South Africa v Zimbabwe, NatWest Series, Saturday 5 July 2003
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff |
It's official - English is the language of cricket.
 |  In Germany technical terms would sound silly - we only use English phrases |
A visit to Cardiff and the vagaries of signposts in Welsh - another excuse that Henry Blofeld could no doubt use for wayward navigation - set the team thinking about how to say "howzat" in Welsh.
But from Wales to the Windies, and Berlin to Buenos Aires, e-mails have inisited that "howzat" is universal around the world.
Ron Davies revealed that on a visit to Argentina, despite players talking in Spanish, appeals to the umpire were accompanied by a bellowed "howzat".
It is the same story in Germany - although obviously not much Spanish is spoken at square leg - as it is in Belgium.
"The language on the field is English, although I suppose you could say 'hoe was dat'," Steve Woodbridge of Mechelen CC wrote.
"In Denmark you could say 'hvordan var det' if you wanted to, but the language on the pitch is English," added Adrian Worley.
Allan Donald may not be part of the South African team anymore, but his former junior partner was after his advice in Cardiff.
Unlike the Test venues around the ground where commentary boxes are found high in the pavillion or media centres, at Cardiff it is on the boundary edge.
And with the window open, while fielding by the rope in between overs in his opening spell, Pollock took the opportunity to pick AD's brains.
The conversation will remain private for the benefit of South African tactics and their prospects in the tournament, but suffice to say it worked.
Pollock tied down Zimbabwe's batsmen, conceding a mere eight runs in his first seven overs.
The TMS team got to Sophia Gardens... eventually.
The mile-and-a-half journey from hotel to ground resembled a magical mystery tour and took 45 minutes.
Henry Blofeld bore the brunt of the criticism but put up a stoical defence.
"It was an interesting time and we saw a lot of unscheduled pieces of Cardiff," Blowers said of his time at the front of a six-car convoy, before passing the blame to assistant producer Shilpa Patel.
"I had Signpost Patel as my navigator. She has a rare and unusual ability when it comes to the art of navigation."
Henry Olonga fell foul of his namesake's leadership on point, and lost contact with the group.
"Blowers seems to blame everybody else but himself - he didn't slow down for the rest of us."
In his defence Blowers claimed to have stopped in a bus lane to let others catch up - one illegal move - before trying to right his wrongs with a U-turn - a second illegal manouvre - shortly after a police car had passed.
"It wasn't easy to achieve with six cars," Mark Saggers commented of the U-turn.
"I don't think I've laughed so much in my car on my own, but we got here in the end after hijacking a Glamorgan supporter."
Allan Donald is feeling homesick - for rugby.
The South African's sister and friends will be heading to the rugby today as the Currie Cup gets into full swing.
Although with a South African winter and temperatures plummeting to three below, AD appreciates he may be in the better place.
"I'd rather be sitting here in a suit jacket than in jackets and gloves at home," he said.
MMIX
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