Monday 17 January 2022

The Choice Facing Yorkshire County Cricket Club Members

 

Just like the Houellebecq novel, the ritual neutralisation of Yorkshire County Cricket Club continues apace and all the building blocks for Succession now seem to be in place.  In the interests of good governance, no doubt we shall hear, it is proposed that the Board is replaced with appointees (who’s likely affiliations and prejudices one need not spell out).  Governance is to be further reinforced by including a representative of the ECB with, presumably, voting rights and powers of veto, who will have a difficult job in balancing their new role of looking after Yorkshire County Cricket Club with their day job responsibilities for the English game as a whole.  You may, like me, have spotted a tricky conflict of interest here?  The new management has helpfully pointed out that, “members have the ability to overturn any nomination of an independent director when the appointment is put to members for ratification.”  However, how likely is it that the membership, staring into the abyss of extinction, will not vote for the governance proposals?  Doubtless the management will make clear that if we don’t agree to everything the ECB and the parliamentary Robespierre, Julian Knight MP demand, international cricket will be denied to Headingly and, hence, the financial viability of the Club will be fatally undermined.  Slam dunk, perhaps with an impossible choice at the ballot – submission to a new woke tyranny or surrender to the bailiffs!  To those that feel that the survival of YCCC is worth any sacrifice I would just add, philosophically rather than practically, that is has been observed that one may take anything one desires out of life but, at the end of the day, one has to pay.

Wednesday 12 January 2022

Bunter Tucks In

 

“Cave,” squeaked the Fat Owl of the Remove, just as the angular frame of Quelch, Housemaster of Stan Cullis House at Brayfriars School, loomed through the dorm doorway wherein was spread a lavish picnic of assorted tuck and flagons of ginger beer, smuggled in by the furtive housemates.

“What is the meaning of this illicit midnight feast,” boomed Quelch?

“I, I, I, I, I,” spluttered Bunter.

“Cease this blathering repetition of the first person singular and explain yourself at once,” demanded Quelch.

“I know it looks awful, but I can explain everything Sir,” blustered Bunter.

“The awfulness is terrific,” ejaculated Bob Cherry.

“You have forfeited the trust not only of the Remove but of the entire school and I shall be writing your Pater at Brady Towers forthwith,” judged Quelch.

Hurree Singh, who was only a visitor to Stan Cullis from the next door house, sighed in desperation but then turned to the wall and openly smirked behind his hand.

"Oh, and get that wretched Collie out of the house," added Quelch, "you know the rules on pets."