Gone to Headingley

posted by John Winn

'The Diglis Hotel

Worcester

27/04/48

Tomorrow another cricket season will start, another touring team-the touring team-Australia, will tease the cricket prophets; another gathering of the camp-followers of cricket will wag their heads and refill their glasses.'

So begins the first chapter of 'Gone to the Test Match' by John Arlott,  but how many will feel tonight that excitement Arlott felt as he sipped his claret in Worcester 69 years ago safe in the knowledge that weather permitting, next day, a Wednesday, he would see some of the greatest cricketers ever to have entered the field of play; Bradman, Miller, Lindwall, Morris and a nineteen year old Neil Harvey amongst them.

Where are today's greatest cricketers? Some are in India, playing a form of the game Arlott would have hardly recognised, some are resting and not playing for the counties, and one of the best international teams, South Africa, will not be seen here until late May, a month later than JA saw Australia at New Road. What wouldn't I have given to refill my glass in the Diglis Hotel that late April night in the company of the camp-followers? I could have wagged my head with the best of him.

Tomorrow another county championship begins with my native county bottom of Division Two before the first call of play, but rapidly overhauling Leicestershire who have been deducted 16 points and fined £5,000 for 'repeated player indiscipline'. Chief culprit, 39 year old Charlie Shreck, suspended by Leicestershire for two games, for 'using language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or making an obscene gesture'. All in the heat of the moment in last week's 'friendly' against Loughborough MCCU last week. Nice one Charlie, great start to the season.

All the above might suggest my glass is in need of a refill but fear not readers. Wisden and Playfair arrived today, my list for Headingley tomorrow reads 'make sandwiches, don't forget sun hat and cream, avoid the Long Room before play and don't use obscene, offensive or insulting language when Hampshire take the field, and you know why I might be tempted.