The Heavy Ball

Sweep

Juvenile disaffection and self-loathing? Not quite, turns out Radiohead were on about cricket

Thom Yorke: clearly a fan of the Bob Woolmer-Hansie Cronje earpiece communications model  Getty Images

Cricketing shots are people too. And even shots can be traditionalists. Just like those of us who sneer at anything shorter than 450 overs. Here's the story of a famous stroke, which looks down upon a modified, shall we say reversed, version of itself. To be sung to the tune of Radiohead's "Creep".

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When we were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're mostly a top edge
Making team fans a'cry

You float like a feather
To short third man
You wish you're creative
You're not very special

But I'm a sweep
Not a weirdo
Why play reverse here?
You don't belong here

You don't care if it hurts
You want to have control
You wanna reach the boundary
Turn the match on its toes

Costing the World Cup
As Gatting will know
You wish you're effective
You're not very special

But I'm a sweep
Not a weirdo
Why play reverse here?
You don't belong here