By Dmitri Old / Lord Canis Lupus
The end of 2015 is nigh, and although I’ll continue with the Dmitris and the review of the year into 2016, this is a time to give my thanks to all of those who have made Being Outside Cricket what it is. What that is, I have no idea….
My main thanks, of course, has to go to The Leg Glance. Chris offered his assistance at a time when I was really struggling with a change of job and some personal issues. He has been an absolute bloody tower of strength, a fantastic contributor to the blog (and no, he’s more than that, he is every much BOC as I am), and more than anything, a bloody good mate. We sealed the friendship over Krusovice, and no doubt we’ll share some more. I think one night in August, when a very well lubricated Dmitri entered into Twitter combat with a journo was when I was most thankful. Cheers, squire.
Then there are those that have contributed. Sean B, aka The Great Bucko, has put some really decent stuff out there for you, and I hope we’ll keep him from his own blog, and get his stuff on here. Also thanks for Philip for the batting piece in the late season. Again, really thought provoking. Thanks to both for the Ashes Panel too which brings me on to…..
To all those on the Ashes panel not already named, I can’t thank you enough. Keyser Chris (a great pleasure to meet you at Lord’s – let’s do that Adelaide piece one day), Man In A Barrel (despite the problems you caused 🙂 ), Cricketjon (how many names/emails you had on here 🙂 ), Paul Ewart (my main man in Finland!), The poet supreme that is The Bogfather (cut out the filth), AndyIn Brum (my PoI fellow fanatic), Metatone (where you been, man?), EoinJPMorgan (what’s happened to Hillel), Andy Cronk (Oscar da Bosca), Dr. Melf (cheers for the support on Twitter as well), Rooto from the Cote D’Azur, Colonel Blimp (our man for the Windies) and Martin Payne (a Hammer, but I’ll let him off). The Ashes Panel went down really well, it was tough for all of you, but you responded superbly and made it what it was. Thank you so much for that.
To my constants for the last couple of years. Arron, who was there at the start of this blog going “big”. You know both Chris and I would love you to write more on here, but understand your desire to stay as a commenter. Simon H, Mr Stats, Mr News, the man who leads us to the stories – again, this blog would be a lot poorer without you here. Mark, the raging light that never goes out, who will say what he wants when he wants. I love a “Mark” response. To D’Arthez – again, we appreciate all the effort you put in, and understand the waning passion. Keep posting. Zephirine too (maybe one day I’ll learn to spell your name, but you taught me a lesson – never assume your respondents are male) – constant commenter, loyal follower. Northern Light, who has also been a big supporter over the last couple of years, as has Simon K, my local neighbour, who ruined my May with his tweets on politics!
To all my commenters this year. If I miss you out, it’s down to my error. So let’s go.
Iron Balls McGinty, @pktroll, AB, Ali Martin, Amit, Alan, Alec, Andrew Nixon, Andy (if not covered by Cronk or AiB), Angst (my man in Hong Kong), Ann Weatherly-Barton, ArushaTZ, Benny (great to meet you at The Oval, let’s do it again next year), Badger, Bags of Smoke, Belgianwaffle, Bertie, BigKev 67 (I think we’d get on better without this cricket lark), Blamcrambello, Bob, BoerinAustria (a perennial star here – thanks for the support over the last year and a half), Boz (hope you are well, long time no hear, drop me a mail), Brian Coleman, Burly (another one dropped off the radar), Cato Junior, Chateleine, Chris Stocks (appreciated the reply), Chrisps (like our Master In Charge, keep ploughing on), the tour de force that was/is Clivejw, Craig, Critihas, Culex, CustomCopyWriting (we’ll get to you later….), Dan, DanDanBoom, Danno (hope you and the family are well, Chris), Danny, Dark King (maybe Culex), Dave, DavetheVet, David Hopps, David Mutton, DLPThomas, Douglas Green (one, very odd, response), dvyk, Ed, emasl, Escort (up the BBC!), Footydoc, Fred (miss you on here, sir), FICJAM IS ON AGAIN AAAAGH (Must be someone else, but can’t match the mail), Fungineer, FustedBlush, Gambrinus (keep a welcome in the hillsides, squire), geoffboycottsgrandmother, Gonthaar (sorry for wordpress asking for your mail), Grenville, greyblazer, Grumble (or Jomesy as he is better known), Grumpy Gaz (another missing for a while), hatmallet, Ishallremainanonymous, Ian, Ian Jones, infrequent commentator (incredibly infrequent – just the once), Ivon Ivonovich (oh yes indeed), Jack Ballard (aka Ross), James (aka Larry David Niven), James Morgan (mentioned him already), Jamie, Jayman, JennyAH (who can see the nice in all of us, wish I could), jbkingsangler, jegmeister, Julie Gould (KP’s #1 fan, I’m just a jobbing amateur), JoFo, John Etheridge (still no), John Owen, Jomesy (again), Josh, Jrod (aka Jarrod Kimber), Lawrence Booth, LarryC, Leplayboy, Lezza44, Liam Desmond, Lionel Joseph, Lord Clarke of Paraguay, Lydia Thayer, Maggie, Marees, Marge, Maxie (we’ll get on to him later), May, Mike, MM, Moggy, Moosyn, Muzzleford, Narelle, NE Mike, Nephilim, NJH Cricket (I’m sure he’ll appreciate it. PS I know, have done for ages), Nicholas, Nick, Nick Atkinson, Pam Nash (ha ha ha, as if), Paul, Peeking Duck, PepperSydney, PhilA (need your help on the glossary, sir), pluckywingate, Pontiac (Nathan Lyon’s #1 Fan), Poultz24 (our newest contributor), Sherwick, Rich (aka Rich77), Richard, Rob, Roger, Rohan (thanks for all the contributions, and support), Ron, Ron Walaron (long time no hear for Ron as well), Rufus SG, Ross More (though I might have done him before), Sarah, Saxophone Alex, Scrim, Silk, Sebsmar, Shaun, SimplyShirah, Sir Peter (getting pangs for Cape Town, mate?), SNML, Steve from Oz, Steve, Steve T, SteveTuffers, SubtleKnife, THA, The Nibbler, The Vickster (back after 7 months!), Timmy, Tom (from a pacificview), Tony Bennett, Topshelf, Tregaskis (we’ll get to him later), Trevor, Tuffers86 (might have had another name), Tybalt, Veturi Sarma, VinnieMac, Volkerelle, Waikatoguy, What What, Wrongunatlongon (long time no hear – the bloke who inspired me to go that extra mile at the start of 2014), Yossarian 1977, Zero Bullshit (one of the great misses. Sad about this one) and Zeitkratzer Stockhausen (Toby Roland Jones…..)
I have a couple of questions. Who is my visitor in Chile? And the one in Joinville, Brazil? E-mail me on dmitriold@hotmail.co.uk . Also, the visitor who might register from Templecombe in Somerset. Could you also drop us a line. You were a key visitor!
To supportive blogs like Dennis Does Cricket. I had good fun with the Ashes previews. Let us do it again, if we are still doing this next time around.
I’d like to pay tribute to the work of Tregaskis this year. When he posts, we listen. An inspiration in terms of depth, research and turn of phrase. Glad we are on the same side.
I was really gutted to see the end of The Full Toss, and the hopefully temporary hiatus in the output of Maxie. Another inspiration to me in particular, Maxie and James had a great thing going, and can see why it got to where it did. I’ve had my own doubts. Best of luck to James in his new venture.
To those journalists willing to engage, thanks. We don’t bite. It’s passionate, I know, but you take that away, you see those who the country depends upon to keep the fires burning turning their backs on the sport. I’m sure that’s never been in the ECB’s heads. There’s been less interaction this year, but the Ashes solved many issues in many eyes.
To the ECB. The Ashes didn’t solve a thing. While Giles Clarke has an official role with your backing, then it cannot.
