As a Fielder Batsmen love me
For I’m such an idle stroller.
I’m each Bowler’s favourite Batsman
And each Batsman’s favourite Bowler.
Only honesty compels me
To make public this admission:-
My popularity extends Just to THE OPPOSITION.
Note:
I continue to be amazed how this little ‘dashee-offee’ is so popular! It even made its way into A Breathless Hush…The MCC Anthology of Cricket Verse. I can only assume that it strikes a chord with many cricketers who can identify with the character who wryly betrays the reasons for his Popularity…
Its genesis is unforgettable! For The Leprechauns versus Essex Brochure in June 1971 I had been instructed by our President, Michael Brennan, to write pen pictures of the Leprechaun team. Since I limited my sphere of interest exclusively to the first class game, I had very little knowledge about our Leprechaun XI. Brennan quite rightly rejected my sparse offering. I told him that the only Irish cricketer about whom I could write with any insight was MYSELF, handing over the piece which follows, which soon made its début in the brochure. It is perhaps an irony that Brennan was responsible for the composition of my first 'hit' in the cricket verse sphere AND with a later hit' celebrating Brennan's own Call to Higher Service. (see under Conned from Beyond)
My feelings about this piece are akin to what Yeats felt about The Lake Isle of Innsifree. He was a prisoner to it. Something he could not escape from while far better works were ignored!
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