Barbed wire cricket

What a Test the last one was against Sri Lanka. It had everything. The track was a beauty, the quality of cricket superb and the intensity was startling.

One aspect that I was enthralled with was the aggression shown by both teams. The verbals were flying left, right and centre and emanating from both teams. How we all wish South Africa had displayed that grunt against Australia last summer. As for the Sri Lankans, they obviously feel they have the ability to mix it with the best these days and have the courage and conviction to rattle a cage or two.

Lets just focus on the visitors for a while. The general character of a Sri Lankan is fairly meek and mild and they are not considered ‘barb wire’ cricketers. They are the most pleasant nationality you could ever want to meet. When in their country they cannot do enough for you and I’m sure you’ll agree that is refreshing in this day and age. For me it was fascinating to see them exude such aggression on the park and make some inroads mentally.

Could this be the coming of age for the Sri Lankans? Is this the time in their cricket history that they step up to the plate and compete ferociously with more than just bat and ball? I get the feeling that now they have tasted blood (so to speak), they will raise the bar a little.

Although at times throughout the Test the occasional comment was made that was over the top, it added to the spectacle and the intrigue. To both teams, congratulations for displaying the attributes that over the years have ensured Test cricket is riveting.

Whilst on chirping, I thought I would share with you the best I have ever heard.

The last time Australia toured Zimbabwe the visitors were playing in a warm-up game against a Zimbabwe Country Districts team. Glenn McGrath was steaming in from one end looking for some match practice and he built up a fair amount of pace and rhythm. He was charging in to the opening batsman, a rather stocky farmer from the area, who was struggling to put bat on ball. Every shot he played at Pigeon disappeared off the edge of the bat either through the slips or fine leg off an attempted drive. McGrath was starting to lose it and entered into a verbal barrage. He used every expletive under the sun and always chipped in with a reference to the batsman being fat.

This continued, both the uncomplimentary fat abuse and the ball never hitting the middle of the bat, for some time. Eventually one drive did go in the correct direction and the stocky batsman sauntered down the wicket and walked straight up to Glenn.

All within earshot were expecting an apology but were flummoxed when the Country Districts player looked McGrath in the eye and said, “Glenn you are correct, I have picked up a bit of weight recently but you’re part of the problem. Every time I gave your wife one, SHE GAVE ME A BISCUIT”.