To Jarrod and Sam, thanks for access to the film. Good luck in your ventures, and we’ll support it how we can within the confines of the blog. There are some, you know!
For the record, some of my best ofs for 2015.
My England innings of the year was Alastair Cook’s 162 at Lord’s. This isn’t me pulling my punches. It’s acknowledging that he played a truly special knock that played a huge part in us winning a fantastic match.
My favourite commentator this year was Mike Atherton. He has zoomed past Nasser Hussain who went downhill rapidly – maybe 2016 might bring redemption. Sky should also think of promoting Mark Butcher (although given his behind the sofa comment, which Cook raised at the end of the Ashes, and the close relationship between ECB and Sky, that’s a reach) and Robert Key. I think they only employ Dominic Cork to troll their viewers. TMS is much the same with Lovejoy. If you also have Sky, one minute of Brayshaw is enough to have you scratching your eyes out.
My favourite moment of last year was seeing Toby Roland Jones make his first hundred at the end of a great day at Lord’s. It was a joy to be there. And I am a Surrey man.
The best bowling was Broad at Trent Bridge, how could it not be?
Finally, I want to thank all those who have been so supportive on here. I’ve met a few of you this year, and I’d like to meet a few more. How this blog will go next year is anyone’s guess. If you stick with us, I’m sure we’ll enjoy it. As I said, I was having major doubts at the end of the Ashes, and then again earlier this month, but I’ve rediscovered some of the fun in doing this again. My friends at work, overseas and the long-suffering beloved have been great this year. I should thank the wife for her patience, her listening to me wittering on about this thing, and being very supportive. One in a million.
Not sure how long it will last, but I hope this mood remains for a while yet.
I wish you all a Happy New Year. Good luck to you all.
Dmitri
Being Outside Cricket 
And a Happy New Year to you, Dmitri and all the Outsiders.A big thank you for giving me somewhere to give vent to my frustrations.Good things ahead.!!!!🐰
LikeLike
Thanks Julie. Already New Year out there as I write. Have a great 2016. Keep the KP fires burning!
LikeLike
To you too. So glad I found your blog. It is educational and thought provoking. As are the respondents to your postings.
Thanks for the pleasure you have given.
Happy New Year.
LikeLike
Bob,
Great to see you are still reading us, if not commenting. Have a great New Year, sir.
LikeLike
I’m a reader, not a blogger but very many thanks for the information and entertainment. I now see cricket through vastly different eyes than i used to, which is no bad thing
Roll on 2016 – i have (just about) re-engaged with the I day side. Maybe i will one day with the test team
LikeLike
Brian,
Thanks for the support. As long as people are interested in what we say, then we will write. All being well.
The ODI team is an exciting one to watch. It has little of the baggage of the test lot. I hope it continues like this.
Cheers.
LikeLike
Just to add my New Year wishes to you all.
LikeLike
Thanks very much Dmitri. Happy New Year to all!
LikeLike
All the best Ian. Again, nice to see you are still around, even if the comments are fewer and further between.
All the best.
LikeLike
Not been able to watch a lot of cricket lately but January will allow me to rectify that and therefore have some more comments to make.
Thanks again.
LikeLike
Happy New Year to everyone!
D, to answer your question. I’ve been struggling with housing issues, which in turn has drastically reduced the amount of time I’m online… Hoping things will sort themselves out in the next month or so.
LikeLike
Hope things work out metatone. Had to ask given your regular contributions to the blog. Ta.
LikeLike
Wholeheatedly endorse all the love here. Keep going. Team Waitrose, the ECB, and the media sycophants need calling out whenever. And cricket worldwide needs you as a friend.
Just a question about Giles Clarke… does he need cricket? Is this a front for some other interest? Can’t he make more wonga and business kudos elsewhere? What’s the attraction for him? I’m sure it can’t be the love of the sport. He’s a crocodile.
LikeLike
One of the theories is that he’s in it for the gong. That opens more doors than you could ever know.
