Back in 1986 I was lucky enough to be in Antigua to see the 5th and final Test of David Gower’s humbling “blackwash” series. Having watched Viv Richards score the (then) fastest ever Test century in 56 balls, the final tea interval arrived, prior to England’s final batting session of a gruelling tour.
Strolling round the ground, I bumped into Blowers and the Times cricket correspondent John Woodcock and offered to buy them a drink. Blowers demurred, “never on duty, my dear old thing…”, but I persuaded him. Then we had another.
And another.
As the bell went for the final session, we drank up and shook hands, with Blowers promising to be “professional to my fingertips, just you listen…”
I got back to my seat, plugged in my headphones and sat back to watch and listen. A wicket soon fell. A burly figure in white trotted down the pavilion steps and out into the middle, to the immortal commentary of “And the next Gatting is Batsman…”
When I told this tale, Blowers looked at me and said “Did I really say ‘The next Gatting is Batsman’?”
I nodded.
He guffawed, shook my hand and said “So nice to see you again!”
A classy end to a classy day.
