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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

The Cricket World Cup comes to life

Australia’s 3-wicket win at Kolkota was the most enthralling game so far in a rather tepid World Cup. South Africa chose to bat as the advantage seems to pass to the team that does. However they were soon 24-4 and Australia in pole position. David Miller’s century brought some honour to [...]

November 17, 2023 // 0 Comments

MCC v India

I switched onto TMS at 7-30 am to hear an interview with an author critical of the MCC’s governance of cricket. The theme was typical of the contemporary cricket writer: the MCC  was a cosy, private, right wing members’ club and largely incompetent. Later I listened to the preview of the [...]

November 15, 2023 // 0 Comments

England win O.D.I.

England won by 100 runs over New Zealand at Lords but it was a sterile, dull match. Various reasons were discussed but the accepted one was the 12-30 start. This meant the match went onto until 7-30 pm and began at lunchtime. My neighbour in the Upper Mound stand and his wider were my guests for a [...]

September 16, 2023 // 0 Comments

Stuart Broad

One of the many joys of writing for The Rust is you can express opinion of a contrarian nature. Although watching live at Trent Bridge eight years ago Stuart Broad taking 8-15 was one of my great memories, I was relieved that he has now chosen to retire. Quite simply it has opened up a more [...]

July 31, 2023 // 0 Comments

Third Test: hail Stokes … and Woakes

If you take out Ben Stokes’ first innings knock of 80 then I doubt if England would have overhauled the Aussie total, who also should have the add the time of the Stokes occupation of the crease to bowl at England. It was another herculean effort from the skipper. But praise too for Chris [...]

July 10, 2023 // 0 Comments

Fourth day of the Test: stasis and surprise

At 2-30pm the drift of this match into stasis induced a siesta in me and – when I came round – it was to one of the most extraordinary passages of cricket I have ever witnessed. We saw two bowlers – one of whom Nathan Lyon was immobile – forced to hit boundaries as, although [...]

July 2, 2023 // 0 Comments

Third day of Test: dull and ominous

Both the weather conditions and cricket were dull yesterday. Australia look like building an unassailable lead, 221 runs ahead and Steve Smith and Usman Khuwaji still at the crease. Ben Stokes went early in the morning and Harry Brook to an injudicious swat to a shorter ball.  Once Jonny Bairstow [...]

July 1, 2023 // 0 Comments

First day of the Second Test: grey clouds and grey cricket

The overcast weather produced a more attritional day in which the most notable event was Jonny Bairstow carrying off a protester. Given he can break a leg on the golf course, my concern was he would sustain another unusual injury. He did not – Ollie Pope after dropping a dolly catch was off [...]

June 29, 2023 // 0 Comments

Thoughts on the First Test

I hope that after this most enthralling of matches the media – conventional and social – does not turn on Ben Stokes and Baz-ball after the Aussies won, albeit narrowly, the vital First Test. Of course catches were dropped – and the declaration deprived England of vital runs [...]

June 22, 2023 // 0 Comments

The two invariables

Amongst the great selection debates and “Bazball v Pragmatic”, there are two constants: injuries and bad weather. Thus it was yesterday – on the third day of the Edgbaston Test – that both kicked in. Moeen Ali’s spinning finger is raw and blistered and a storm of biblical [...]

June 19, 2023 // 0 Comments

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