One of my favourite sports journalists is Frank Keating of The Guardian. The paper's former chief sports writer now writes a regular column which is always informative, entertaining, reflective and often moving.
This week he wrote about the departure of former England bowler Harold Larwood for Australia 60 years ago from the Essex port of Tilbury. Larwood had terrorised the Australians in the infamous Bodyline series of 1932-33 when England had used controversial short-pitched bowling to nullify the threat of the Aussies' brilliant batsmen Don Bradman.
Only one journalist went to Tilbury to see Larwood off in 1950, the inimitable John Arlott. Keating's account of that occasion manages to capture its sadness without being sentimental and asks us to reconsider Larwood's standing in the annals of cricket. Well worth a read.
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