Cricket - christiansquoting.or.uk

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. - The Laws of Cricket

He didn't quite manage to get his leg over. ~ Jonathan Agnew (with Brian Johnston - after Ian Botham had spun around off balance and tried to step over the wicket unsuccessfully. (1991)

The batsman's Holding, the bowler's Willey.~ Brian 'Johnners' Johnston 1912-94 (commentating a cricket Test Match as Michael Holding faced bowler Peter Willey)

Ray Illingworth has just relieved himself at the pavilion end. ~ Brian Johnston 1912-94

THERE'S a breathless hush in the Close to-night -
Ten to make and the match to win -
A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

The sand of the desert is sodden red, -
Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -
The Gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,
And England's far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of schoolboy rallies the ranks,
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

This is the word that year by year
While in her place the School is set
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with a joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind -
"Play up! play up! and play the game!"
Sir Henry Newbolt (1862-1938) Vitai Lampada

I'll be at your Board, when at leisure from cricket.-- The Earl of Sandwich's response, on being appointed a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty on 11 June 1745.

I don't think I can take seriously any sport which takes less than three days to reach its conclusion. ~Tom Stoppard, in Guardian (24 Dec 1984)

T'finest bloody fast bowler that ever drew breath.
Frederick Sewards Trueman, when asked how he wanted to be remembered.

An aged Don was asked by a reporter how he thought he would fare against modern test bowlers. He replied that he would average in the fifties. The reporter reminded him that he had retired with a never surpassed test average of 99.4. "Yes" replied The Don, " But I am 72 now."
F S Trueman, BBC Radio 4, 26.2.2001

Here's a gift to take and treasure,
England's gift as well as mine,
Symbol of her clean-spent leisure,
Of her youth and strength a sign;
Gleams of sunlight on old meadows
O'er these varnished toys are cast,
And within that box's shadows
Stir the triumphs of the Past.

Still the ancient tale entrances,
Giving us in golden dower
ULYETT'S drives and IVO's glances,
JACKSON'S dash and THORNTON'S power;
Skill of LYTTELTONS and LACEYS,
Grit of SHREWSBURYS and GUNNS;
Pride of STUDDS and STEELS and GRACES
Piling up their English runs.

Take these simple toys as token
Of the champions that have been,
Stalwart in defence unbroken,
Hefty hitters, hitting clean;
And, when capped in Life's eleven,
May you stand as firm as they;
May you, little son of seven,
Play the game the English way.
John Tudor, TO A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD (With his first Cricket Set). _Punch_, April 23, 1919