Jack Bannister, who died in 2016, was an influential figure in cricket: fine seam bowler for Warwickshire, pioneer of the players’ union, journalist, broadcaster, behind-the-scenes fixer. Shrewd? He could have had a Regius professorship in shrewdness. He also owned a chain of betting shops.
In 1983, halfway through the third World Cup final, Bannister had a brainstorm. An acquaintance shouted at him through the open windows of the old Lord’s press box: “What price India?” “100 to 1.” With Jack, such questions were never theoretical. He took the bet, and he paid.
Written by Matthew Engel
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/may/21/world-cup-cricket-england under the title “Cricket World Cup retains its primacy and England is the best place for it | Matthew Engel”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
