Village Cricket
We bowl the ball upon the bails
which half of us delights
A sport to entertain us
while we put the world to rights!
One Batsman goes, another in:
“a slip will catch him out”
Enjoy the sun, “another beer?”
That’s what this game’s about!
It’s all day long – all summer long! –
Those smart, white- trousered bowlers
From time to time a ‘four!’ or ‘six!’
To honk the biggest Rollers!
A spinning, left-hand round the stumps, ball landing, bounces right
Unusual ‘googly’, ‘bite’ for thought,
Then “wellying it” – ball out of sight!
A “donkey drop” from out the sky,
Attempts to startle next
Some wizardry or just a slip?
The mobile bowlers text!
From out the sky it falls to earth
That ‘bulls-eye’ stumping-seeker
A mixed-up catapult of hope
Straight to the wicket-keeper!
“It’s over!”
No! We’re part way through…..
the fielders change their place
A new man with the cricket ball
A tougher, faster pace!
The bowler runs just past the crease, The umpire stretches hands
A wide to give another ‘run’
Yet still the batsman stands!
The next bowl and the batsman’s off
Before the ball’s been hit
Determined to change places?
Or to show the fans he’s fit?
He wants another run, and shouts;
the batsman swipes and fails
Which one will be run-out this time –
the Ball’s been caught and hits the bails!
The last, eleventh batsman
wanders up to take his mark
A biffing, well-built slogger
on the Pitch, from off the park.
There’s one to win, but will he duck
or will he let it fly?
A disappointing way to end,
that last, declared ‘good bye’!