T the guy Main Sport Ground, Hastings is where We earliest noticed Tony Greig. I would read a lot in the your. My cricket chum’s excited description away from their first innings within the county cricket prior to from the 1967 seasons – 156 having fifteen fours and two sixes, along with one off Brian Statham, more than additional shelter – got occupied myself with wider-eyed wonder. I’d merely se her became 10, old enough when deciding to take brand new instruct without any help. My brother Robin, labeled as Robbo, found me personally at the station. He’d three dbs”, as he titled them, who the guy doted on the, as well as towards your, however, he had constantly desired an effective young buck, and i also try more than willing to fill the latest surrogate character sporadically.

Sussex’s Alan Oakman was only an inch quicker than just Greig, and you can Kent’s Norman Graham an inches large, however, both these men was indeed English-extreme and you will transmitted its peak into the a somewhat ashamed style, as if apologising towards present characteristics had given them

Robbo was my personal favorite buddy. Although he was an excellent Kent advocate. Five-foot five in his clothes, bald as a good coot, pot-bellied, which have attention actually on search-out for sources of enjoyment, he had been a red-colored-faced package of your energy and you can warmth. The guy swore such as for example good trooper. A floor was at the heart from area. You emerged upright previous Woolworths for the high-street and to the an eco-friendly retreat, ringed because of the backs regarding shop and you will terraced houses, really tarnished from the salt regarding English Station just a couple of out of enough time throws towards the south. I grabbed our chairs inside a great rickety dated stand – „It is a bloody cowshed. Both of us expected Sussex would earn they and you may bat, therefore we’d see Greig in the crease. Me personally hoping from a good reprise of one’s introduction I might missed; Robbo observe the new „a lot of time move away from piss” reduce to help you size of the „his” boys.

The current weather is actually muted, a sea be concerned hovering significantly less than a condo grey air, however when Sussex appeared on the slope, the brand new gangling figure out-of Greig, along with his top regarding neatly combed precious metal tresses seemed to light upwards around him. He indeed try. Six-foot seven, imposing over the stumpy Ken Suttle, just who struggled to keep rate having him because they made its cure for the square. Neither Robbo otherwise I was in fact a new comer to extreme members.

Not too Greig. The guy obviously relished it. Arms tossed straight back, he was revealing a tale which have Ken as he used his reputation at second sneak, and the sound away from their laughs sent in the nonetheless air along side outfield. Zero basic-seasons diminishing-violet disorder, up coming. He had been currently in the home.

Sussex lost the put – „Bugger” – and you may do pan

They don’t take very long for him and come up with a direct effect. In the 3rd more of the day, Brian Luckhurst edged Don Bates suprisingly low down and Greig, dive pass, caught away a beneficial telescopic case, so when the guy lay spreadeagled face down on new lawn, raised the golf ball for the profits. Luckhurst hesitated through to the man on the enough time white coat raised the new thumb. Greig held the fresh new angle regarding umpire’s deliberation, milking as soon as, in advance of levering themselves upwards much slower to recognize the new applause of the crowd. „Soft tell you-horse.” There was certain grumbling one of the Kent supporters throughout the cowshed but shortly after Robbo’s emphatic „If it is good enough to have Syd Buller, it’s suitable for me personally”, every grudgingly arranged it was in fact a heck from a capture. Greig appeared to dish and Robbo crowed that have joy whenever their favourite, John Shepherd, south west Indian, hit your for five away from his second golf ball. The guy checked deceased quick, even if. Much less short as the my personal bowling champion, John Accumulated snow. Obviously. But fast sufficient, and you will after a few overs I believed confident adequate to display my investigations with Robbo. Surprisingly, my personal bro didn’t react instantly but went on to look at intently as a consequence of his binoculars. He ultimately paid down them and you may, his gaze nevertheless concerned about brand new gamble, lead their judgement: „He’s not short. Fast-typical at the best. In which he sprays they doing continuously. And his focus on-up’s too much time. In which he bends their side feet into birth and you may does not use his peak.” Then he extra, „However, he swings they. And you will they are constantly at the them.” Oh. We stood remedied and you can silent getting a gap, ahead of piping right up, „However, heck out-of a catch.” „Yes,” said Robbo, cheerful, „Helluva catch.” From the dinner, Kent was 113 for 1 and you can Robbo required for the treat caravan to shop for hamburgers (we’d both already mixed our very own pack-ups). Robbo was what he entitled a beneficial „trencherman” and you may are keen for me personally, a „thin move of piss”, to put some flesh into the. „Get that off you” the guy said, passing me personally precisely the 2nd hamburger off living. Burgers have been the in those days. My personal very first, out of a Wimpy Bar, got troubled. However, this was various other. A massive, oily mouthful of flavour. That have onions. We upcoming stop on pub, in which my bro ordered myself a container from Coca-Soda. A different cure. Robbo had a beneficial pint off alcohol of course however drained they, he come with the a special ahead of rummaging in the haversack, ultimately announcing, „Here, I’ve got anything to you” and passed myself a pair of binoculars. He grinned while i checked all of them more than reverently. „You need your containers when you find yourself attending see brand new cricket”. My own personal binoculars. I became however recurring „Thank you, Buddy Robin” as we got the seating to view Shepherd capture new protect adopting the crack.