batting gloves in VKS in Ealing. His son plays for Ealing now, apparently. Super. He isn't, of course, the "Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan of cricket", as Brian Lara, nor is he "possibly the finest batsman/cricketer ever" as various people have foolishly said. Bradman is the finest batsman ever, by too far to even talk about. If Sachin ended with an average of 60, and Bradman of 70, then there might be scope for discussion, but just to remind you, Sachin finished with an average of 53 and a half, Bradman 99.94. Sachin is one amongst equals, amongst several great batsmen - consistency has been his great gift, as well as grace u

I've been a little nostalgic lately. I remembered my first ever competitive game of cricket, as a little 8 year old playing for Ealing Under 11s against Turnham Green Under 11s on a leafy summer evening in Chiswick. It was another boy's first game for Ealing too, though he was 10 already. He was called Umer Rashid. Like me, he was a left-hander, and bowled left-arm medium pace. I remember I batted Number 11, naturally, and joined Umer at the crease with us needing about 3 to win. I managed to get an edge on one and he called me through for what would have been my first ever run, but Umer managed to get himself run out (I think cos he dropped his bat!). We lost the game, and I'd have to wait a little longer for my first run. Curses. Umer developed pretty rapidly through the ranks of Ealing, in particular when one of the coaches, Roger Yowart (the least said about whom, the better) changed him from a left arm seamer to a left arm spinner. It was not long before he was act