LikeLike
I don’t think he fails to make money. And he does have business interests. There are plenty of rumours about that, but there are also libel laws…
LikeLike
MM,
On the first part, thanks for the comments, and keep them coming. While we have our print media, I think we’ll still have something to say.
Cheers, and a happy new year.
LikeLike
Happy New Year to all on here and all the best for 2016.
LikeLike
All the best pktroll. Have a great New Year.
LikeLike
A late cut
While still bowling filth
Without the smut
but sowing seeds to tilth
In freshly laid out(side)fields
And on a full length
May BOC grow
From strength to strength
So I wish you all here
With your insightful words
A 2016 with plenty to cheer
And keep your passion heard
And with special wishes best
For Leggy and LCL
For continued blogging zest
Please keep giving them* hell!
*ECB, ICC, MSM etc
LikeLike
They say an orgasm a day is good for your health. Does it work for filth poets? 🙂
Cheers for all the support this year, and thanks for copying selvey into the recent badinage!
Have a great one, and don’t go blind!
Dmitri
LikeLike
Thanks very much to all for a splendid, often splenetic, year.
And, just by the by, FICJAM ON AGAIN AAAAGH was me, using an old address. It came about because my mobile now fails to save any name or email details from previous posts.
LikeLike
Cheers Arron,
I do not jest in saying you played as important a part as anyone in the making of HDWLIA and then BOC. Keep on keeping on!
Have a great new year,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Thank you Dmitri – I’ve greatly enjoyed reading articles and comments throughout this cricketing year – I may well stick my neck out and comment some more in 2016, too. Thanks, all, for sensible & reasoned analysis, unlike the bulk of the MSM! Happy New Year, everyone!
LikeLike
Nicholas,
Dive in. We don’t bite (well D’Arthez might – only joking D!). Thanks for reading and have a great new year.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Yes, a very Happy New Year to everybody here. Especially to our two hosts who have kept it going despite all the behind the scenes distractions. (Work commitments, family & friends, enthusiasm fatigue) well done lads!
LikeLike
Mark,
Stenography is etched into my brain. The analogies, the manifest anger… it’s been a brilliant year.
Have a great one.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Thank you for the namecheck, Dmitri. It is greatly appreciated. Congratulations, also, to you and Chris for growing this new blog incarnation and going from strength to strength. You each bring terrific albeit different qualities to BOC, while an undimmed passion for the game unites you both. It remains the go-to site for independent cricket thinkers. May the fire in its belly continue to burn hot and bright in 2016.
LikeLike
Cheers T,
I remember asking you to hold back an article on Cook. You took it to TFT. They got huge hit numbers. Felt like Decca turning down the Beatles. I won’t make that mistake again!
Your depth of research is an inspiration squire. Never change. Have a great New Year and keep the quality high on Drop In Pitch.
Cheers,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Thanks and best wishes to both of you, this is THE place for cricket and all that goes with it.
LikeLike
Escort,
Cheers for everything this year – well nearly everything. I always have to check the bloody spam comments for yours.
Have a great new year.
Dmitri
LikeLike
I don’t want to put pressure on you guys; but keep it going dmitri and TLG, your nurdling is essential and I am proud to be a patron of this blog and everyone who frequents it.
Happy new year everyone.
LikeLike
Thanks T,
We might not be as regular as before, but we’ll certainly do what we can. The next month will take care of itself with the test cricket.
Cheers for the support.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year all. Thanks again to Dmitri and Chris for all the hard work they have put into making BOC such a fantastic forum for all independent cricket thinkers. Long may it continue into 2016
LikeLike
Cheers Sean,
We look forward to hearing more from you as you become our third writer….. hopefully. You’ll find it gets easier as you go along.
Thanks for the support and the work on the Ashes Panel.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy new year to all.
No ten memorable moments of 2015 from our #1? And it went so well last year –
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/dec/18/cricket-in-2014-10-memorable-moments
LikeLike
Simon,
Thanks for all the work you do in the comments. Really appreciated.
It’s a gap in my life, not having that commentary for this year.
