5th ODI, S. Africa v Eng, East London, Wed 9th Feb

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

I guess it is only a matter of preference O.

...I think I've watched that particular delivery about a gazillion times, in fact, one sports channel here in Pakistan called Ten Sports runs it everytime Pakistan are in need of some sort of an inspiration in their on going games.

Memory is a funny thing.

I would love to see video coverage of Botham's 200 on one leg v. India in a Test match in 79? Or Gower's first Test hundred.
Or either of Botham's huge innings and Willis' eightfer in 1981 - I was out of the country for most of that series.

Curiously I remember it well, from beautifully written articles and books at the time.

Look back Z, in eighteen years time, and tell me if you can really remember those games. Or whether you can remember them from the video re-runs.

I have some very old memories of my childhood, which my mother often challenges saying: "you can't remember that, we've got a photograph of that."

I can truly remember images of Test matches played twenty-eight and nine years ago. Wasim Bari looking up at Sikander Bakht putting his hands on the young man's shoulders and imploring him to bowl some more overs. He was just about Pakistan's only bowler that summer following the Kerry Packer World Series defections. A very fresh faced, curly haired, lop-sided eyed David Gower taking strike in billowy white shirt - looking just like the public schoolboy that he was. Michael Holding and Wayne Daniel beginning their run-ups from just short of the boundary rope.
Viv Richards essaying another massive cross the line hoick over midwicket. THE master blaster.

I can't remember a single image from one day cricket. Not back that far. Though I do know some of the stories like Gary (Gus) Guilmour blowing away several sides with his swing bowling for the Australians in 1975.

I do remember vaguely wondering (when you were five) if Botham really hit the ball he was out to - I didn't think he did.
I did watch that game, in a pub in South West London.

I haven't got many videos of Test cricket... though I should have as it is probably more interesting to watch a re-run of a game when you're not sure of the final result.

However it is as you say, merely a matter of preference. I shouldn't turn my nose up at the dvd generation.

[Zainub]

You have no clue how much I have enjoyed reading that, a first hand recollection of first rate test cricket, thanks a bunch I'm not as much as DVD fan as other people of my age group can be, for the record I never buy pirated ones. I'm a big fan of playstation though. And I much prefer being called in Nasser style the Play Station Generation rather then the DVD generation.