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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 17 Review - 1 Sep, Lord's A trip down memory lane

The final 2001 Cricket Roadshow indulged in a spot of nostalgia on Saturday as it reviewed not only the 2001 season but also tapped into the combined reminisces of its presenters as they reflected on their own Lord's highlights.

Graham Gooch, a guest commentator for the subsequent C&G Trophy final between Leicestershire and Somerset, has more reasons than most to look back fondly after a career punctuated by Lord's triumphs.

It was at cricket's HQ that he made a match-winning century in the 1979 B&H Cup final to hand Essex their first ever silverware, and it was on the same ground that he also memorably smashed the Indians for 333 and 123* - a unique Test record – in July, 1990.

Indeed, throughout his entire Test career Gooch amassed an incredible 2,015 runs in 21 matches at Lord's, averaging 53.03 and hitting six centuries in total, the first of which he singled out as his favourite playing memory of the ground.

"My special moment is my first Test century here at Lord's in 1980 against the West Indies with an attack of Roberts, Holding, Garner and Croft," he told Mark Nicholas before adding: "For me this is the most special cricket ground in the world. There is only one place to play and this is it."

Richie Benaud, understandably, went further back for his own highlight.

"I couldn't play in 1961 when I had a bad shoulder and Neil Harvey captained us to victory, but 1956 was our match and it was Miller's match. I got 97 and Miller got ten wickets in the game: that was the year," he recalled.

Dermot Reeve managed to pick up two man-of-the-match awards for domestic one-day finals at Lord's but singled out a surprising alternative when asked for his favourite moment.

"For me my most special memory at Lord's didn't actually come on the main ground, it came on the nursery ground when Graham Gooch told me I would be making my debut for England," said the former Somerset coach.

Kiwi Ian Smith played three Tests at Lord's but recalled a match that he watched on television after retiring as his highlight.

"My memory is a watching one. Two years ago New Zealand had their first ever victory on the hallowed soil and it meant just as much, I can tell you, 20,000 kilometres back in New Zealand."

West Indian Ian Bishop was another to pinpoint others' achievements, although it was a game in which he was playing.

"Mine isn't a playing memory, it was actually sitting on that balcony watching Viv Richards in my first Test flicking Graham Dilley's outswingers through midwicket for four. I will never forget that."

Former Middlesex bowler Simon Hughes recalled his standout memory with a wry grin: "My whole career is identified with the final over of the Natwest Final in 1989. I was hit for six by Neil Smith and we lost the match and then they knocked the stand down the next day. C'est la vie," he said wearily.

Finally, Sybil Ruscoe reflected: "It's always a privilege to be here at Lord's and I often play here in my dreams. Memories are really made on days like this."

Elsewhere on the programme, the Roadshow looked back at the international summer with Smith, Nicholas and Benaud heaping praise upon the all-conquering Australian tourists.

"It equals anything that's gone before for excitement and skillful cricket, and brilliant cricket, from the Australians. I thought they were terrific," said the veteran commentator.

Smith was also highly impressed: "I think they have taken it to another level, certainly in the era we're playing in at the moment. There is a huge gulf for me between Australia and the rest. Occasionally South Africa are poking their noses up every now and then but England tried their best.

"They had some useful players and at times they played some very good cricket but I think they'll all know now having sat down at the end of the series that they were a long way behind.

"Maybe that's no fault of theirs or maybe it is, but Australia have for a long time now been building this base to play that form of cricket and play it so well on a daily basis. It was a privilege to watch and there's a lot of countries who've got a lot to do."

Benaud singled out the Old Trafford defeat against Pakistan as a turning point for England.

"They might have tried to win and they didn't, but what was worse and what cost them the match is that they made it apparent they weren't going to go for the runs.

"At a certain point they closed down and instead hitting the occasional four they made it quite clear that they weren't going to go for them. And then I reckon there was a run off into the limited overs internationals where the other two teams were just too good for them, and partly because of that afternoon at Old Trafford.

Smith added: "Never give a sucker an even break: I think that is one of the commonly used sayings down there and I think that was the case. They got their break."

Gooch then looked ahead to the winter tours to India and New Zealand, and praised the choices of the England selectors.

"I think it's a very good touring party and I think the selectors have got it dead right with the wicket-keeper's position," said Gooch.

"They've got an experienced guy in Warren Hegg who's played Test cricket. He's played two Tests in Australia, he's been around a lot and he's been an excellent cricketer for Lancashire.

"They've also got the youngster (Jamie Foster) coming to cover that angle as well, the young up-and-coming player who will learn from the tour and he might even get in the Test side."

He also passed on some advice to all those heading for the sub-continent.

"I think the main thing is that when you go to India you have to buy into the country. You have to embrace the culture and the country, enjoy yourself and then you've got more chance of being successful."

After all that, it was time to say goodbye for another year - after 17 weekly Roadshows - leaving the players of Somerset and Leicestershire to bring down the final curtain.

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