For all that we remember that press release for the phrase “outside cricket”, the real cherry on the trifle, the diamond encrusted monument in your own private courtyard, the beauty among the beast (get on with it – D.O.) is this little corker:
Clearly what happens in the dressing room or team meetings should remain in that environment and not be distributed to people not connected with the team. This is a core principle of any sports team, and any such action would constitute a breach of trust and team ethics.
Stop laughing at the back.
Our late lamented blogger, DO, went into it in some depth last year, and I’m not going to do the same now. But it does always help to remember the chutzpah behind it. This was written a month after Paul Newman was singing like a bird in an example of “good journalism” rarely surpassed.
For any of you new to this blog, and not aware of its ongoing themes, let me place before you Exhibit A, in the Hall of Infamy.
It appeared that the mysterious disappearance of Bottom Left had meant that a replacement may have needed to be found. As these four, by far and away, won the awards on DO’s site (yeah, let’s keep that split personality going) for wretched prose, the new entries seemed difficult to imagine. John Etheridge was one possible candidate, but his misdemeanours are not as offensive to most of us. Jonathan Agnew maybe, but I’m not as down on him as others, and this is my site.
It seems fear not, for beyond the horizon there speaks a man on Wisden India.
http://www.wisdenindia.com/interview/england-tend-trip-plan-b-pringle/146929
Hurrah! I am in a state of high excitement. Lady Canis Lupus (not that judge who got turfed off the enquiry) beware…
It is difficult to tell how much of a difference the switch has made. England were wallowing under Cook the captain, whose bad form with the bat was influencing his mood and decision making as team leader. Against good bowling sides in Australian conditions, they may yet come to miss Cook’s batting qualities, providing he had rediscovered his mojo. The cry by some for England, and other teams, to pack the side with hitters could backfire if the ball keeps swinging around as it has done in the tri-series.
Ah, how sweet. The Essex Mafia, the Chelmsford Cosa Nostra, the Ilford Illuminati, however you like to call them, stick together. We only had to wait for Cook to regain his “mojo” and for the captaincy to really flow from the tactical brain we all loved. I call it “magic beans”.
Like England’s fans, India’s supporters quickly become despondent. Tournament play is all about gaining confidence and your best players delivering at the big moments. If Virat Kohli, Rohit and one of the bowlers can find some persuasive form, the semifinals are not out of reach.
Only we don’t get despondent at those on the pitch, more the entourage off it, and towards those in the echelons of power and the press box. See your wibble on Cook above.
We take a break to comment on the preamble:
Pringle played in two World Cups – 1987 and 1992 – and, on both occasions, England made the final, with Pringle turning in impressive performances with the ball, especially in 1992.
OK. 1992 was pretty good. Let’s look at the potential for impressive performances in 1987:
Shared responsibility..
In 1987, we had the final in the bag until Mike Gatting played an unnecessary reverse sweep and we collapsed.
It’s a wonderful piece of Q&A, and may we see more of it.
My record only looks moderate in terms of wickets and, therefore, average. In those days, bowling dot balls was the key for bowlers like me, and you built pressure that way.
6.16 an over in 1987. You have to chuckle.
Being Outside Cricket 
“The cry by some for England, and other teams, to pack the side with hitters could backfire if the ball keeps swinging around as it has done in the tri-series”
Oh dear. In the XI, Cook was replaced by Bell. Didn’t know he was labelled a hitter! Our “correspondent of note”, to quote the Wisden article, clearly hasn’t changed.
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An enjoyable and enlightening (?) read. Enough to take the breath away in parts. Poor dear Cooky.
Loved the bit about the Chelmsford Cosa Nostra and the magic beans. A very amusing piece of writing.
First off against Australia and New Zealand. I think we might need more than a dollop of those magic beans to help us along.
Bring on Ballance. Better late than never.
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There is no limit to Derek Pringle’s ‘wisdom’.
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I gave up reading pringle’s interview as soon as I got the comment “I prefer honesty”. How this piece of ordure can have the nerve to make such a comment when all he did in his time at the Telegraph was to write lies and innuendo about Pietersen. It makes me angry and to be quite frank he is not worth my anger.
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I think Pringle is trapped in the same place as the ECB – 1987. Someone free him…
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Question “….captain ….justified in saying what he said?
Answer:…….these days, with so many vested interests through sponsors, etc.,
Those “inside” can earn a few, some players though not..
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I like the use of the WC 87 stats, where you get two for the price of one with Pringle and Downton! I had a giggle at the “Ilford Illuminati” comment. I used to love watching cricket at Valentine’s Park. Unfortunately Essex have nigh on permanently retreated to Chelmsford for good and haven’t played there for about 15 years.
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Can I use that 4 square intelligensia photo as a dart board??
On the day Joss Buttler is named vice captain of the England ODI side I repeat, whilst there’s still time, BOYCOTT THE ECB – you know it makes sense :0)
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I thought they buried him under a pile Daily Telegraph newspapers. Like Vlad’s minion he just can’t be put down you know. He’s such a sucker.
Good one me Lord. Love it, love it, love it. Good to see some more of the regulars back. I’ve missed you all.
Cheers for piece. It’s a corker.
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I like Atherton but I hope Nick Hoult gets the recogntion his work this year deserves.
As for the Mighty Pring and his fellow Whoresmen, overlooked again it would seem…..
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No George Dobell?
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Just seen this in Radio Times! Bob Willis having yet another pop at KP as part of his piece on the upcoming World Cup. How the hell does this miserable old git get away with this stuff. I’ve complained to Radio Crimes but doubt I will be taken seriously. Utterly appalling.
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“”The guy’s been a disruptive influence in every dressing room he’s ever been in. And don’t forget, the Delhi Daredevils – the Indian Premier League side he captained – won only two out of 14 matches with him in it. So he’s clearly not a strong advert for team spirit.””
I wish they could come up with something original and/or with substance. This is like parody. And the myth of ALL the dressing rooms he disrupted is growing…! And linking performance on the field with captains influence in the dressing room when it suits – how about a certain Mr Cook?
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WC Fantasy Team competition here:
http://www.alloutcricket.com/cricket/fantasy
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