T he Main Athletics Ground, Hastings try in which I basic saw Tony Greig. I would read much in the him. My cricket chum’s excited malfunction from his introduction innings for the county cricket earlier on 1967 year – 156 which have 15 fours as well as 2 sixes, along with one off Brian Statham, more than a lot more shelter – had occupied me that have broad-eyed admiration. I experienced simply turned ten, of sufficient age to take the fresh new train without any help. My bro Robin, also known as Robbo, met myself on station. He’d about three dbs”, as he titled them, who he doted into, and additionally they into him, but he previously always wanted an excellent child, and i are over willing to complete the surrogate role periodically.

Sussex’s Alan Oakman was only an inches quicker than simply Greig, and Kent’s Norman Graham an inch taller, however, these two dudes was English-significant and you will carried their peak from inside the a somewhat embarrassed manner, as if apologising into the provide nature had considering all of them

Robbo is my personal favorite bro. Even when he was an excellent Kent advocate. Five-foot four in the clothes, hairless due to the fact a coot, pot-bellied, with eyes actually ever to the research-out for resources of entertainment, he was a purple-faced package of your energy and you may love. The guy swore such as an excellent trooper. A floor was a student in the center out-of city. Your emerged straight earlier in the day Woolworths into high-street and toward an eco-friendly oasis, ringed of the backs regarding shops and you will terraced homes, extremely tarnished by the sodium on English Route just a couple from enough time puts to the south. I grabbed our chairs when you look at the an effective rickety dated remain – „It’s a soft cowshed. Both of us hoped Sussex do winnings it and bat, therefore we had get a hold of Greig on wrinkle. Me personally hoping regarding a beneficial reprise of the debut I would missed; Robbo observe the latest „long streak out-of piss” reduce to size by „his” boys.

The weather is muted, a sea fret hanging lower than a condo gray heavens, nevertheless when Sussex emerged onto the pitch, brand new gangling shape regarding Greig, with his crown off perfectly combed precious metal hair appeared to light up all around your. He yes is actually. Six-foot seven, towering along the stumpy Ken Suttle, which struggled to keep rate which have him because they generated its treatment for the newest square. Neither Robbo otherwise We was basically not used to high participants.

Not Greig. The guy demonstrably relished they. Arms tossed back, he had been sharing bull crap that have Ken when he used their reputation from the second sneak, additionally the voice away from his wit carried on the however sky along side outfield. No earliest-12 months diminishing-violet problem, up coming. He was currently yourself.

Sussex missing the throw – „Bugger” – and you may carry out dish

It didn’t take long to possess your and then make a direct effect. Regarding 3rd over of the day, Brian Luckhurst edged Don Bates very low off and you can Greig, diving submit, stuck aside good telescopic arm, so that as the guy place spreadeagled face upon brand new turf, raised the baseball for the victory. Luckhurst hesitated before the people from the long light layer raised the latest fist. Greig kept the new pose regarding umpire’s deliberation, milking the moment, in advance of levering himself right up slower to acknowledge the brand new applause of crowd. „Soft reveal-pony.” Discover particular grumbling among Kent supporters regarding cowshed however, after Robbo’s emphatic „If it’s sufficient having Syd Buller, it is suitable personally”, most of the grudgingly arranged it absolutely was in fact an effective hell from a capture. Greig arrived to bowl and you may Robbo crowed having pleasure whenever his favorite, John Shepherd, the west Indian, struck your to have five of his second baseball. The guy featured dead timely, though. Significantly less quick since the my bowling hero, John Snowfall. Definitely. However, prompt adequate, and you may after a couple of overs We considered sure adequate to display my review that have Robbo. Strangely, my buddy did not function quickly however, went on to view intently through his binoculars. The guy eventually reduced all of them and you can, their gaze nonetheless focused on new play, lead his judgement: „He isn’t small. Fast-typical at best. And then he sprays they as much as extreme. With his work on-up’s too much time. In which he curve his side feet on beginning and you can cannot fool around with their peak.” Then he added, „But the guy shifts it. And he could be constantly on all of them.” tjek her Oh. I endured corrected and quiet to own a space, before piping upwards, „Nonetheless, hell from a catch.” „Sure,” told you Robbo, smiling, „Helluva catch.” At the lunch, Kent was 113 for just one and you can Robbo took me on the treat caravan purchasing burgers (we had one another currently mixed our very own pack-ups). Robbo is just what the guy named a good „trencherman” and you may is actually keen for my situation, a beneficial „skinny move away from piss”, to place particular flesh towards. „Get that down you” he said, passage myself precisely the next hamburger from living. Hamburgers was in fact the newest then though. My personal first, regarding an effective Wimpy Club, had disappointed. However, this was additional. A large, greasy mouthful off flavor. Which have onions. We following go off to your club, in which my personal sibling purchased myself a bottle away from Coca-Soda. Another get rid of. Robbo had a good pint out-of alcohol whenever he would drained it, the guy come towards a different prior to rummaging in the haversack, ultimately proclaiming, „Here, I’ve had some thing to you personally” and passed myself a pair of binoculars. He grinned whenever i seemed them more than reverently. „Need the containers if you are attending watch the brand new cricket”. My own personal binoculars. I happened to be still repeating „Thank-you, Brother Robin” once we grabbed all of our chair to look at Shepherd grab fresh shield following the break.