LIncolnshire County Cricket League Handbook 1972

BRIAN CHRISTIE Brian Christie has, no doubt, played many equally memorable innings. But for those supporters of the Lincolnshire League XI who travelled to a damp and rather dismal jesmond Park in NewcaS(le, for the Rothman Cup Final in 1967. there was a whole, vital passage of the game which was pure Christie-or, at least, as pure as the flambuoyance of Brian Evans would allow. At 49-3, with Robinson, Pougher and Maslin all departed, and the Northumbrians preparing t heir celebrations already, Christie waited with calm detach– ment which is a major characteristic on the cricket field, to be joined by the jaunty Evans. Uncharacteris– tically Christie winced, visibly, as Evans "splashed" his first shot just over the head of extra cover. And that wa.s the only emotion he showed throughout a rescue act which produced a partnership of 121 , and broke the hearts of the powerful Northumberland League side. The Lincolnshire League eventually totalled 198-8 and though Evans and Plaskitt gathered three quick wickets apiece that day, the Northumberland innings was a wake, a formal watch over the corpse of hopes which had in the face of two innings which w ~.-._, a~ different as the characters who moulded them. Brian Evans had plundered 62 by the time he left a vastly changed scene. Brian Christie had ga:hcred his 66 almost unnoticeably by comparison-and that was pure Christie. Perhaps it was standing on his native soil which caused him to produce this perfect charac– ter reference to his cricketing style and ability. Probably unfairly, the qualities of unflinching deter– mination and calmness have tended to outweigh the undoubted merit of his strike play, but that fact is likely, according to character, to worry Brian Christie less than anyone else. In the Lincolnshire League he is known as one of the Competition's most consistent run-getters, invariably among the top few batsmen at the end of e:.ch season. So there was no surprise in the fact th at last year he was top of the averages. He will, no doubt, continue his run aa therinJ for Grimsby Town for seasons to come. But those v,ho were at Jesmond that day will always instance that as an illustration of his taients.