The Sudden Farewell of Red Ball Cricket - A Short Elegy

It is with heavy hearts and tear-filled eyes that we say goodbye to an old friend. The once vibrant and soul-stirring form of cricket, known as red ball cricket, has quietly bid farewell, leaving behind a trail of fond memories and a sense of nostalgia.

Red ball cricket, with its timeless battles and gripping contests, has long been an integral part of the glorious game. For decades, it epitomized the essence of traditional cricket, captivating players and spectators alike with its raw and unadulterated charm.

But alas, the sands of time have taken their toll, and the red ball is slowly fading into oblivion. The rise of its more vibrant and commercially lucrative cousin, white ball cricket, has cast a shadow over the red ball's realm. As floodlights illuminate the grounds, showcasing the flashy colors of the limited-overs format, the purists mourn the loss of an irreplaceable gem.

One Long and Beautiful Summer: A Short Elegy For Red-Ball Cricket

by Duncan Hamilton(Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4758 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	201 pages
Hardcover	:	144 pages
Item Weight	:	11.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches

FREE

The allure of test cricket, the pinnacle of red ball cricket, lies not only in the rivalry between countries but in the intricacies and nuances of the game. The captivating battle between the bat and ball, the ebb and flow of fortunes, the tactical brilliance displayed by captains and players, all found their canvas in this format.

The art of swing bowling, which rendered batsmen helpless as the ball darted through the air with grace, was an irreplaceable sight in red ball cricket. The likes of Wasim Akram, James Anderson, and Glenn McGrath wove their magic with the red cherry, leaving a lasting imprint on the cricketing world.

As we bid adieu to red ball cricket, we also mourn the loss of some of the most iconic moments engraved in cricketing history. The Ashes battles, the gripping duels at Lord's, the marathon partnerships, and the heart-stopping finishes; they all belong to a bygone era, etched in the hearts of cricket enthusiasts who cherished the timeless beauty of red ball cricket.

But like all good things, red ball cricket's departure brings with it a sense of evolution. It is not a farewell without a legacy. The memories and lessons from red ball cricket will continue to echo through the cricketing world, shaping the future of the game.

The batsmen will continue to value patience and resilience, instilled in them through countless hours spent facing the red ball. The bowlers, though they may adapt to the white ball's requirements, will carry forward the wisdom gained from mastering the art of swing and seam with the red ball.

While the world may be moving towards the shorter formats, with the rapid rise of T20 cricket, true cricket lovers will always treasure the beauty of red ball cricket. The grind, the battles, the resurgence from dire situations, and the skillful manipulation of line and length will forever remain etched in their memories.

Just like the legends who adorned red ball cricket's history, the spirit of this form will continue to inspire future generations. They will draw inspiration from the tales of fierce rivalries, relentless determination, and breathtaking displays of skill, passed down by their predecessors.

So, while we mourn the loss of red ball cricket, let us also celebrate its extraordinary legacy. Let us cherish the memories it gifted us and embrace the evolution of the game. The winds of change are blowing, and we must adapt, but in our hearts, we will forever hold a special place for the red ball and the magical world it represented.

Red ball cricket, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. Thank you for the joy you brought to fans around the world and for being the custodian of traditions that shaped cricket as we know it. Farewell, old friend, and may your legacy live on forever!

One Long and Beautiful Summer: A Short Elegy For Red-Ball Cricket

by Duncan Hamilton(Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4758 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	201 pages
Hardcover	:	144 pages
Item Weight	:	11.4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches

FREE

*A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING SPORTS WRITER*

'Hamilton's book is a marvel . . . I'm not sure he could write a dull sentence if he tried'Spectator

One of Duncan Hamilton's favourite writers on cricket, Edmund Blunden, wrote how he felt going to watch a game: 'You arrive early, earlier even than you meant . . . and you feel a little guilty at the thought of the day you propose to give up to sheer luxury'.

Following Neville Cardus's assertion that 'there can be no summer in this land without cricket', Hamilton plotted the games he would see in 2019 and write down reflectively on some of the cricket that blessed his own sight. It would be captured in the context of the coming season in case subsequent summers and the imminent arrival of The Hundred made that impossible. He would write in the belief that after this season the game might never be quite the same again.

He visits Welbeck Colliery Cricket Club to see Nottinghamshire play Hampshire at the tiny ground of Sookholme, gifted to the club by a local philanthropist who takes money on the gate; his village team at Menston in Yorkshire; the county ground at Hove; watches Ben Stokes's heroics at Headingley, marvels at Jofra Archer's gift of speed in a Second XI fixture for Sussex against Gloucestershire in front of 74 people and three well-behaved dogs; and realises when he reaches the last afternoon of the final county match of the season at Taunton, 'How blessed I am to have been born here. How I never want to live anywhere else. How much I love cricket.'

One Long and Beautiful Summer forms a companion volume to Hamilton's 2009 classic, A Last English Summer. It is sports writing at its most accomplished and evocative, confirming his reputation as the finest contemporary chronicler of the game.