C Ellis: England Cricket Diary (20 Jun 1998)

20 June 1998

England Cricket Diary

By Clive Ellis

Steve James has become used to century celebrations during an increasingly prolific county career with Glamorgan, but as a 12-year-old pupil at Monmouth School the prospect of a maiden hundred was a strangely alarming one.

James was so shy that he considered trying to give his wicket away on 99 in order to avoid the ordeal of having a commemorative bat presented to him in front of the whole school at Monday assembly.

He did complete his century, however, and went on to become a victim of his own success. The school decided, after eight bat presentations, that enough was enough.

It also led to light-hearted suggestions that James was acting as an unofficial bat supplier to his father, who still has a sports shop in Lydney.

James's selection for the Lord's Test prompts the question: When did Glamorgan last have two players in the England team?

The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is the Oval Test in 1993 when Matthew Maynard, who has played four Tests, and Steve Watkin, only three, both lined up against Australia.

Father says: "He hits the ball very well but I'm not too happy about his footwork."

It will not be the first time the boy has troubled bowlers. As a toddler he once stopped play by crawling in front of the sightscreen at Durban when his father was Natal's chief executive. Richards jnr is now at school in Perth, though his father would like him eventually to return to the country of his birth and throw in his lot with South Africa.

The press, however, continue to be housed in temporary accommodation decidedly down on its luck. When the sun shines, the heat is stifling. When it rains, the roof leaks.

For last week's game against Northants, Durham thoughtfully provided a mop and bucket, although on the final day a member of staff had to be despatched to drill holes in the floor at the "deep end" to provide emergency drainage.

The nearest toilets are over 100 yards away and the box is immediately behind a band of Durham's more vociferous and distracting supporters.

Chief executive Mike Candlish says improved facilities will be available for the international press at next year's two World Cup games and there are also longer-term plans for a media centre.

"You must be the luckiest bloody cricketer alive," suggested Cork to South African sport's most famous Christian.

"It's got nothing to do with luck," replied Rhodes, "it's faith."

"In that case, could you pick me up on your way to church next Sunday," replied Cork. "I could do with a bit of faith myself."

Milburn, who died of a heart attack in 1990, aged 48, was already pushing 16st when he celebrated his 12th birthday and for the bulk of his hard-living cricket career he weighed in at 18st or more.

In Cricketing Falstaff (published by Andre Deutsch), Mark Peel recounts an exchange between Milburn and Ken Turner, the Northamptonshire secretary at the time.

"At the height of his fame Milburn approached him to see whether the club would consent to him singing in nightclubs. On discovering that this would entail staying up to 3am, Turner naturally had reservations, but they were brushed aside by Milburn's swift rejoinder: 'I wouldn't be in bed before then in any case'."

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)