Joey’s new look as an Afghanistan cricket supporter?
I have just come back from the land of the cricket world cup and it looks to be an enormous success. Much like the first one where South Africa competed all those years ago and the dreaded Duckworth-Lewis sadly decided their fate, writes former England supporter, Joey Ramsden.
As an Englishman, our fate was decided a long time ago when, for twenty years, we have been failing to make the grade at 50-over cricket. We now have the woeful situation of getting beaten and run out of the world cup by Bangladesh.
At this stage in the tournament, like English Football, I start cheering on the opposition.
When a team fails to entertain, I feel they do not deserve any support, particularly mine. So I had an enormously entertaining day cheering home what was a fun game. I am not quite sure what the entire English cricket team and their management have been doing for the last couple of months while they have been in Australia?
The other teams play a totally different type of cricket, whether successful or unsuccessful,to the brand of dishwater English cricket has dished up for its fans and followers. I think every time the other teams have been out practicing, the English team must have been on the golf course improving their handicaps.
They appear to have no idea how to play and, even worse, win a one-day game in any form whatsoever. Anyway, let’s hope the humiliation of going out to play Afghanistan, having been knocked out of the cricket tournament, might be enough to give them a good kick where it hurts. There surely cannot be too many players volunteering to play in that game?
It cannot possibly get any worse – or should I say better?
Inhibitions
Was Kevin Pietersen that far off the mark?
For all those Kevin Pietersen lovers and haters: maybe the great man himself was not so far off the mark in his book when he talked about inhibitions.
This English side played with about as much freedom as the poor Bali Nine, who are facing the darkest sentence on earth. Anyway, I shall finish with Cricket now on that fairly bright note, hoping that English Cricket gets its act together one day and learns to play more than one form of the game.
The object at the end of the day is about entertainment and it does not just apply to football, cricket and other such sports; it also applies to us and is something we must never stop looking at. Thank you very much to the Scots, a proud cricketing nation, who bequeathed us our solitary two points so far. For that we are most grateful. I wish them well later on in the tournament. It is just a shame we are not quite good enough for the Irish.
Down Under
Australia was the most amazing time and experience and, as always, Inglis was different class in their approach to the sales. Simon Vivian and his team are simply marvellous and show the way forward as to how sales should be run. On that note, I have to say that CTS sales are not too far behind Inglis in every respect and are an absolute pleasure to attend. From a trainer’s point of view, CTS has a refreshing approach and the viewing and buying is something to look forward to.
Shapes And Sizes
It is great going abroad and seeing the different yearlings, in all shapes and sizes, that are available for purchase or just to view. The Australians are – dare I say it – an incredibly lucky bunch.
They blow amazingly hot and cold but from a purchaser’s position, it is a great position to be in. The Oaklands Sales complex in Melbourne is a lovely spot. The viewing is marvellous and the stabling is extremely cleverly laid out for viewer, seller and the horse itself.
The Sydney sales mare packed around the old streets near Randwick racecourse and is an entirely different proposition whatsoever but also has so much atmosphere and quality. With the two sales companies here in South Africa and the sales abroad, the yearling season has got so much longer and will give us all a chance to see that many more.
Homefront
Cheltenham is a real pleasure for me
Back home the yard is reasonably quiet. There is no racing here midweek at Durbanville and, for once, whilst I am not pleased I am relieved as I can watch Cheltenham. I am sorry to say that while I am not a fan of ordinary racing in any form, whether flat or over the jumps, I try and follow the best around the world and know a little bit about what is going on.
So, for me, Cheltenham week with my tiny bit of knowledge is going to be superb. It finishes with the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, which is the highlight of the meeting and is usually an absolute cracker. But not as good (and this will already have gone to print by then) as to what Tuesday will prove to be with a really young Gr1 Champion Hurdle race on the card. It looks as if it is going to be a stunning affair with the old boy, Hurricane Fly (21 runs and counting) trying to retain his hurdle crown with three or four really smart Gr1 young pretenders trying to take it off him.
Hurdling on good ground is one of the finest sights around and I had a sleepless Monday night thinking about the race aheadon Tuesday. I am sure it will prove to be one hell of a spectacle. I am not sure where my loyalties lie but Hurricane Fly’s record as a jumper is incredible.
Good Weather
Beautiful weather in Cape Town
We have quite a few of our stable stars spelling at the moment and they are all due back in fairly soon. We have been lucky enough to be graced with the most amazing weather but sadly, along with the hot weather came the most devastating fires. One giveth with one hand and one taketh away with the other. However, it is lovely for the horses to be out and about at this time of year on some of the most beautiful farms in the Western Cape. I wish I could pop out there myself sometime and have a rest.
Tapeta Not For Me
Super Saturday at Meydan proved to be an interesting affair. I am not sure I am the greatest fan of watching them racing on the dirt out there. I have had a bit of fortune on the tapeta myself but it simply does not look the right type of surface.
If reverting to American-style racing is going to be the be-all and end-all, then I think we should all give up on thoroughbred racing. It is one of the toughest surfaces around from the point of view of trying to keep horses sound and happy. Not just from the lack of bounce in the surface but also if one is unlucky enough to be behind horses and get the kick back. It cannot be any fun at all.
Good Luck Bernie
Bernard Fayd’herbe – I wish him luck for the weekend
I wish our pilot, Bernard Fayd’herbe, all the best as he heads off to Hong Kong to ride his Guineas winner, Elusive Gold (now Golden Sleep). When one thinks back to how long ago this fellow actually won the Guineas, then one realises how difficult the whole export market (or lack of it) is.
I dearly hope it is not true that we are solely reliant on getting the Olympic games in 20-something, for something to happen. If that is the best we can do then I am sorry; it is not good enough.
If we have to rely upon that to start exporting we cannot have covered all the angles and been up all the right paths. It is only when one gets to Australia and sees what is going on –obviously they do not make it easy for us to export – but on the other hand I don’t think it has been too difficult for them to try and stop us.
We have probably done a pretty good job of doing that ourselves!
To close off. How revolting to see while I was away the spitting episode of Johnny Evans and Co. I have never been a great fan of Johnny Evan’s football, never mind his revolting habits. As not exactly a closet Manchester United supporter but definitely a follower who enjoys watching good football, I am rapidly going off them and their manager, Mr van Gaal, who I actually thought might live in the real world. He plainly is not.
We have seen little evidence of his reputation which preceded him in the Barclay’s English Premiers League. So far, it looks as if the self-proclaimed special one looks to have it in the bag.
www.joeyramsden.com
