“CRICKET, LOVELY CRICKET” – by Des Kelly

The game is on again. Cricket in once again the flavour of the month in many Countries. Australia has just won the “ashes”, beating the blokes from old Blighty fair & square, yet, how many of our good old Sri Lankans remember when the top West-Indians, after beating Australia, visited, to play an exhibition match against the side who had also beaten Australia to become the grand-finalists of that particular era ithe 50s.

The Ceylon Cricket Team WON this World Series match, playing not only on a different pitch, but also against an Umpire who signalled that our Murali was “chucking” and not bowling correctly. Could you believe this !!??.

Anyway, to get back to this particular story, I was in the Royal Ceylon Navy, when the West Indians arrived to play this “friendly” match against Arjuna Ranatunga & his team, and tickets were already being sold to those who wanted to see the match personally. I wanted a ticket myself, but could not stand in a queue half a mile long, alongside the Times building at Fort, in full uniform, being on duty, that day, so I decided on my own plan to secure a ticket, by writing an original composition about the “Windies”, jumped the queue by informing the Manager of the Times of Ceylon, that I had this special gift for our visitor team.

The Manager then gave me a special ticket to visit with the Windies at their rooms at the venue where they were playing. I happily  took my old acoustic guitar complete with specially printed copies of the lyrics of my song and headed for the grounds to hand over my gift to them, strum my guitar and sing the song, before the match started.

The Windies loved the song, and I was very lucky indeed, to spend the whole afternoon with them, during the match.

I never did get to record this song, and it would have been too long, anyway, but I did keep a copy of my lyrics which mentions every player of the Windies in tribute, so here they are, especially for the Members and readers of e’Lanka,

I am sure they will bring back many memories to all our cricketing fans.  Here is my tribute to “The Windies”.

CALYPSO/D’WINDIES.

If ever there was ANY cricket team,

To hit the “top rung” of the World’s esteem,

There wouldn’t be even the slightest doubt,

That it’s the WINDIES, we are talking about.

 

In every Test-match in Australia,

Their’s was a much superior game, by far,

They laughed at mistakes Umpire Hoy had made,

And played bright cricket, as it should be played.

 

From Captain WORREL, to their last batsman,

Their one great moral, was to “stand and slam”,

The WINDIES bowling, it was quite the same,

With GARFIELD SOBERS, GIBBS & HALL of fame.

 

A man called GERRY, right behind the stumps,

No balls ever got by, despite the bumps,

Another batsman, full of “do or die”,

Was better known to us, as ROHAN KANHAI.

 

Then HUNTE & CAMMIE SMITH were both quite fine,

Like RAMADHIN & VALENTINE,

And bowler CHESTER WATSON who tried so hard,

To keep Aussie batsmen always on their guard.

 

And, now a word about old SEYMOUR NURSE,

Who mimics Nat King Cole & I’ve heard worse,

The WINDIES love to hear him sing his songs,

But, on the cricket-field, he still belongs.

 

Wherever they go, they will cause a “stir”,

Says GERRY GOMEZ, their team Manager,

And, you can bet, that what he says, is true,

He knows his boys, much more than me, or you.

 

Unless you want to see me behind bars,

Must not forget to mention their “extras”,

Cos, in case the WINDIES needed any aid,

They had, in every “extra”, men who’d made the grade.

 

It’s for their attitude of sheer pluck,

That we, in Ceylon, wish them all the luck,

And, while they travel o’er land or seas

May the Lord above keep watch above the team, WINDIES.

 

Desmond Kelly.

(Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka.