Don’t fret, Bert. When he was scampering towards the Hollies in chase of a drive from a more errant colleague’s bowling back in August I drunkenly implored him to never retire, such was our collective love for him. I’m certain he took note.

Hello Bert.

It was several of your comments on the old KC pieces I have just Ogblogged and linked that had me laughing out loud again – as they did the first time I saw them – belated thanks.

There is little doubt in any of our minds that you, AP, are solely responsible for Jimmy Anderson’s career success.

Obviously.

http://ianlouisharris.com/2011/02/19/garden-cricket-at-the-frangipani-tree-near-galle-sri-lanka-as-reported-on-king-cricket-19-february-2011/

Anderson is the perfect example of the fact that test cricket needs to be learnt. He has played tests for 15 years. In the first seven of those he averaged 35, 31, 75, 48, 41, 30 and 34. In the next eight he averaged 23, 25, 29, 32, 22, 23, 24 and last year’s remarkable 17.5. That’s seven years of learning his trade, followed by eight years of being a master of it.

Eight years with an overall average of 24. God we will miss him when he retires.

Also, Happy New Year (and therefore new Northern Hemisphere Cricket Season), everyone.

http://ianlouisharris.com/2011/02/12/south-africa-v-zimbabwe-world-cup-warm-up-match-chennai-stadium-as-reported-on-king-cricket-12-february-2011/

http://ianlouisharris.com/2011/01/31/a-visit-to-lal-bahadur-stadium-as-reported-in-a-king-cricket-piece-31-january-2011/

As I say therein, “…some of the comments are better than my report – it is worth reading for them. King Cricket can be like that.”

Ha! That’s actually quite a balanced side (if light on openers).