As the Big Bash League gets into full swing I bring you an extract from the article 'My Top Ten Blockers' from Forward Defensive magazine of 2008. Proper Cricket.
If ever you wanted a batsman to digin for the team, Trevor was your man.
His 2nd innings effort in Brisbane from December 1958 exemplifies all that is best about digin cricket.
During his first innings Trevor had a bit of a tonk and knocked 27 off just 116 balls (SR 23.27). He would not succumb so easily in the second.
The facts of his 2nd innings are 68 runs scored off 427 balls in 458 minutes at a strike rate of just 15.92. The innings holds the record as the slowest Test 50 knocked up in 357 minutes off just 350 balls.
Batting in searing temperatures with the Aussie players having to leave the field with heat exhaustion and boredom, Bailey plodded on regardless. Temperatures were recorded at 90 degrees in the shade during the match.
The match was the first Test to be Televised in Australia and the viewers loved every minute of Englands 2nd Innings which yielded 198 runs from 119.2 overs (8 balls per over) Equivalent to 1.24 runs per 6 ball over.
Viewers would not leave the screens as the brave English batsmen dug in in the exhausting heat.
Bailey was the thorn in the Aussie side and was the only man to surpass 50 in the drudge fest that was being served up.
During the tea interval of day 4 it is said that Richie Benaud had to be prevented from hammering a brass pointed stump into his foot in an attempt to prevent further exposure to Baileys doggedness.
Day 4 yielded just 106 runs in the day with Bailey occupying the crease for all but the last few minutes.
A total of 16,000 fans attended day 3 and got the first taste of Baileys fare, on day 4 only 8,000 turned up.
The remainder presumably were too tight to pay for a ticket and preferred to watch on TV.
Bailey said of his effort:
“It was a question of endurance, ... We were extremely keen to win the Ashes, because Australia had held them for a long time, and there were moments in the series when it was vital to last out. Everybody has different ways of doing that sort of thing, and my own was to expect every ball to be a good one. Therefore I would simply keep it out. That was my philosophy.”
Baileys effort was all in vane. England lost the match by 8 wickets.
Yorkshireman Fred Trueman seemed to be the only bowler able to ruffle the barnacles feathers, after grounding Trevor in a Yorkshire v. Essex game Fred was heard to grunt:
“Sorry, Trev, old son – there are many more I’d rather have hit than thee, lad.”
Viewers would not leave the screens as the brave English batsmen dug in in the exhausting heat.
Bailey was the thorn in the Aussie side and was the only man to surpass 50 in the drudge fest that was being served up.
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| 'Barnacle Bailey' Shows The Makers Name |
During the tea interval of day 4 it is said that Richie Benaud had to be prevented from hammering a brass pointed stump into his foot in an attempt to prevent further exposure to Baileys doggedness.
Day 4 yielded just 106 runs in the day with Bailey occupying the crease for all but the last few minutes.
A total of 16,000 fans attended day 3 and got the first taste of Baileys fare, on day 4 only 8,000 turned up.
The remainder presumably were too tight to pay for a ticket and preferred to watch on TV.
Bailey said of his effort:
“It was a question of endurance, ... We were extremely keen to win the Ashes, because Australia had held them for a long time, and there were moments in the series when it was vital to last out. Everybody has different ways of doing that sort of thing, and my own was to expect every ball to be a good one. Therefore I would simply keep it out. That was my philosophy.”
Baileys effort was all in vane. England lost the match by 8 wickets.
Yorkshireman Fred Trueman seemed to be the only bowler able to ruffle the barnacles feathers, after grounding Trevor in a Yorkshire v. Essex game Fred was heard to grunt:
“Sorry, Trev, old son – there are many more I’d rather have hit than thee, lad.”
Forward Defensive is my favourite #digin magazine.
ReplyDeleteI used to also subscribe to:
Block It!
Test Cricket Review
Well Left.
Sadly, with the rise of t20 and the various showponies, these magazines are now defunct.
Bat looks well in front of the pad/head in the cover shot of forward defensive magazine. Late movement will see him out lbw or bowled through that old gate. Think that the poison of the Show Pony has infected even this fine publication.
ReplyDeleteBat looks well in front of the pad/head in the cover shot of forward defensive magazine. Late movement will see him out lbw or bowled through that old gate. Think that the poison of the Show Pony has infected even this fine publication.
ReplyDelete