No cricket? Time to sharpen up on poker
Ever wondered how Shane Warne got into poker? Well the now and part-time commentator recently described the game (poker, not cricket) as a "lifelong" hobby.
And one can be fairly certain that the Australian Test legend learnt much about bluffing, folding, holding and raising during the long rain delays he had to fill during tours of England - and anywhere else in the world where the weather held sway during his 145-Test career.
Interestingly, it has now emerged that the current England team enjoy a bit of five-card stud and Texas Hold 'Em when the covers are stretched across the outfield - as they were for the entirety of a frustrating third day at the Edgbaston Test.
Warne, was captain of Hampshire until the summer of 2007 - and seems to have developed a little card school there.
"Yeah we play poker in the Hampshire dressing room sometimes," former England all-rounder told me. "Obviously we don't gamble, it's not for money, just matchsticks."
That latter observation will settle the nerves of the who have a dedicated telephone helpline to assist players with addictions - and gambling, albeit of the online variety - is one of their biggest concerns.
But not everybody sits around a table dreaming of a royal straight flush. Cork's ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live colleague recollects: "I used to just read the paper, and in the UK it was usually The Times. I liked to read about what was going on in the world first, then the sports pages.
"It was either that or get treatment, or just have a stretch and keep yourself loose, especially if we were bowling. Sometimes you don't mind rain, you just have a laugh with the boys. A lot of guys just sit around talking."
Cork says some people like catching up on their sleep, while others - especially if they might have to bat when the rain relents - keep their batting technique honed with visits to the indoor nets.
They know that the predictable bounce of the indoor nets is very different from what you will face on a damp wicket - especially if James Anderson has the ball - but, as Cork says, "some people just like to get bat on ball".
Bowlers tend to steer clear of the indoor nets - especially the faster ones who cannot bowl off their full run-up. But with a busy international schedule leaving little room for practice in between games, it's a good time for the batsmen to hone their skills.
Cork sees rain delays as a longer extension of the natural breaks that cricket affords players between deliveries.
"International cricketers are able to switch on and switch off through periods of playing, so it's the same as when you get interruptions for bad light and rain - you have to be able to switch on and switch off.
"Perhaps England were guilty on that first afternoon here, when they eventually came out, of not being switched on. You have to be able to come out and bowl as they did on Friday. But they certainly put it right on the second day.
"Michael Atherton was a big believer in being able to switch on [when the bowler was at the start of his run-up] and switch off for 10 seconds [after he had played each delivery]. The rain delays are just a longer period of time of that - and you have to get used to it."
So what do batsmen talk about at the end of each over? Cork explains: "You might say 'great shot - well played'. Or you might say 'make sure you're positive in what you are going to do' or 'be careful - remember he can swing it both ways'.
"Some days you have to talk about something other than cricket, whether it's 'oh what a great atmosphere out here' or 'what are you eating tonight?' You have to be able to not be too intense."
Saturday was a sad day for the sell-out crowd of 21,000 at Edgbaston, many of whom had come togged out for the occasion in some imaginative fancy dress.
A trio wearing the red and yellow of Spain with the words "El Rey de Espana" on their backs were paying tribute to former local hero Ashley Giles. The joke is that Warwickshire once ordered which were supposed to say "The King of Spin". The company making the mugs added an erroneous vowel and the "King of Spain" nickname stuck.
Our Spanish trio on Saturday each held a card, one showing "cuatro" (four), another "seis" (six), and the third "fuera" (out). Actually, the last one should have said something like "despedido" (dismissed), because "fuera", strictly speaking, means "outside" or "outdoors".
Saturday in Birmingham was no place to be outdoors.
After the solemn realisation at the age of 12 that I might not be good enough to play cricket for England I decided that the next best thing, writing about cricket, would have to suffice as a career. That's what I've been doing for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sport website since 2001, in which time the sport has changed immensely. You can also follow me on .
Comment number 1.
At 1st Aug 2009, andrewtheboom wrote:At least we avoided the most likely example of dressing-up - Mitchell Johnson as a test-match quality bowler.
Cannot imagine Ricky Ponting being a very good poker player, as rage envelopes him as soon as anything goes against him.
A sad day seeing all the action rained off. And the forecast does not look much better for tomorrow and Monday, especially with all the water on the outfield now.
Guaranteed draw.
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Comment number 2.
At 1st Aug 2009, captainmatt_williams wrote:I have always wondered what players say to each other at the end of the over. The converstation must become pretty interesting when batters are in a big partnership, I mean how many times can you say good shot.
Big shame about today, wrecked our chances of going two-up.
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Comment number 3.
At 1st Aug 2009, FleetJackHobbs wrote:Well done, Señor Brett. Here's a harder one.. How do you say "Onions is on a hat-trick" in Spanish? ¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?
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Comment number 4.
At 1st Aug 2009, groundhog44 wrote:Cebollas se encuentra en un sombrero truco - Onions is on a hat trick?
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Comment number 5.
At 1st Aug 2009, turnipandpeas wrote:Cebollas esta sobre un sombrero trampa
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Comment number 6.
At 1st Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:you can't really translate "hat-trick" i don't think... it's an idiom. So it would be something like "Onions (or Cebollas) tiene dos wickets desde dos pelotas" - which is a slight cop-out, I know.
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Comment number 7.
At 1st Aug 2009, LucaToni_is_as_good_as_spaghetti wrote:As a fluent spanish speaker i felt i just had to stick my oar in. Oliver's translation is by far the best of the three (the other two are blatently just type-ins into a translation website. However, in soccer terms atleast you are able to say the word "hattrick" in spanish so i don't see why not in cricket aswell.
btw I would've said something like,
"onions puede ganar un "hattrick" con esta entraga"
Anyways good interesting blog
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Comment number 8.
At 1st Aug 2009, Tim Sims wrote:But surely the Spanish for Onions is Onions? You don't normally translate people's names - if we did the guy who just won the Tour de France would be Albert Accountant (contador being Spanish for 'accountant', IIRC)
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Comment number 9.
At 1st Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:Swing-inducing cloud cover and rain. Should this Ashes series not be relocated to warmer climes?
And ... something for dog lovers ...
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Comment number 10.
At 1st Aug 2009, FleetJackHobbs wrote:Madre mia! - What have I started? - You can tell there's no play! No esta llovendo en Espana... pues.. no en Toledo. (why can't I put in accents or 'enyes?')
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Comment number 11.
At 1st Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:I love translating French, Portuguese or Spanish sportsmen back into English.
Who can work out what these would be: Luis Fine Death; Juan Antonio Kings; Gael My Son? (one from each of the three languages)
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Comment number 12.
At 1st Aug 2009, splatman81 wrote:Wouldn't the football players be Luis Figo, Gael Clichy and Juan Antonio Reyes at a guess
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Comment number 13.
At 1st Aug 2009, bob_sacamano wrote:Luis Boa Morte
Juan (José?) Antonio Reyes
Gael Monfils
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Comment number 14.
At 1st Aug 2009, bobenespana wrote:To be on a hat trick in Spanish is subjuntive; You use his proper name Onions is on a hat trick. Onions sea marcar tres tantos.
And for FleetJackHobbs; se dice: No está lloviendo en España ahora. I can put in the accents (Puedo usar las tildes)
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Comment number 15.
At 1st Aug 2009, FleetJackHobbs wrote:@ 14 - You can put them in at your end, so can I because I have a Spanish keyboard - but look what happens at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ end. - Just glad I don't have to wish anyone a happy new year (in Spanish) on here!
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Comment number 16.
At 1st Aug 2009, Sportsfan87 wrote:i think an england win is a longshot but still possible if rain relents over the next two days, thats the key, i cannot see an aussie victory now, and the draw is still the favourite but an england win is still an outside possibility.
Just need to get say a 100 run lead (or at the very least a lead) at the end of day 4 and stick the aussies in. then hope they dont get too much of a lead on day 5. Like i say that is a longshot and the draw is firm favourite.
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Comment number 17.
At 1st Aug 2009, english_in_spain wrote:Sorry to pick hairs, but 'fuera' is the accepted word. I've just come back from Spain after five years, and frankly, after any bad tackle or decision or whatever against the home, team, the supperters immediately get on the back of the ref or umpire, shouting 'fuera'.
