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Articles by Douglas Heath

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About Douglas Heath

Douglas Heath began his lifelong love affair with cricket as an 8 year-old schoolboy playing OWZAT? Whilst listening to a 160s Ashes series on the radio. He later became half-decent at doing John Arlott impressions and is a member of Middlesex County Cricket Club. He holds no truck at all with the T20 version on the game. More Posts

Cricketing matters

Readers will not be surprised to learn that I am against the proposed 100 ball format intercity competition. The rationale for it seems to be the attraction of a new and younger audience but the reality is money from broadcasting rights to rival the IPL. One ECB  executive commented that cricket [...]

April 22, 2018 // 0 Comments

A SLOW DEATH/4TH DAY

In a day in Sydney of unparalleled  heat  (58 degrees Centigrade being recorded on the pitch and Sydney the hottest place on the planet) Australia batted on and on and only a rain storm can now save England. To win a Test you need at least 6 convincing performers with bat and ball. The three [...]

January 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

The third day

In a day more memorable for the pink colours everywhere celebrating the Glenn McGrath cancer foundation, the Aussies built a formidable lead on a wicket baked by scorching sun. It’s been rifles v cannons with England chasing the games. “Magic Marsh partnership piles on more Pommy pain” [...]

January 6, 2018 // 0 Comments

THE SECOND DAY

In the morning the England tail wagged in a lively session but the next two, with the Australians batting, could be termed attritional (cricket-speak for boring). Australia do not want to lose this match but one has the impression that they are relaxed  if they do not win it either. I suspect they [...]

January 5, 2018 // 0 Comments

The First Day

Again I will assume my reader knows the close of play score; has read of the final, final session that deprived England of pole position; the questionable decision not to use a night watchman; and the failure of James Vince and Mark Stoneman to make meaningful scores. I will now make my own [...]

January 4, 2018 // 0 Comments

Sydney v Melbourne

You get the distinct  feeling in Melbourne that they do not like being regarded as Sydney’s poor relation. They counter it is the sporting capital. I have already listed its main sporting events but excluded the Melbourne Cup. They tell you what great food their restaurants  produce. They [...]

January 1, 2018 // 0 Comments

The final day

There were 3 reasons why England failed to win this game: the unresponsive pitch, Steve Smith and the weather. My neighbour in the MCG announced himself with these words: “I expect a bloody boring day” And it was. The problem is that Australia, now that the WACA is gone, have only one pure [...]

December 30, 2017 // 0 Comments

the 4th day

Although we are nicely set up for an intriguing final day with any result possible I do criticise Joe Root and the backroom team for being inattentive to detail; he should have had at least 5 weather reports before him for Thursday, my two were showing rain. Armed with that knowledge he should have [...]

December 29, 2017 // 0 Comments

The third day

It’s getting better and better for England but we are entitled to ask why it took the 4th Test for Stuart Broad, Alistair Cook and Joe Root to rediscover their mojos. Maybe I am still curmudgeonly. I was delighted to be there at 4-46 when Cook made his double century. Again I will assume our [...]

December 28, 2017 // 0 Comments

The first day

I picked up a copy of the Australian at breakfast and read an excellent article by Gideon Haig on the 1977 centenary Test of the Ashes. The Aussies won that one though Derek Randall put up a decent fight with 174. He reprised the event well. At the celebration dinner were Don Bradman, Harold [...]

December 26, 2017 // 0 Comments

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