It’s Cup Match’s silly season and the shenanigans common to this time of year are revving ahead of the Classic, However, there are more than a few items of seriousness to be considered, expressed, remembered, celebrated, demonised, eradicated:
“Through the Cup Match, cricket still lays claim to the belief … that it is the most democratic of all games. It has the power to merge the community into one spirit one mood and why not one world? for two days at least …”
Alma (Champ) Hunt, the legendary Somerset and Bermuda all-rounder, who was also a journalist and influencer.
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Years of failure again has some St George’s fanatics in a state of mental instability, as a walking group have planned another, destined to fail, ‘Pre-Cup Match Victory March’ for this Saturday.
Hope indeed does spring eternal for folk that have been performing decade long exercises of futility, while longing for the days of old.
Long range weather forecasts indicate that first day showers will more than dampen St George’s hopes of on-field success.
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No televised Cup Match. No live video broadcast of the most major sporting event complimenting what is, perhaps, the most significant celebratory remembrance of consequential progression via the emancipation of Black people, because no company or person was willing to purchase associated rights … Bermuda is indeed another world.
But alas, where else do media companies annually get away with using negative public sentiment as leverage to ‘high-jack’ Cup Match broadcast rights and with such its legacy without having to pay reasonable rights fees for the honour.
Club’s having to recruit funding for payment to entities that can then ‘double dip’ among the cash bonanza by reselling advertising spots is ludicrous albeit genius if one can get away with it and it only makes good, basic business sense for St George’s club boss Neil Paynter to bring a halt to this one-sided madness.
In a technological age it’s more than inept if manner cannot be found to sell and deliver Bermuda’s signature event world-wide without resistance.
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Has a saviour finally arrived to help St George’s lift the Cup?
This year’s Classic has as a significant feature, a scenario akin to the story of the prodigal son and his return, with Bermuda captain and English professional Delray Rawlins, late of English county side Sussex, occupying the starring role.
Rawlins is set to carry the hopes of a massive community next week Thursday and Friday, his burden made heavy by many years of failure, but an excitement yet brewing for an August surpise.
Does this one man promise to deceive as a spectre of recent futility or is he magic for the ages, the east end messiah? Coronation or resignation, a nation awaits.
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Chris Douglas is once again available for Cup Match selection after having their suspensions declared complete by the Bermuda Cricket Board, even though the decision to allow Douglas’ back on the field has been met with mixed reviews.
Douglas was given credit as having served his punishment by not appearing as a ‘guest’ player for St David’s during an Eastern Counties match, despite having been suspended while playing for Somerset in a league game.
While the noise from the west is that of rejoicing, more than a few St George’s supporters can be excused for being displeased, among them those that remember how Douglas helped engineer a ten-wicket win for Somerset with a maiden century at Wellington Oval.
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Sadly, St George’s veteran all-rounder OJ Pitcher has been forced out of contention to retain his place in this year’s Cup Match due to cracked ribs sustained in Saturday’s Eastern County match featuring St David’s and Bailey’s Bay.
Pitcher was hurt while fielding for St David’s and X-rays later revealed the damage as that of one or more fractures to his rib cage.
Pitcher has had an unfortunate run of injuries in recent years, having been forced out of the game three of the last four years.
Pitcher’s loss mandates at least one change to last year’s squad, however with Rawlins not having been necessarily expected as the former’s replacement it is presumed there will be at least two and likely more alterations made to the challengers’ line-up.
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Be sure to tune in to TNN as we celebrate Emancipation Day and Mary Pierce Day while bringing forth the true flavours and meanings of Cup Match live from the venue on both days. We will bring forth the colourful, heartfelt items of interest, consciousness and fun.
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