I saw a video of Ravi Shastri and a dog called Winston on the cricket field.
It reminded me of a story of Trumper.
Francis Trumper, not Victor.
Of Harefield, England, not Paddington, Australia.
Back in 1827, eleven-member sides were still difficult to organise.
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It reminded me of a story of Trumper.
Francis Trumper, not Victor.
Of Harefield, England, not Paddington, Australia.
Back in 1827, eleven-member sides were still difficult to organise.
+
Double-wicket and single-wicket matches were common. And popular.
After all, cricket was largely a betting sport.
Two men from Middlesex challenged our man Trumper, a farmer, in a double-wicket match.
A lot of money was at stake.
A two-innings match, two members a side.
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After all, cricket was largely a betting sport.
Two men from Middlesex challenged our man Trumper, a farmer, in a double-wicket match.
A lot of money was at stake.
A two-innings match, two members a side.
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The two gentlemen of Middlesex versus Francis Trumper and his sheepdog.
The dog would not bat or bowl, but would be the only fielder. Trumper would bat twice.
A huge crowd assembled.
The odds were 5:1 against Trumper and Dog.
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The dog would not bat or bowl, but would be the only fielder. Trumper would bat twice.
A huge crowd assembled.
The odds were 5:1 against Trumper and Dog.
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The dog parked itself near the non-striker. It would chase the ball, and retrieve, at lightning pace.
Perhaps quicker than the fielders of the era.
And it did not misfield. Or tire.
The Middlesex gentlemen scored 3 between them.
Trumper got 3 and 2, for him and his dog.
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Perhaps quicker than the fielders of the era.
And it did not misfield. Or tire.
The Middlesex gentlemen scored 3 between them.
Trumper got 3 and 2, for him and his dog.
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The odds had come down to 4:1 by then.
Middlesex got 3 more.
Trumper and Dog needed 2. They got them comfortably.
Winston got a tennis ball, says Shastri. I wonder what Trumper's dog won that day.
Middlesex got 3 more.
Trumper and Dog needed 2. They got them comfortably.
Winston got a tennis ball, says Shastri. I wonder what Trumper's dog won that day.
https://twitter.com/RaviShastriOfc/status/1404735760834592770
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