I returned from London today where I was lucky enough to be working/interviewing/drinking champagne at an event to celebrate the Great Britain Hockey teams ahead of the Olympics. I got the chance to interview Richard Mantell, thoroughly confusing him beforehand by telling him about how I played against his brother Simon:
JP: “Richard, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Many years ago, I played against your brother when he was at Millfield.”
RM: “Oh, what was his name?”
JP (slightly confused): “Er, Simon!”
RM: “Does your brother still play?”
JP: “No, no, sorry. (points to self) I played against your brother Simon.”
An amusing anecdote that will find its way into 1,309 Days Later as during the book I identify Simon – who unfortunately missed out on Olympic selection – as the best player I have ever played against.
From Olympic hockey to cricket and tonight I have been busy writing up an entry apiece into my England-South Africa and ICC World Twenty20 diaries.
Pakistan were quick off the mark to name their 30-man preliminary squad and I wonder, if it were possible to merge players, how good a combination of the three Akmal brothers might be:
Kamran Akmal’s inclusion has also raised a few eyebrows and although he was cleared by the PCB Integrity Committee of any match-fixing connections, in many peoples’ eyes he still remains a man tainted by both allegations of fixing and a reputation for missing chances. Younger brother Umar Akmal has possibly more raw talent as a batsman and the youngest of the trio, Adnan, is the safest wicket-keeper. All three have kept wicket for their country and if you could make a composite player of all three you’d have some prospect. A mix of Kamran’s electric starts, Umar’s class and Adnan’s steadiness would be a batsman versatile enough to cope with any wicket.
Next up, my reaction to Marchant de Lange’s withdrawal from the South African squad due to injury and CSA calling up Albie Morkel – an all-rounder – as his replacement.
Although his only Test wicket to date is some chap called Ponting, there is no doubt that England’s bowlers have more to fear from Morkel’s destructive batting than their batsman have cause to lie awake at night dreading his arrival at the crease with ball in hand…
…however, his introduction to the squad does give the tourists plenty of options. Should they find themselves down in the series, you could see them in a situation where Morkel is picked to score the quick runs that would once have come from Boucher’s bat. At present, both men have taken the same amount of Test wickets and that will be one thing Albie will be desperate to improve on.
1,309 Days Later, the story of how Grantham Men’s 1st XI went over three years without a league victory, is due to published later this year. A proportion of any royalties will go back into the club to support grass roots hockey.
My diary of the England-South Africa Test series will be published in August, as part of a series analysing England’s rise and fall from the number one spot in the Test rankings.
The ICC World Twenty20 diary will be published in October, by which time England could still be the best Twenty20 team in the world. Or not, of course.