England v South Africa, NatWest Series, Thursday 3 July 2003
Old Trafford, Manchester |
 | BRIAN STATHAM 17 June 1930 - 10 June 2000 Right-arm fast-medium bowler Left-handed batsman England:
70 matches (1951-65)
252 wickets @ 24.84
675 runs @ 11.44 Lancashire:
559 matches (1950-68)
2,260 wickets @ 16.37
5,424 runs @ 10.80 |
TMS commentators will have to be on their toes following a major change at Old Trafford.
The Warwick Road End is no more, with the Warwick Road North being renamed Brian Statham Way.
In a glittering career, Statham represented Lancashire for 18 years on the field, before spending a further 18 on the club's committee and two as president.
"If he is watching he'll be suprised and pleased," his widow Audrey said at a low-key ceremony.
"He had a wonderful life here, loved cricket and Lancashire and served the club very well," she added.
"He was a very quiet man who liked his privacy.
"I don't think he would have expected anything at all, except to be remembered by the members and the friends he had made over the years."
Audrey also revealed that Brian could have had a sporting career at the other Old Trafford.
"Brian had a trial at United and would have been accepted, but his father disapproved so he played cricket instead," she told Test Match Special.
"He prefered to bowl from the other end, but his father always sat up this end so perhaps it's apt."
In the wake of Andrew Caddick being sidelined for the rest of the season, there is some good news regarding England's stable of fast bowlers.
Matthew Hoggard is on the comeback trail and hopes to be back bowling in two weeks having torn cartilage in his knee.
"The knee's getting on well and hopefully I'll be back on the cricket pitch shortly," the Yorkshire paceman revealed.
He tore the cartilage in an eventful over during his county's C&G match against Worcestershire.
"I took a wicket with my first ball of the over and then two balls later I twisted my knee on the follow through, but am now well on the way to recovery," he added.
"It's frustrating when you're in a rich vein of form to be cut off, but injuries are part of being a bowler."
Life in the commentary box is sitting well with Allan Donald - as is the suit he is wearing.
The former South African paceman is part of the TMS team throughout the summer and is enjoying being on the "other side" of cricket.
"Sometimes I miss playing, but not in weather like this," he said, looking out over a grey and murky Old Trafford. "It's nice and warm up here".
Perfect for a clean cut Savile Row suit and a crisp light blue shirt, as opposed to green cricket "pyjamas" with a vest and a couple of jumpers.
 Blowers suggests wearing crash helmet when facing Serena Williams |
Wimbledon fever hit the commentary box at Old Trafford. With a second screen in the box showing the action from SW19, the team kept half-an-eye on proceedings on Centre Court.
Henmania was short-lived, with Henry Blofeld breaking the "sad news" of the demise of home hopes for another 12 months.
But while on Wimbledon watch earlier in the day, Henry's gleeful breaking of the news that there was action on the courts set the mind thinking.
"They're knocking up the ladies at Wimbledon," he declared.
Graeme Fowler's mind was thinking in a different direction on seeing one of those involved in the knock up. "They're big strong girls. I bet they can bowl fast," Foxy commented as Serena sent down another ace, en route to another win.
MMIX
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A great player, who never realised how great he was, and a great man 
