The Auld Game

The game of test cricket has its tragics,

woven into the whites of

two teams of elevenses before the toss.

In five days or less, with perhaps a result,

but how it will arrive is the pitch’s guess.

After the toss

the openers come out to open,

and the first shiny red is speedily hurled.

The laws of planning and chance take hold,

to conspire and work for a result.

If there’s none, still a story was told

of maidens, boundaries and wides,

sixes, wrong ‘uns and reverse swing,

LBW’s, slips and appeals,

square cuts, drives and slog sweeps,

sledging, third umpires and the googly;

and other carats of a noble game.

When stumps are pulled the amber flows,

team songs are sung and statistics made.

And honouring the combative teams

are the tragics replaying the match,

when their Sunday beach efforts

mimic test match dramas

they witnessed some sunny days before.