The sweet summer sound of leather on willow

theresak

Naturally, we associate that sound with a quintessential English summer. Except last night it wasn`t the sound of leather on willow - it was the spectators` teeth chattering and the blowing of breath onto hands in an effort to keep warm.

Yes, we watched our oldest grandson`s first cricket match of the season last night - wrapped up in as many layers as we could, including my woolly hat! I even had a spare jacket over my knees, for heaven`s sake! May in York, on a "summer" evening. The cricketers didn`t seem to notice, except when the ball stung their frozen fingers.

Please, summer, come quickly!

barbara12

theresak the things we do for our children and GC... but like you say its May and I can always remember the weather being settled now...how do I remember ,its my Birthday this weekend and we are usually eating out side somewhere nice.....fingers crossed, today has been stunning here in the North West.. :shock:

stickywicket

Yes, I never quite understand the gentle image of sunshine, blue sky, summer breeze, green sward and Pimms, cider, beer or whatever. Cricket's only usually like that in California, for my money.

I still recall my son's first ever U15s match played out, manfully, in a blizzard.

I hope they won, Tezz.

theresak

Lost narrowly, Sticky,but he took two wickets in his three overs, managed a run-out, and got into double figures with the bat. He`s playing U 11s this season. Next grandson is U9s. All the volunteer coaches/helpers deserve medals for the amount of time they give up.

Our younger son`s very first match for Durham Schools U15s was played amidst flurries of snow! Both umpires wore fur-lined parkas to keep warm.

stickywicket

Hey, well done that lad!

My 5yr old grandson in L.A. is playing baseball and the coaches are great, encouraging both teams and instilling respect for the opposition.

I have frozen on many cricket pitches. I think the cruellest move was when they brought the Windies to UK in March and sent them up to Durham.

theresak

stickywicket wrote:

Hey, well done that lad!

My 5yr old grandson in L.A. is playing baseball and the coaches are great, encouraging both teams and instilling respect for the opposition.

I have frozen on many cricket pitches. I think the cruellest move was when they brought the Windies to UK in March and sent them up to Durham.

We're a very hardy lot up here in Durham!!

dreamdaisy

I can understand the romantic appeal of a cricket team in whites plus the sound of leather on willow - it is a picturesque scene but I prefer the thwack of what-used-to-be-gut on a tennis ball. Tennis is the sport of an English summer and I miss playing it with friends followed by a trip to the local pub for 'refreshment'. I had a rubbish serve (think Francoise Durr) but a cracking forehand in the mould of Steffi Graff; I learned the dark arts of the one-handed backhand just a little too late to be of any use. DD

theresak

I loved tennis - I especially loved John Newcombe in his lovely short shorts. I saved up for ages to buy a Dunlop Maxply, finally able to buy it when I was about twenty, and I thought I was the 'bee's knees!'

My heroine was Margaret Court, formerly Smith, whose game I so admired, since she could really volley the ball well. There weren't as many long rallys in those days - Francoise Durr had wonderful ground strokes, but they were often cut off at the net.

We weren't allowed to play a two-handed backhand, as it was thought to affect our reach - now they all use two hands on the backhand.

My friend & I once reached the QF of a local tournament ( doubles ) and our prize was a pair of tennis socks each! Happy days!

stickywicket

But in those, more innocent, times we didn't realise you needed a special pair of socks to play tennis

I remember my son's Under IXs cricket side sharing the three boxes, which had to go in their underpants as none had a jock strap. Ah those pre Health and Safety days :roll: