Issue 41

The Newsletter of Carlton Cricket Club 20 December 2021 Issue 41

'Listen,’ said the ghost. The youngster was animatedly talking '.................but Dad it's not fair..........why can't we practice in the evening. No one else was in the nets. It's just Scrooge he hates us junior members. He never comes to junior matches. He never gives us hints. He wishes we weren't there. I'm fed up of cricket - and so are my pals. We're not going to play any more................' The tearful boy threw his bat into the blazing fire. Scrooge fell restlessly asleep again. A third time he woke with a start to find another white clad figure beside his bed. This time the figure was old and bent, his eye rheumy, his hair and beard dishevelled, his white clothes stained and tattered. He spoke in a cracked whisper, 'I am the ghost of cricket yet to come. Follow me, Ebeneezer, follow me.' Scrooge obeyed and followed the stranger's lead. They came to a place that was familiar, but it had changed. An old derelict building lay in one corner of an overgrown wasteland. A rusty tractor stood in another. The cold wind blew litter in an untidy swirl. 'Surely this is the cricket ground?' Scrooge asked his guide. In a sombre voice, the ghost intoned, 'It was the cricket ground, but no cricket has been played for many a year.' 'What happened, the cricket club was such a happy place?' 'Once it was but little by little it died - one by one the players had enough of the skipper and moved to other clubs. The junior section dwindled, neglected and rejected. Relegation followed relegation. Matches were scratched. No one tended the wicket that was once the best in the area and it became a minefield. The club played its last match a year ago. Next year this will be a brand new car park.' 'No,' said Scrooge, 'No, it cannot be!' The ghost replied, 'This is what will happen, unless........' The voice began to fade. 'Unless what, cried Scrooge desperately. But the figure had vanished and only a whisper came through the air ‘………………unless…….' Scrooge woke with a start. The morning was bright and clear. The wicket would be firm. A fine day for batting. As Scrooge thought of the red ink against his name, he heard the last ghost’s voice again….’unless.’ He stopped himself. He reached for his phone and quickly pressed the numbers in. 'Cratchit,' a voice answered. 'Bob,' said Scrooge, 'can you open the batting today?' 'No problem, skip,' came the reply. 'And your boy, Tim, we could give him a chance - wicket looks like it'll take some spin.' 'Yes - he'll be ready.' 'Tell him to come down early - he can bowl a few at me in the nets.........a fiver if he gets me out!' And as Tim left the field after taking 3 wickets for 25 in his first bowl for the firsts, Scrooge smiled kindly, shook the boy's hand warmly and looked around the ground, the ground he loved and would go on loving. Tim looked at his skipper, turned to his pals and shouted out, 'God bless the skip, God bless cricket and God bless us everyone....................' MERRY CHRISTMAS