When elegance went on a holiday
The other day I sent this interesting excerpt from a cricinfo throwback to a friend:
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The other day I sent this interesting excerpt from a cricinfo throwback to a friend:
"David Gower was certainly not in the same league as any of the others on this list - indeed, it could be argued that he was one of the worst bowlers ever to have been unleashed on Test cricket. Nevertheless, he became the eighth person - and second Englishman - to be no-balled for throwing in a Test. He had few complaints. With New Zealand needing one to win in the second Test at Trent Bridge in 1986, Gower came on and openly threw his first ball which Martin Crowe smacked for four to end the game. But Ken Palmer at square leg called a no-ball, and so Gower ended with the figures 0-0-4-0."
Howlarious as the incident was, its narration also earned this note of appreciation from the friend:
"(I) liked the word "unleashed" - imagine using it to describe someone like Gower!"
It brought back memories of another day about another chap, a Chappell actually. We thought Trevor would love to share with Gower his own largely unheard account of bowling a particular kind of delivery just once in his career. The 'unleasher' on that occasion is now busy putting a leash around some sub-continent kiddies with overgrown bodies.