Number 7 will always be an all-time comment. “Strauss was an England captain of the utmost integrity, in no small part driven into the ground and ultimately out of the game, by an unmanageable individual.”
No wonder he’s number 1.
Happy New Year,
Dmitri
LikeLike
We do round off the year with a nice bit of goldfish memory cheerleading though.
Good on Rooto for his comment.
LikeLike
The comment being:
t’s easy to call for Amla to step back into the ranks. Seems obvious, doesn’t it? An excellent batsman, average skipper at best, and out of form, so needing to get back to basics and be relieved of captaincy.
Oh, and most important of all, his name isn’t Alistair Cook, to whom none of the above applied 18 months ago.
Bravo!
LikeLike
I am sure I read very similar articles after Grenada, Lord’s (NZ) and Cardiff…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Man, that article was a piece of shit.
LikeLike
Congratulations Dmitri to you and the team for another year of work which provides an outlet for [ some of ] my frustrations. I was magnetised to your work through HDWLIA.
I cannot recall if it was you that wanted some old B&H yearbooks. Please email me ( on the latest one ! ) if that is the case. As I have two daughters with no interest in cricket ( ECB and Sky are joint and severally liable for this ) then I would prefer them to go to a good home.
All the best for 2016 to everyone. Two Tests at Lords as well. Who wudda thunk it?
Jon
LikeLike
Thanks Jon,
On the B&H Yearbook stuff, I might have done! Got most of the old ones….
Have a great new year and thanks for all the work on the Ashes Panel.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year to everyone, from Seville, where there is singing in the streets but not, sadly, cricket related
LikeLike
Ah, you are our man in Sevilla!
Have a great new year, sir, and thanks for all the Ashes Panel contributions. And for the provocative comment that got the real fans out!!!!!
All the best,
Dmitri
LikeLike
All the best for 2016. What makes this effort so valuable, I think, is that it’s an open, thoughtful, passionate, cant-free zone.
I’ve been in the middle of a major career and location change so I haven’t been around as much lately – but such a gap only reinforces my impression of the honest analytical consistency to be found here.
LikeLike
Pontiac,
Hope the changes are going OK. Thanks for all the support over the last couple of years.
Cheers, sir, and keep in touch.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year to all, and many thanks to Dmitri and Legglance for all their efforts. I can’t think of any other blogger who’d thank individual commenters personally as above, and it demonstrates the genuine-ness with which you approach the whole venture. More power to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Z,
Thanks for all the comments this year, and I have to remember there are two “i”s in your name.
Have a great new year,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year to all and thanks for the continued vigilance!
LikeLike
Keep ’em peeled, Sherwick.
Have a great new year,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Don’t want to keep you away from the New Year’s Eve celebrations, Dmitri, but I do want to wish you, TLG and all the commenters a very Happy 2016. Whether last year was good or bad, may next year be better.
I hope you continue to enjoy your blogging and love your cricket, despite whatever they throw in our way.
LikeLike
Thanks for all the support and ploughing the furrow on Guardian BTL. Just need to sort Nice Airport out for us if I ever have to travel down there again (I don’t think so). Never have much luck.
Have a great New Year.
LikeLike
We have already had a mini Hogmanay up here in Dundee for the benefit of my daughter who REALLY couldn’t go to bed much later than 9.30, whatever she might think. So I’m already in the New Year spirit . . .
So a very Happy New Year to everyone who contributes here. Especially, of course, to Dmitri, who founded it all and has kept it going through what (one can only infer) have been some pretty tough times. I know what those can be like and my admiration for your honesty, effort and integrity is boundless.
To one and all, a much improved 2016. However you found the current year, it won’t hurt if the next one is an improvement, after all.
LikeLike
Cheers NL. Hope you had a good Hogmanay.
They were pretty tough when I closed HDWLIA but there’s always good out of bad. Hope to hear more from you next year.
Cheers,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy new year all.
I’m still alive, was just somewhat shellshocked by England’s disastrous rugby world cup and had a few personal issues to deal with on top of that. Reading the blog regularly at any rate. Pleased to see the enthusiasm for the blog returning, Dmitri!
