T the guy Main Sport Surface, Hastings are in which We earliest watched Tony Greig. I’d read much on the your. My cricket chum’s happy dysfunction of his first innings inside the state datant des mariГ©es Ukrainien cricket before regarding 1967 year – 156 that have fifteen fours and two sixes, together with one-off Brian Statham, more than more cover – had filled myself having large-eyed admiration. I had just turned 10, of sufficient age for taking the new instruct without any help. My personal brother Robin, also known as Robbo, found me within route. He previously three dbs”, as he called all of them, who the guy doted for the, plus they for the him, however, he previously always wished a good son, and that i was more happy to fill the newest surrogate character occasionally.

Sussex’s Alan Oakman was only an inch reduced than simply Greig, and you will Kent’s Norman Graham an inch tall, however, both these guys was indeed English-high and you may transmitted its peak inside a somewhat ashamed trend, since if apologising towards the current nature got provided them

Robbo is my favorite cousin. Regardless if he had been a great Kent recommend. Five-foot five within his clothes, bald since the a good coot, pot-bellied, having eyes actually on search-away getting types of enjoyment, he had been a red-colored-encountered package of time and you may passion. He swore such as for example a good trooper. A floor was in the heart of town. You showed up straight earlier Woolworths towards the high-street and you may for the a green retreat, ringed by the backs off storage and you can terraced households, really stained by salt on the English Station just a few out of a lot of time places to the south. I took all of our seating when you look at the good rickety old stand – “It is a soft cowshed. We both expected Sussex create earn they and you will bat, very we had discover Greig on wrinkle. Me personally in the hope regarding an effective reprise of one’s first I’d missed; Robbo observe the newest “enough time streak regarding piss” lower to dimensions from the “his” boys.

The current weather was muted, a-sea worry hanging below a flat grey sky, however when Sussex came onto the pitch, the fresh new gangling figure regarding Greig, together with his top out-of perfectly combed rare metal locks appeared to light up all over him. He yes is. Six-foot 7, towering along side stumpy Ken Suttle, which battled to keep speed having your while they produced their solution to the fresh rectangular. None Robbo otherwise We were fresh to high people.

Not very Greig. The guy clearly relished it. Arms thrown straight back, he was sharing bull crap which have Ken as he took up their reputation within next sneak, and sound out of his humor carried regarding however sky over the outfield. No basic-seasons diminishing-violet problem, after that. He had been already at home.

Sussex missing the throw – “Bugger” – and manage dish

They didn’t take long for him and then make an impact. Throughout the 3rd over of the day, Brian Luckhurst edged Don Bates suprisingly low off and you will Greig, diving give, trapped out an effective telescopic arm, and also as the guy put spreadeagled face down on the newest turf, raised the baseball inside triumph. Luckhurst hesitated before the guy regarding the long white coating increased the brand new thumb. Greig held brand new perspective in the umpire’s deliberation, milking when, in advance of levering themselves right up more sluggish to identify the fresh new applause of the audience. “Bloody reveal-horse.” There clearly was certain grumbling one of the Kent supporters regarding the cowshed however, shortly after Robbo’s emphatic “In case it is sufficient having Syd Buller, it’s suitable in my situation”, all of the grudgingly arranged it actually was in fact a heck out-of a catch. Greig arrived onto dish and you will Robbo crowed having delight whenever their favourite, John Shepherd, south-west Indian, strike your for five out-of their next ball. The guy seemed deceased punctual, no matter if. Significantly less small as the my personal bowling hero, John Snowfall. Needless to say. However, punctual sufficient, and you can after a couple of overs We believed sure sufficient to display my personal comparison that have Robbo. Surprisingly, my personal buddy did not operate instantaneously however, went on to view intently compliment of their binoculars. The guy sooner or later lowered all of them and you will, their gaze nonetheless concerned about brand new enjoy, lead their judgement: “He’s not short. Fast-average at best. And then he sprays it doing excessively. And his run-up’s long. And then he curve their side foot toward delivery and you can will not fool around with his level.” Then additional, “But he swings it. And you can he is always from the them.” Oh. I stood corrected and hushed to possess a space, in advance of plumbing up, “Nonetheless, heck away from a catch.” “Yes,” said Robbo, cheerful, “Helluva connect.” On supper, Kent had been 113 for 1 and you will Robbo required towards the snack caravan to purchase burgers (we had both currently mixed the package-ups). Robbo is actually what the guy named a good “trencherman” and you may are eager in my situation, good “slim streak away from piss”, to put particular flesh on the. “Get that off your” he told you, passing me personally precisely the 2nd burger away from living. Burgers was basically the newest in those days. My personal basic, regarding a good Wimpy Pub, got disturb. But it was additional. An enormous, fatty mouthful regarding flavour. Having onions. I after that set off to your pub, where my bro purchased me a container regarding Coca-Cola. Another type of reduce. Robbo had a good pint of beer incase he’d drained it, he become for the a different ahead of rummaging in his haversack, ultimately announcing, “Here, I’ve got some thing for your requirements” and you may handed me a set of binoculars. The guy grinned once i searched all of them over reverently. “Need your containers whenever you are planning view the newest cricket”. My binoculars. I found myself however repeating “Thanks a lot, Sibling Robin” while we grabbed the seating to look at Shepherd capture fresh guard following break.