150 Novembers since Gin first met Tonic
Apparently, it is 150 Novembers since Gin first met Tonic in India - since when, of course, the two have remained in a zestfully happy state of wholesome matrimony, writes Frank Keating in the Guardian .
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Apparently, it is 150 Novembers since Gin first met Tonic in India - since when, of course, the two have remained in a zestfully happy state of wholesome matrimony, writes Frank Keating in the Guardian.
Some take the passion too far - and to hell with the tonic water. Well over 50 years ago, at village cricket for Stroud Stragglers v Frocester, I clapped in their smiter at No 6; he had a flat half-bottle of gin in the back pocket of his flannels, swiped and slurped with equal abandon and when he was out for 60-odd the bottle was empty - the only case I know of the batsman arriving at the crease sober and leaving it blind drunk.
Two of my beloved cricket heroes around that time were our Gloucestershire bowlers and best pals George Lambert and Sam Cook. One evening against Northants at Bristol fearsome fast Frank Tyson was on a terrifying roll in the twilight on a dodgy pitch and George was sent in as night-watchman on the presumption that Tyson would take it easy on a fellow member of the fast bowlers' union. Fat chance. Poor George ducked, dived, and only narrowly survived Tyson's onslaught. He came in, not out but pink-eyed, pallid and quivering - to be met at the pavilion steps by Sam and a triple-strength gin-and-tonic: "Get this down you, George - the bugger'll be twice as quick in the morning!"
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo