New Zealand set England 277 to win: first Test, day three – live!

An email breezes in: Hello Ed Thorpe!

“In honour of the anniversary of THAT BALL, could we introduce everyone to the (as far as i know) only musical ode to it, “Jiggery Pokery”, by the Duckworth Lewis Method?”

Ed, I knew not of this song!

Here are the first three verses:

‘Twas the first test of The Ashes series 1993

Australia had only managed 289 and we

Felt all was going to plan, that first innings at Old Trafford

Then Merv Hughes and his handlebar moustache dismissed poor Athers

I took the crease to great applause and focused on me dinner

I knew that I had little cause to fear their young leg spinner

He loosened up his shoulders and with no run up at all

He rolled his right arm over and he let go of the ball

It was…

Jiggery pokery, trickery chokery, how did he open me up?

Robbery! Muggery! Aussie skull duggery, out for a buggering duck

What a delivery, I might as well have been holding a contrabassoon

Jiggery pokery, who was this nobody making me look a buffoon?

Like a blithering old baffoon…