ashes

Meanwhile I've been watching the distant Cricket which forms a steady wallpaper amid the sky falling in news of the world...

I think I may be alone in this, but my appreciation of the cricket has been severely tested by the sponsor's logo on the playing area.
The green and white cricket aesthetic is blighted by the large red rectangle always on behind the stumps saying everything's for sale and impeding the view.

Alas, soon not even Lawn Bowls will provide nostalgic tonal sanctuary. The strict dress code of that ancient order is increasingly relaxed.

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Comments: ashes

nb. Recycled content. I used the same cricket pic and reference to Bowls when I last posted on this vexing topic 2 and a half years ago. But then it was green and Orange - at least the colours were complementary, and the logo was not so close-in to camera. Luxury.
Posted by boynton at July 25, 2005 03:30 PM

Lawn bowls! Is nothing sacred anymore. Surely, this means we're now very deep into ripping up the fabric of society.
Posted by cs at July 25, 2005 03:34 PM

Quite literally.

Must say though I might be tempted to give Barefoot Bowling a go.
Posted by boynton at July 25, 2005 03:37 PM

Yep, that sounds like fun, 'neath the toes and all.
Posted by cs at July 25, 2005 04:37 PM

The link is a South Australain thing...No Vic clubs?
Have a feeling I might have to live in a more "Rock'n'Bowl" suburb to join that Secret Life of Us /Crackerjack trend of 4 years ago already.

Still there's a croquet club down the road...
Posted by boynton at July 25, 2005 07:23 PM

They had the same thing at the rugby union at the weekend. When the camera was close in on the play the grass was black and even though they were supposed to be on the halfway line there was no line drawn.

At least you don't get this rubbish in the gentlemen's game (gentlemen who fight and drink beer) football (meaning soccer).
Posted by Russell Allen at July 25, 2005 09:50 PM

Or Wimbledon?

I did a quick google search on this topic hoping to find Guardian essays on the steady loss of cricketing beauty etc, but oddly not much turned up. Except something about Wimbledon's marketing power (tradition?), the lack of regulations about playing area advertsing and the line b/w sponsor support and intrusion. This latest look is definitely intrusive - breaks up the frame of the game, just as the ads break up the flow of Test cricket.
Posted by boynton at July 25, 2005 10:14 PM

Still there's a croquet club down the road...

Ah, my big-hat-wearing days, filled with women in fine frocks and glorious memories. Nice to begin about 2pm, after a nice lunch, champers still flowing, the Stones blaring across the backyard, and whatever else you may happen to enjoy going down ... my only problem was to confine my temptation to hit another's ball flying over the fence. A good time was invariably had by all, as I only (alas) vaguely recall.
Posted by cs at July 25, 2005 11:13 PM

Champers and croquet would certainly be a nice combo.
It was only ever cordial when we played at home.

Wonder if the younger demographic have moved into the ranks (rinks) of croquet as well as Lawn Bowls on certain free-form barefoot evenings.
Posted by boynton at July 26, 2005 12:32 AM

Now you're talkin' Miss B.

Don't forget choice of enveloping music, as you slip the hoops.


Posted by cs at July 26, 2005 12:48 AM

Hmm... might have to consider a "Top 10 enveloping songs for playing Croquet" post.
(& is there a meme in that?)
Posted by boynton at July 26, 2005 09:55 AM

Possibly though am restricted mainly to stuff by Noel Coward or Handel.
Posted by Russell Allen at July 26, 2005 02:54 PM

Hmmm I was thinking something in the Lounge genre...

But maybe a Handel Coward mashup might work?
Posted by boynton at July 26, 2005 06:45 PM

well when I say Lounge...?
http://members.lycos.co.uk/spaceagepopagogo/sld022.htm

(I used to blog about croquet quite a bit y'know...
http://boynton.blogspot.com/2003_05_11_boynton_archive.html#94248591)
Posted by boynton at July 26, 2005 08:49 PM

a sample here. Does sound like music for croquet actually...
http://www.showandtellmusic.com/mp3s/gallery_e/BreuerHoraStaccato.mp3
Posted by boynton at July 26, 2005 11:17 PM