Melbourne 1982.
Saw that on TV in Sydney. Great fun.
Melbourne 1982.
And, you get to hear the shipping forecast every hour. You just can’t beat that.
Highlights on Channel 5 at 1900.
For 39 years, you have a far better memory than me. Your explanation however is uncanny to what Willis just said on Sky.
Just seen the BBC Player showing Stokes splat the ball through point for 4 to win the match...… awesome !
I saw both innings. Botham came in with us 95 behind and three wickets remaining to avoid an innings defeat.
Botham didn't think about putting England in a winning position. He just threw the bat.
Stokes believed he could guide England to victory and took the whole thing on his shoulders.
I've got Sky on but I remember it well.
I'd just left juniors and was watching cricket for the first proper time.
The following afternoon I saw Willis 8-43. I remember the drops as Australia neared to target.
After that I was hooked on the game.
Had cricket not been on terrestrial television I may not be following it now.
I worry that some of what has happened is passing a potential new generation by. As is Test cricket.
Around the same age as me probably. I remember when we were on short weeks at school in the 70s, I'd make up my own cricket score book and watch from start to finish every day on the Beeb. Boring I know but I loved sport, I loved cricket in the summer and footie in the winter. Cricket was shown from the same end, so bowler on or batsman on, basically one camera, Jim Laker and Richie Benaud doing the honours, and the intro music, like F1, iconic. Did my first test in 1976, WIndies absolutely spanked us, I was 11 and on my own at the Oval! It was a hot day, '76 drought, I ran out of money before it started and had no liquid for the whole day! I was a bit thirsty. I feel like I should be saying 'jumpers for goalposts' at this conjecture
Too young to remember the 76 series but I have seen footage of the match. The most barren outfield I have ever seen in this country.
Around the same age as me probably. I remember when we were on short weeks at school in the 70s, I'd make up my own cricket score book and watch from start to finish every day on the Beeb. Boring I know but I loved sport, I loved cricket in the summer and footie in the winter. Cricket was shown from the same end, so bowler on or batsman on, basically one camera, Jim Laker and Richie Benaud doing the honours, and the intro music, like F1, iconic. Did my first test in 1976, WIndies absolutely spanked us, I was 11 and on my own at the Oval! It was a hot day, '76 drought, I ran out of money before it started and had no liquid for the whole day! I was a bit thirsty. I feel like I should be saying 'jumpers for goalposts' at this conjecture
I got into watching cricket (on the box) in 1977. My family had no interest in cricket at that stage. I came back from a school trip and tuned in (just three TV channels in those days), and came across brilliant coverage of an England v Aussies test at Old Trafford. Brilliantly presented by Jim Laker, Peter West, Richie Benaud and variously Trueman et seq. Immediately drawn to heroes Lever, Knott, Randall, Greig and Underwood.
Then ‘hooked’.
Just seen the BBC Player showing Stokes splat the ball through point for 4 to win the match...… awesome !
I must admit I gave up a few times today. Was quite hopeful at lunch time with only 4 down. Then Bairstow, Butler run out, and Woakes tame dismissal. Archer cameo didn't last long. Broad yorked waiting for the bouncer. I went out to the shop when 9 down,expecting it to be all over when I came back. Still 70 odd to chase, I decided suck it up and wait and view the Australian inevitable victory and retention of the Ashes. Incredible shots by Stokes, and Leach comfortably defending his 1 or 2 balls an over.
Surely they cant do this? A thick outside edge, third man cant quite reach for the catch. Lyon just needs to control the ball for the run out! he doesn't. Finally it looks like LBW but the umpire doesn't want to spoil this incredible turn around. Australia have rightly ran out of reviews and sandpaper wont help them now.
There[s been many amazing test matches, this one maybe tops them all.
Lever the left arm fast, Knott the Kent wk legend, Randall, the showman (loved him), Greig the SA captain of Sussex and England, Underwood, another Kent legend but was never sure he actually spun it. I think I actually got into cricket before I watched it, but it was half a century ago so not sure.
I loved Derek Randall, a fidgety warrior for England, charismatic. An incredible fielder in the covers, before that became fashionable.
The same with Alan Knott, a crazy batting stance, hiding talent and dogged determination. Plus one of the great wicketkeepers.
Randall and a very young David Gower I believe played together in the covers for England, fantastic fielders for the time. Barclay, the Sussex lad was also brilliant in the covers. I also wanted to field in the covers to be 'David Gower'.