neville cardus
International Debutant
In the 1882 Australians' match against an England XI at Harrowgate, Ted Peate arrived at the wicket and was soon driving the ball down the ground to Alec Bannerman at mid-off. As the ball made its way towards the fielder, Peate decided that this was the perfect moment to indulge himself a bit, so he made as though he were about to set off for a run, attempting to dupe the fielder into an ill-conceived hustle. (George Bonnor, by the way, described this custom, with that sophisticated comportment which Tom Horan knew to be so emblematic of the big man, as "playing the Angora".)
Bannerman, however, saw no comedy in what Peate was doing; in fact, he was very, very annoyed, well aware of the fact that Peate was trying to make him appear silly. He did not take any action, however, until Peate, after hitting another ball to him, strayed a further foot from his crease. With amazing pace and alacrity, Bannerman gathered the ball and whipped it in to wicketkeeper Jack Blackham, who had the middle-stump out of the ground long before the frantic batsman could get back.
Peate was absolutely gobsmacked; indeed, Tom Horan had never seen a batsman more wholly devastated as he mooched away towards the pavilion and the mirth of the assembled thousands. The only people, reckoned Horan, who were not laughing were the two men involved -- Peate and Bannerman. The latter, in fact, was so pumped-up that his moustache bristled as he asked a forceful, aggressive question of the departing batsman: "Play the Angora with me, will you?"
Bannerman, however, saw no comedy in what Peate was doing; in fact, he was very, very annoyed, well aware of the fact that Peate was trying to make him appear silly. He did not take any action, however, until Peate, after hitting another ball to him, strayed a further foot from his crease. With amazing pace and alacrity, Bannerman gathered the ball and whipped it in to wicketkeeper Jack Blackham, who had the middle-stump out of the ground long before the frantic batsman could get back.
Peate was absolutely gobsmacked; indeed, Tom Horan had never seen a batsman more wholly devastated as he mooched away towards the pavilion and the mirth of the assembled thousands. The only people, reckoned Horan, who were not laughing were the two men involved -- Peate and Bannerman. The latter, in fact, was so pumped-up that his moustache bristled as he asked a forceful, aggressive question of the departing batsman: "Play the Angora with me, will you?"
Awesome, have never heard that one before!
