The Law of the Oval
by cricketjeff on March 27, 2019. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
This is the law of The Oval, where bat against ball is the fight,
Where the best will be greeted as champions, for praise for the mighty is
right,
And mettle of men will be tested against devils of spin and of pace
The ball turning sideways or spitting from short of a length past your face.
Remember the greats of our history, Jack Hobbs, Bobby Abel and more
Brian Lara, whose reign was more recent, on his way to a fast fifteen score.
Or bowlers who teased and bamboozled, Jim Laker made off spinners fizz,
Tony Lock ever overaggressive, who could catch any chance that there is.
Ali Brown was the king of my county, hitting balls over stands to the road
He terrified dozing men watching, nearby windows or seats could explode.
Lazy days in the sun in the Summer, or nights of excitement and noise
And recently ladies have joined us, and they play with as much spirit as boys.
When I was not more than a toddler I first stepped inside of the ground
Where I have spent hours in pleasure entranced by the site and the sound
I vaguely remember Fred Truman bowling fast as the wind at his foes
And Edrich ignoring the Aussies as hand grenades fizzed past his nose
Kenny Barrington grafted for ever adding run after run to his score
Bacon rolls with an ice-cream for afters were a pleasure no child could ignore
Then taking a broom from a groundsman the crowd brushed the water away
And Deadly was ready for battle, we knew he could carry the day
And now that I’m older, not wiser, you’ll still find me glued to a seat
From the first call of play in the morning till evening’s last over’s complete
And this is the law of the Oval, the temple to all that is best
When there’s leather and willow to worship, we don’t give a fig for the rest
And whether it’s England or Surrey, I’ll stand to applaud what I see
No doubt ever enters my thinking that cricket is life’s poetry!
Author notes
Much too short but I bet Robert Service wasn’t writing to a contest deadline!
English