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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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The great day dawned; everyone was up early to see a pink dawn herald the day of the first one-dayer between Oberon's X1 and Robin O' the Hood's team. Oberon insists on having a good breakfast before going out into the middle whether to bat or field. So he had Poached eggs-from our forest farm-two rashers of cooked ham with baked beans, toast, butter and marmalade. Very English, very filling. Soon we heard the sound of horses' hooves and Robin and his men-and Maid Marian arrived, all smartly appointed in their saddles. Robin himself rode a fantastic chestnut with a mane like thibk silk, while Marian rode a white horse with a mane like spun silver. They brandished their bats as they approached our dwelling, and soon our men were going up to meet them. Ob rode a grand horse whose black coat and mane glistened like jet; it was Ob's favourite horse and he rode it even at jousts.Actually, it was a splendid war horse with a palfrey of purple and gold to signify the royal status. It had still not been decided whether Marian and i would play in the match because of the sticking point of cricket not being a suitable game for women-especially ladies-to play. But Marian and I had been on the hotline to each other and made a bilateral decision that we would play if the need arose. Quince had designed smart cricketing gear for me in the traditional cream flannel with a cream silk shirt. Our forest caps were in green with green feathers, while robin's were in russet brown with red feathers adorning them. Soon it was time for Oberon and Robin to go out to toss. And oh! Before I forget, we were lucky to get the services of Umpires Shepherd and the disarming Bucknor. The coin used was a silver one dating from Roman times with the head of some emperor or the other on one side and the imperial eagle on the reverse. As they went out to toss the media surrounded them and they were obscured from view. Oberon tossed and Robin called heads, but it was tails and so Oberon decided to bat first on a wicket that was carpeted with greewsward which was the kind of wicket we played on in those days. It had a narrow strip down the middle, about one yard in width, which the bowlers had to bowl on, meaning that they started their run up at one end of the well-rolled pitchwith the ball landing right in the middle at the other end. The stumps were planted at the two ends of the strip. Robin led his team out all looking very smart in their cricketing togs of russet brown and red. The spectators were looking forward to a good day's cricket. Quince and Snout opened bowling for us as they could splice an arrow with their speed and accuracy. Little John and Will Scarlet opened batting for the Sherwood team with Robin himself going in one down. Bottom was keeping wickets and we had to watch him closely as he liked to have a couple of swigs of ale before going behind the stumps. Now, Little John was a mighty hitter and he had to be got out fast.Quince began his run-up which was so long that a horse could have gone at the trot for one whole minute on it;that was how we measured run-ups. A good ball that had John beaten all ends up, and a loud cheer from our supporters ringiing the field. But the next delivery was sent soaring all the way to the boundary. Four for no loss. The next delivery and there was a chorus of appeals for leg before. Bot did not stop appealing and had to be warned by Umpire Bucknor. And so the game went on with Robin's team putting up 75 for no loss with 25 overs bowled. At drinks Bottom and Puck decided to put on a protest that two certain lbw decisions were not allowed. The two umpires conferred and it was decided to continue the match the next day as things were getting a little out of hand, with Starveling and all the rest adding to the protest demo. Oberon was quite embarrassed and went out into the middle carrying his orb and sceptre; in those times it was not unusual for the king to go out into the middle with his accoutrements of royalty to settle a dispute in a match. Over-ruling the umpires, Ob announced in his most imperial voice that the match would continue today by royal command. It was a decision over which even the umpires had no say. A great roar of approval went up and Much the Miller's Son was doing cartwheels on the side of the pitch. Umpires Bucknor and Shepherd smiled broadly as they acknowledged Ob's command and the battery of cameramen moved forward to catch the action on the historic day. -Tit |
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