- Updates from day two at the Ageas Bowl
- Ali Martin: drizzles and a dystopian feel greet the new normal
- Andy Bull: Holding’s eloquence leads Sky’s masterpiece on race
- And you can get in touch with Simon by email or on Twitter
Hello world!
Just 17.4 overs were played yesterday – at least there are no fans to refund – but it was a pleasure just to watch cricket not be played because of rain, with all its familiar frustrations, having spent the preceding months watching cricket not be played because of a global pandemic, less familiar and far less likely to clear up within a couple of hours with a bit of luck.
You can’t understand the history of cricket without understanding the history of empire. You can’t appreciate the rivalries between these, and other, teams, without appreciating the relationship between our countries, what’s been given, and what’s been taken.
You can’t understand the hostility of Michael Holding’s bowling without understanding what made him so angry, you can’t appreciate Frank Worrell’s grace as a captain without knowing something of the prejudice he faced, you can’t value the violence of Viv Richards’ batting without a sense of what he was fighting against.
Related: Michael Holding’s eloquence leads Sky’s unflinching masterpiece on race | Andy Bull
Written by Simon Burnton (now) and Tanya Aldred (later)
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2020/jul/09/england-v-west-indies-first-test-day-two-live under the title “England v West Indies: first Test, day two – live!”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