LikeLike
I’m shocked you were shocked Burly!
Hope things are on the upward path, and look forward to hearing more from you when you get any opportunity.
Cheers,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year to one and all!
LikeLike
And the same to you. When I was in the States I would often be going off to sleep at the time you’d come on first thing in the morning in Scandinavia and I’d be kept awake!
Have a great New Year.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy new year everyone and my thanks to DO/LCL & TLG and all the great posters here. I’d never have thought I’d enjoy being outside cricket so much. All the best.
LikeLike
No problem Jomesy.
You never followed up on your somewhat elliptical reply a few weeks ago. I did e-mail you!
Have a top New Year.
LikeLike
Yes – sorry for that! I did (eventually) reply last week after a few sherbets. Maybe went to spam box?
LikeLike
Got it. And Got it!
LikeLike
Cool
LikeLike
Nice one Dmitri. I hope 2016 is a great year for you and Vian and BOC. It’s been a great place to contribute to and read about cricket, up there with TFT (shame it’s gone), tregaskis etc. Looking forward to more excellent pieces from LCL & TLG, keep em coming……
Thanks and peace 👌
LikeLike
Thanks Rohan, you are far too kind,
Maxie was taking a hell of a lot of stick at the end of his time on TFT, and even if he said he wasn’t bothered, it had to be taking a toll. Well, it does on me. But I think they knew it was coming to an end and James has his new venture, still covering cricket.
We’ll be here until we aren’t. Let’s hope that is a while.
Dmitri
LikeLike
Dmitri,
I have no doubt we’d get on famously over a beer or three, nattering on about Gridiron and Baseball. There would be plenty of cricket topics we could broach too. Hopefully we’ll get the chance someday.
Congrats on another year of blogging. Our world views may be different on some things (although not all) – but the quality and clarity of what you write is outstanding, superbly complemented by Chris. Coming here is always challenging and thought-provoking.
I hope 2016 is a great year for the blog, but also for you and Chris, and your respective families. Happy New Year all!
LikeLike
I think Australia was gone for me once I got married! I had money then….
Tell me what’s it like to have a team in the Play-offs with a chance of winning a game. My lot haven’t done it in over a decade.
All the best for the New Year, Kev. How you put up with those lovely people (and I do like them) all year I have no idea!
Cheers,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy New Year everyone.
I have enjoyed BOC just as much as HDWLIA. You’re required reading for this cricket nut. (As are the commenters).
LikeLike
Cheers Arushatz. Thanks for commenting and keep the interest going. Without it, then it becomes harder to post!
Have a great New Year,
Dmitri
LikeLike
Happy new year (late to the party as always).
What’s the connection between Zeitkratzer Stockhausen and Toby Roland Jones? If they are like Clarke Kent and Superman, I might become a Middlesex man (or start a campaign to bring him to Sussex.
LikeLike
ZS is a Middlesex fan. I was with him when this hundred was made.
LikeLike
Ahhh, makes sense.
LikeLike
Also, have a great New Year, and it’s a shame my lot won’t be meeting your lot in the CC this year. Still need to go to Hove at some point.
LikeLike
A very belated Happy New Year to all and thanks to Dmitri and Vian for their continued excellent work on this blog. My go-to read for all things cricket.
LikeLike
Happy New Year Martin. Thanks for all the work on the Ashes Panel. Really appreciated.
Have a great New Year.
LikeLike
Thanks. Still popping in more or less daily even if I don’t comment much ( or indeed ever!)
Keep up the good work!
LikeLike
Someone has to be last! I’ve enjoyed this place more than ever over the past year. Absolute pleasure to meet you at the Oval and definitely to be repeated. If you’re doing Hove, give me a nudge. It’s close by.
Happy New Year to you, TLG and all the fine people posting here
LikeLike
You’re in Brighton? I’m only 6 miles north over the dyke.
LikeLike
Saltdean
LikeLike