BRICK BATS
Paeans of praise have been written about cricket, but the game has always had its critics. Few have been so avid as those who entered a competition conducted recently by the “New Statesman.” Competitors were asked to write a Blast against Cricket, in verse. One of the prize-winning entries, written by A. M. Robertson, follows: Bowlers who drag the foot and crook the arm, Or fling down bumpers to create alarm; Batsmen whose stance and styles are all alike: Willing to "pad” and yet afraid to strike. Who sprint pavilion-wards at every shower, Then strain from block-bound bats eight runs .an hour; Captains who urge the universal shout To stun the umpire into saying “Out!"; Who. in a fix, appeal against the light (Where's sportsmanship, so the result be right?); Fieldsmen who gesture with malignant glare. And chuck the ball up when no catch was there; Youngsters, at school a year ago, or less. Puffed into stardom by a screaming press; Who but must laugh at such ephemeral fame? Who would not weep if cricket were this game?
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 19 September 1959, Page 5
Word Count
180BRICK BATS Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 19 September 1959, Page 5
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