One for Ken

[ayepatz]

I've been drinking in my local pub in Godalming Surrey, The Cricketers, for a few years now. It's where I head on my days off if I fancy smoking a cigar. In all the time that I've been a regular punter, nobody has been able to tell me the origin of the pub's name. "Named after some historic player" was all I was able to learn from the various landlords who have passed through in my time.

Recently, a gentleman claiming to be a descendent of one Julius Caesar (not the Roman general, but his namesake who played for Surrey and England) approached the pub seeking information about the original proprietor.

A little research turned up this article:-

http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/julius-caesar-remembering-the-cricketer-on-ides-of-march-111369

Its great to finally know the origins of the pub's name.

[El Presidente]

Great read

[Ken Gargett]

great stuff. cannot believe that you could have a runner for gout!

c aubrey smith is often forgotten but one of the most interesting englishmen going around. i reckon most of us would recognise him if we saw a photo but few would have been able to name him.

the only man to captain england and be a hollywood star. so much for freddy and beefy! finished his test career with a bowling average under 9!

all that said, the truth is that while he was a serviceable cricketer, playing for sussex for quite a few years, he had actually left cricket to go to south africa to search for gold (got sick and was actually pronounced dead at one stage). a local english team was formed and they played south africa in the late 1890's. so hardly a genuine english team but it was declared a test team. smith was made captain and got a heap of wickets, hence the average. only ever played that one test. then to hollywood where he was in dozens and dozens of films as the quintessential englishman, stiff upper lip etc etc.

thanks so much for posting.

[ayepatz]

I know you like a good sporting story.

Fascinating bit of history. I never knew about Smith as a cricketer, only knew him as an actor.

I love the runner for gout. Such a civilised game.

And the jinx from not drinking enough is an excuse I've been known to employ myself...

[Ken Gargett]

I know you like a good sporting story.

Fascinating bit of history. I never knew about Smith as a cricketer, only knew him as an actor.

I love the runner for gout. Such a civilised game.

And the jinx from not drinking enough is an excuse I've been known to employ myself...

yes, one of the best knocks i ever played was when i had one of the worst hangovers of my life. i always thought that the reason was i was far too sick to put any effort into any shot that i did not have to. so suddenly, no stupid shots to get me out. i nearly started believing in higher powers that day when we won the toss and batted. i don't think i could have made it through the day keeping - and this was grade cricket so that would not have gone down at all well.

flicked on the article to some mates and also to my uncle. by coincidence, my uncle had been reading john major's book and apparently major discusses him in it.

[ayepatz]

Pretty standard tactic on rugby tours was to get trollied with the opposition the night before the game.

Very important to "research their weaknesses"...