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Batting for Sutcliffe and Barrington to be in Boycott's XI
From: Tim Mickleburgh, Grimsby. Geoff Boycott's all-time great squads for both England and Australia (September 15) rightly did not just look at the game's statistics, but took into account the impact that people had on the game at the time.
Nevertheless, I would like to propose a few other names that I think have a valid case for inclusion.
For England, I think that Sutcliffe (4,555 Test runs at 60.73) and Barrington (6,806 runs at 58.67) are up with the best of them.
And for Australian batsmen, you have got to consider Ponting (9,776 runs at 58.53 at the time Wisden went to press), Border (11,174 runs at 50.56), Hayden (8,242 runs at 53.51 according to Wisden) and Steve Waugh (10,927 runs at 51.06). As for their bowlers, Clarrie Grimmett (216 wickets at 24.21) ranks with the best of them.
Trouble is, who do you exclude to fit them in? I would be a coward and increase the size of the squad!
From: Jack Riley, Flanshaw Avenue, Wakefield.
I was very interested in the letter from Charles Day (Yorkshire Post, September 1) about Don Bradman.
I worked at William Sykes Ltd in 1938 and still possess a Don Bradman Test cricket bat from about that time. All the wording on the bat was "burnt in."
In 1946, I returned after being demobbed to Sykes (now a combination of Sykes, Gradidge, Slazenger and Ayers). I was moved from the general office into a large new building which housed the typing pool, the transport office, packing and my office.
This office dealt with practically all the production of the factory plus that of the factory in Barnsley (tennis balls for Wimbledon, play balls, rubber table mats) which later produced golf balls and golf equipment.
The normal procedure after bats had been produced (from willow clefts which had weathered in the timber yard) was that they were sent down "in the white" to a section of the new building, controlled by another bat expert, Henry Lambert.
Each quality and size were stacked in their respective racks, ready for orders from sports shops.
Joe Parkinson was completely in charge of bat production. To complete orders the type of bat required, "Don Bradman Test" etc, was then suitably stamped. About that time the "burning" of names was replaced by a far better method.
Len Hutton's choice of bat was different to the normal type of five grain marks down the face, his had to have seven.
From: Kevin Maguire, Hanover Street, Batley.
The Rugby League play-offs have been taking place, so what?
The attendances at the initial play-offs were abysmal. Once again it is television which dictates everything.
The clubs could not afford to pay playing staff, coaches and others on this basis of income through attendances.
Television has already changed the season, where the game of RFL is played in the United Kingdom.
Supporters of the sport have only so much to spend – fact! One could go on about the impact of TV.
These same supporters will, no doubt, support lotteries, draws, etc within the club.
I await with interest to see what the attendance for National League One is. Even Manchester United are feeling the credit crunch – can you believe it?
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Friday 10 February 2012
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