Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2016

18 Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society twitter: @scloverssociety Cricket is wonderful. It’s my job of work and I am extremely fortunate to have such work. It won’t always be and I am aware that to take any moment of it for granted is foolish. So what makes it so wonderful? Asked for seven wonders of the game I have compiled this very personal list. 1: Grounds and being on the road. From North Marine Road, Scarborough to the Nehru Stadium, Guwahati - the images and memories are so often contrasting but all leaving life lasting pictures in my mind. Scarborough like Arundel and New Road, Worcester are always beautiful, sunny and warm at least in my mind and heart. Guwahati, India on one occasion only, will be thunder rain, Indian star MS Dhoni jumping in a helicopter to try and dry out the wet outfield, a riot and general chaos including discovering a street stall which sold a box of Pringles, you couldn’t over estimate the joy that brought at the time. India also brings scenes such as hundreds of people queuing to get into the ground in Kochi which was all the more remarkable as it was six o’clock in the morning. The noise and spectacle of the West Indies and Sri Lanka. There is something both imposing and innocent about the experience of watching in Pakistan, Kenya and Zimbabwe. Stepping into venues such as the Basin Reserve, Wellington and the WACA, Perth, I step back in time to cold nights listening to the radio as a youngster back home. Talking of home, not forgetting the deer sliding across Abbeydale in 1995 and Anthony McGrath running in every direction to avoid the oncoming animal, only seemingly for the creature to slip and follow wherever Anthony went. So many of the grounds and trips leave a racing heart beat and sense of occasion. A feeling of moment which could never be beaten until the next time of course. 2: Spectators and listeners. The ideal of one person sitting somewhere listening remains the whole purpose of the work I do. It’s all the more romantic if the scene is one of sun and fun. Twitter and social media offers something similar but not the warmth. What the modern world does do is provide an instant connection to people who are passionate about the game and it becomes a proper social experience. You get told of how important you are to their lives. That has a responsibility with it but I always remember it’s not me but the game which unites the broadcaster and the listener. In truth I have more empathy with the listener than they might think at times. So often in my job I end up arguing, and forcibly, with people with whom I actually am in total agreement with. To offer the debating platform doesn’t win me many friends but the ones I have I cherish and I’m grateful for. 3: Players. There are not many bad pennies around. Certainly at county level players are a joy to work with. I want to share the good news that the domestic game holds and by and large the players and coaches get that. Sometimes when moving on to international cricket with a higher profile they can become suspicious. There can develop a ‘them and us’ situation which is disappointing. I was blessed to start my time with Yorkshire when Darren Gough was a sought after man, Darren Lehman and Michael Vaughan the same. They always gave their time and honest opinion. Whenever I overhear players say ‘I’m going to give the media nothing in terms of anything interesting to write and talk about’ I feel they’ve lost a sense of connection with the public who support them. Sometimes the players can forget the media is a vital point of selling tickets which the grounds need as much as ever. If they are dull so too is the likely public response. wonders WITH KEVIN HOWELLS, BBC 7 Image courtesy of Telegraph Sport