On a less critical note, it was a great article. People often imagine profiessional sportsmen being professional during such rain breaks. It's good to see that they are normal people, reading papers, listening to music, playing poker etc. On the topic of which - does anyone know who has been the best and worst poker players in dressing rooms????
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Comment number 18.
At 2nd Aug 2009, Sevenseaman wrote:Sportsfan87.
Quo vadis? Rain has a steel grip over the Test, spaniards have taken over the blog, the teams, including commentary ones are into poker; what does an average addict do? The first par comment I read is from you. Yes I agree only England have a 'fuera' chance but only if they manage a goodish lead. Else, a dead duck.
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Comment number 19.
At 2nd Aug 2009, turnipandpeas wrote:Luca Toni has put me firmly in my place at the bottom of the class. I did not use a website - because if I had it would surely have given me "Cebollas estan" - Onions ARE on a sombrero trampa (notice also Groundhog has managed the same - Onions IS situated on a sombrero truca). So there.
Anyway, sadly looks as though we're heading for a draw - would have been great to go 2-0 up with 2 to play because with the Great British summer looking to good to wash out more matches later on, this would have set the odds firmly in our favour. What chance of everyone rain dancing the rest of the summer?
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Comment number 20.
At 2nd Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:Sun beating down in the west Midlands riviera... Breezy too - get those covers off and see if we can't start on time
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Comment number 21.
At 2nd Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:dash my optimism with thick cloud cover, an 1100 BST inspection and estimates from one colleague of no start before 1230 BST.
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Comment number 22.
At 2nd Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:No cloud cover + no swing = impotent England bowlers.
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Comment number 23.
At 2nd Aug 2009, olddog_newtricks wrote:great blog.
all the entertainment value of tms.
none of the small-minded ranting you so often see on sports blogs.
and a talented linguist who obviously "knows his onions", ahem!
keep it up, oliver :-)
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Comment number 24.
At 2nd Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:1200 start - tremendous effort by the groundstaff...
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Comment number 25.
At 2nd Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:Does Bell have some special dispensation we don't about whereby he can't be given LBW no matter how plumb he is? Twice.
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Comment number 26.
At 2nd Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:The Edge, aka the walking wicket, departs on the stroke of lunch. Oh dear.
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Comment number 27.
At 2nd Aug 2009, rvpisneverinjureds wrote:what a joke, 1 hours play since friday and were at lunch!!!! also how many more times do they play the clip of the last wicket at birmingham 4 years ago
!!!! for gods sake lets move on, and lets have some decent umpires this game is being ruined, i wouldnt pay a fiver to watch this drivel.
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Comment number 28.
At 2nd Aug 2009, Tim Sims wrote:"Sun beating down in the west Midlands riviera" Oliver? Riviera is Italian for 'coast'. Not much sign of that in Brum, unless you count canalsides. Tut, tut.
BTW, "Strauss" is German for "ostrich". It also, for no good reason, means an argument or a bunch of flowers. Take your pick.
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Comment number 29.
At 2nd Aug 2009, betting_guru wrote:Tim, it was meant as a joke - but never mind
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Comment number 30.
At 2nd Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:Think I'll send Prior a copy of the rules relating to LBW and caught behind. The Joburg boy's appealing is quite unappealing.
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Comment number 31.
At 2nd Aug 2009, michael wrote:Sorry to not be able to add to the debate about Spanish. However, from a Poker point of view, can I just clarify the following quote:
"But not everybody sits around a table dreaming of a royal straight flush"
In poker terms, it's just a Royal Flush - the word 'Royal' already implies it's a straight, as it would be 10, J, Q, K, A of the same suit.
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Comment number 32.
At 2nd Aug 2009, U14039828 wrote:Knock off the deficit, grab a lead of 150. Should be enough.
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Comment number 33.
At 3rd Aug 2009, gravybeard wrote:Actually, Oliver, no: I've never wondered how Shane Warne got into poker.
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Comment number 34.
At 4th Jan 2010, guoguo wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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