Mundane sightings of high-profile cricketers

[Immenso]

Well, I was at this braai in Paarl back in 1994, and there these nz cricketers there, and .....

 

[ankitj]

One take away from this thread so far is that New Zealand is actually a small town where everyone runs into everyone.

Don't rub it in now.

 

[h_hurricane]

Did Hansie lecture you on professionalism?

Yes he did and it felt really genuine at that time and I still think so. I don't remember the exact words he said though. And yes, quite saddened by what happened a few years post that. That SA team was one of my favorites of the 90s.

 

[ankitj]

It's not mundane but I met Sunil Gavaskar at an airport lounge in 2011. It was during the world cup and he was travelling for commentary. Ireland team was also there.

 

[thierry henry]

I’ve played with or against *quick drunk count* at least 5 Black Caps off the top of my head, and that’s not including several who I was in the same competition as but happened to miss playing against (Brooke Walker, Finn Allen, Guptill, Bates come to mind). I’ve also recently (like in the last 3 or 4 years) played alongside Samoa and Cook Islands internationals lol (they have Cricinfo profiles so that’s legit right?). I’m not good at cricket at all, this is just how living in NZ is.

 

[thierry henry]

Also I currently have one of Sodhi’s old bats in my shed

 

[fredfertang]

It must be ten years since I told the story of taking a leak next to Ian Chappell in a pub in Lancashire ...................

 

[wellAlbidarned]

I’ve played with or against *quick drunk count* at least 5 Black Caps off the top of my head, and that’s not including several who I was in the same competition as but happened to miss playing against (Brooke Walker, Finn Allen, Guptill, Bates come to mind). I’ve also recently (like in the last 3 or 4 years) played alongside Samoa and Cook Islands internationals lol (they have Cricinfo profiles so that’s legit right?). I’m not good at cricket at all, this is just how living in NZ is.

You play indoor right? I've got a mate who plays premier club stuff and it seems like a pretty sure fire way to come up against lots of FC guys.

 

[social]

You play indoor right? I've got a mate who plays premier club stuff and it seems like a pretty sure fire way to come up against lots of FC guys.

It used to happen all the time in Australia but professional schedule is now very congested and the state bodies don’t really want contracted players to do it

Guys like Uzi play the odd game while average Joes play a bit more but still miss club games for no apparent reason

I played one of my first games against Doug Walters

He got 172 while having the horse racing results called out to him and had a few beers at lunch, ciggies at drinks etc

 

[Coronis]

It must be ten years since I told the story of taking a leak next to Ian Chappell in a pub in Lancashire ...................

Did you peek?

 

[GotSpin]

Playing poker with Shane Warne at Star City casino was easily one of my favourite interactions with anyone famous, cricketer or not

 

[Coronis]

Playing poker with Shane Warne at Star City casino was easily one of my favourite interactions with anyone famous, cricketer or not

How’d the game go?

 

[thierry henry]

You play indoor right? I've got a mate who plays premier club stuff and it seems like a pretty sure fire way to come up against lots of FC guys.

Yeah from memory I’ve played Neesham, Ajaz, Ashok, Tuffey and Hira at indoor, and Walker/Allen/Guptill/Bates and Reece Young were all playing when I was but I don’t think I played against them

 

[thierry henry]

Also I went to watch my nephew play cricket this morning and who’s the first parent I see there watching? Michael Bates.

 

[GotSpin]

How’d the game go?

It was a cash game and at one point Warne had convinced half the table to start going all in blind for back to back hands.

It was just a blast and we were playing until around 2am or later, having drinks and everything. Have no idea to this day how he got up and did commentary the next day

 

[capt_Luffy]

Did you peek?

If it was big, he had Greg in his pants.

 

[Coronis]

It was a cash game and at one point Warne had convinced half the table to start going all in blind for back to back hands.

It was just a blast and we were playing until around 2am or later, having drinks and everything. Have no idea to this day how he got up and did commentary the next day

hahahaha that’s about what I expected. Fantastic

 

[fredfertang]

Did you peek?

Certainly not - it was the 1970s!

 

[GIMH]

It must be ten years since I told the story of taking a leak next to Ian Chappell in a pub in Lancashire ...................

Have dug out the original as it’s one of the ATG posts

Ian Chappell is a novelty choice - played just once or twice didn't he?

Still you have given me an excuse to tell my Ian Chappell story:-

In the autumn of 1979 I was sat in a pub in Lytham St Annes with a couple of mates. During the course of the evening Chappelli came in with an entourage and sat at the table next to us. I have to say that beyond recognising him when he walked in we wouldn't have noticed him although he may well have picked up on the fact that his presence set myself and my mates off talking about the Packer circus and everything flowing from that which was big news at the time.

It must have been before the 1979/80 tour because I am sure we would have made some comments had the Ashes just been won 4-1 by England!

Anyway in due course I had the call of nature and went to the gents and in the middle of what I was doing Chappell walked in. He stood next to me and his first action was to let rip an impressively loud and rasping fart followed very rapidly by an equally loud and rasping belch. He then looked at me and said "the beer in this place is f****** p***”

I didn't really know what to say to that and my first thought was to be a bit concerned that perhaps I had said something in the bar that may have offended him so I kept quiet. He started to chuckle and looked at me again and said "did you realise I was Ian Chappell". My immediate reaction to that, and one which I must confess I had already prepared in the lounge thinking that he might say something like that when he was sat next to us, was "No I thought you were John Snow's bunny".

At this he roared with laughter but I still thought discretion was the better part of valour and left and went back to my table. When he came back into the bar shortly afterwards he made for the bar and bought a pint each for myself and my mates which he brought over in excellent humour and told us the pints were because I'd given him a line for his after-dinner speaking. Whether he ever used it I have no idea

I suppose I should have tried to get some piece of signed memorabilia from him but unfortunately being a young 'un I was just too overawed