June 25, 2007

Not worried about you

    "I remember during ... a one-dayer at Sussex, [Dean Jones] top-edged a hook onto his face and fractured a cheekbone, forcing him to retire hurt. By the time he returned to the ground after his hospital visit, I had moved into the 80s, but we lost eight wickets in the process before, unbelievably, 'Jonah' made his way out to the middle with a black eye, swollen beyond recognition, under his helmet. My first words to him were, 'Don't be silly, mate, it doesn't matter to me whether or not I get a hundred. You don't need to risk any more damage.' With typical Jones defiance he replied, 'I'm not worried about you -- I want a hundred myself.' Optimism was his strong suit, but I doubted he could get the 86 more runs he needed for his century in the eight overs remaining with only one eye working. But I loved his attitude."
Australian cricketer Steve Waugh, writing in his autobiography Out of My Comfort Zone.

3 comments:

Kavi said...

No wonder, they scaled the heights that they did !

J. Alfred Prufrock said...

My favourite Aussie story - Western Australia come out to bowl in the 4th innings, defending 83. Their captain says something on the lines of 'Let's try and get a few wickets'.

Young tearaway says 'What's wrong with fucking winning?' Takes 7 for 53. Dennis Keith Lillee.

Details may follow. Or you could mail 'em to me.

J.A.P.

Dilip D'Souza said...

JAP,

That sounds uncannily like the Test that gave us the Ashes, England v Australia in 1882.

England chasing 85 to win, Aussie fast man (who already took 7/46 in the first innings) famously tells his mates "This thing can be done", takes 7/44 and Australia wins by 7 runs.

Frank "The Demon" Spofforth.