Tim Rice: Extending compliments of the season (17 September 1997)

Wednesday 17 September 1997

Extending compliments of the season

Tim Rice Talking Cricket

FIRST, the result of the 1997 Phones Scottish Open. This column has not in the past been noted for its coverage of golf and indeed those settling down with eager anticipation to read an article entitled "Talking Cricket" might even question whether this is the ideal starting point for my final cricketing ramble of 1997, but it`s not every year that one is invited to take part in such a prestigious sporting tourney.

The Phones Open, which attracts a high entry, both in numerical and skill terms, played on the beautiful Newtonmore course that nestles at the foot of the Monadhliath mountains just off the A9, was won this year by the pairing of Tom Waley-Cohen and Ned Wyndham by three clear strokes. My partner and I achieved a creditable 10th out of 23.

The connection with cricket here is that it is unlikely that I would have even been able to take part at all had England not wrapped up the final Test so speedily. What should have been a fourth day at the Oval became a first day in serious golfing competition and a rekindling of a childhood enthusiasm. Thank you, Tuffers.

Other thanks for personal cricketing joy during 1997 must also go to Grenville Simons, Richard Hill, Martin Crowe, five batsmen of the Manaccan Cricket Club in Cornwall, Glamorgan C C C and Mark Taylor.

Simons wrote an excellent book about the brilliant 19th-century cricketer and theatrical, William Yardley Master of Bat & Burlesque (Wisteria Books); Hill`s quality periodical Cricket Lore continues to fascinate (and its offer of -L2,500 to any batsman who hits a ball over the pavilion at Lord`s before the end of the century still stands); Crowe scored a most beautiful hundred against the Australians for J Paul Getty`s XI; the five noble Cornishmen provided me with my first five-wicket haul since Dana topped the charts; Glamorgan`s unsung heroes have given new spice to the oft-derided championship; Taylor added grace to the list of qualities one might now henceforth expect of a triumphant Aussie captain.

While dishing out gratitude for cricketing enjoyment during the past season, I would most emphatically not like to include whichever mandarins at the BBC allocate the times and wavelengths for Test Match Special. It is beyond comprehension how for a mere 30-odd days in an Australian summer (or in any summer) it is now impossible to follow every ball of every Test on the wireless, something that was invariably achieved back in the 1950s and 60s when there were just four frequencies carrying the national stations.

Of course shipping forecasts are vital but if they have to go out on long wave then put the cricket on FM or medium wave.

It is amazing how almost every five-minute departure from the cricket coincides with a crucial moment in the game, never to be heard live.

While I am at it, is it really necessary for the BBC to have helplines telling us how to retune our radios? I would imagine that anyone incapable of finding a different slot on their dial would also find using a telephone beyond them.

FINALLY, an appeal. I was horrified to read in yesterday`s Telegraph that Donald Trelford, an esteemed fellow columnist, had been reduced to `watching` Greg Rusedski`s United States Open final on Ceefax. No distinguished sportswriter should have to follow major events in this manner, however much he may resent having to fork out for Sky. Indeed, it is his duty to subscribe to the service as, like it or lump it, you miss an awful lot of sport without it. He will only need -L24.99 a month to be in an even better position to keep Telegraph readers informed so I urge all warm-hearted readers to contribute to the Donald Dish Appeal c/o the Daily Telegraph Sports Editor. I shall start the ball rolling with a fiver.

Anyway, why didn`t Trelford listen to Rusedski`s final on the radio? The BBC got that one right. Here`s hoping they show similar enthusiasm next summer when many cricketers will be just as British as the inestimable Greg.

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