Peter Hayter discovers how players in the modern game can find support from their 'union' when their careers end.
The brilliant sports scribe Frank Keating was looking for somewhere to tap out his pipe and thesmall silver ashtray on the mantelpiece looked just the job.
“The old man hears the clink,” he wrote in The Guardian.
“I think you’ve just emptied your ash in my most treasured possession,” he says, though without any trace of admonition.
“Read what it says,” he orders.
“You read, ‘To Harold. For The Ashes. From a Grateful Skipper’.
” Behind the romantic humour of Keating’s story lay a less cosy truth.
Though Harold Larwood, of Nottingham shire, England and Ashes folklore, retained forever the gratitude of skipper Douglas Jardine for putting his leg theory into practice against Don Bradman on the Bodyline tour of 1932-33, the patrician overlords of the game at MCC were rather less generous.
Smarting from political fallout, questions in the house, accusations of bad sportsmanship and the rest, they seemed happy to let Larwood drift into obscurity, like a bad smell.
On his retirement from the game, the “one-time coal miner and one-time professional cricketer” first turned his hand to market gardening, then, after the World War II had ended, sunk what remained of his money into a Blackpool sweet shop. When that failed he was encouraged by Jack Fingleton, one of his Aussie opponents in that notorious series, to emigrate Down Under where, on arrival in April 1950, he was looked after properly.
At first, unbeknown to him, half his hotel bills were paid by a former Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, work was found for him and the family settled in the Sydney suburb of Kingsford, where, two years after Keating visited him, he died after a short illness, aged 91, in 1995.
Thanks to the generosity of his Ashes “victims” Larwood was one of the lucky ones.
Bu hikaye The Cricket Paper dergisinin March 17,2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Cricket Paper dergisinin March 17,2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Kohli leads RCB to much-needed win
VIRAT KOHLI returned to top form with 72 not out to lead RCB to an eight-wicket victory over the Royals in Abu Dhabi.
TEWATIA HAS SPARKED MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE IPL
James Wallace admits he has been surprisingly taken in by the IPL so far – and, in particular, the performance of a new Royal renegade
Whitewash victory is just the T20 tonic for Keightley
A SERIES that few thought would come to fruition ended in triumph for England who completed a 5-0 whitewash of the West Indies in Derby.
TEN OUT OF TEN! RYAN IS BASKING IN MORE GLORY
Chris Stocks catches up with Ryan ten Doeschate, who has plotted Essex’s recent county domination every step of the way
Surrey have the Will to end hoodoo
WILL Jacks may be a hot batting prospect but he’s relished the added responsibility with the ball in Surrey’s charge to T20 Finals Day.
NOW IT'S OUR TIME TO HELP OTHERS
Chris Stocks catches up with England’s director of cricket and discusses the need for the ECB to help boards around the world
IT'S OFTEN DOWN TO A THROW OF THE DICE
Garfield Robinson explains just how big a part luck plays in determining success or failure in sport
FINDING TALENTS LIKE TOM IS A GAIN IN ITSELF
One of the unexpected highlights to emerge from English cricket’s Covid-attenuated season was the chance given to young players to strut their stuff. With many overseas players and Kolpaks affected by travel restrictions many counties looked instead to the young talent on their staffs with gratifying results.
Future looks bright for the Ohio Slinger
ALI Khan is earning his stars and stripes in the Indian Premier League, with the first American to play in the tournament breaking down barriers in every sense.
Spin trio put squeeze on after Glenn shows off skill with the bat
SARAH GLENN helped England spin it to win it after proving she can make an all-round contribution.