Cricket Diary: Stuffed

An objective of this diary is to look at what has changed, what has stayed the same, and in some cases what has changed but (refreshingly) remained the same.

Cricket bags and the ‘stuff’ they carry falls into this later category, and whilst not exactly giving me sleepless nights, it is a question I keep returning to.

I don’t have this bag anymore (but am looking for one for my collection if anyone has one they want to sell), but it was very typical of the bag we used back in the late 70s and early 80s.

The bat as you can see was carried on the outside, or it would if it fitted. Once the bag was full, and it always was, you were lucky if you could slip a standard sized bat in, forget it if you had as I did a Gray-Nicolls Single Scoop and then a SS Jumbo. These had to be carried separately, with the ‘practise’ bat (see somethings have not changed for me) squeezed into this pocket.

Inside the bag would be pads, gloves (only one pair with a pair of inners for the sweat!), thigh pad (just for the leading leg with tapes to secure to the thigh), box, jock strap, spikes (one set), two sweaters (big chunky ‘proper’ cricket sweaters), club cap, summer hat, trousers, shirt, socks, couple of old balls, towel and wash bag. It was a squeeze to get everything in – I recall having to sit on the bag to close it – and clothing didn’t stand chance of not being creased.

I don’t recall carrying a separate holdall, but I do recall we could only get two of these bags and any loose bats into the boot of my Ford Escort 1300XL, with two players wedged into the back seat with two bags on their laps.

The modern bag is so much better, as is the equipment, but there is more equipment (helmet and the newer thigh pads been obvious examples).

As you can see I have enlisted the help of Oscar and the supervision of Tito but we are still at a loss as to how we get all this stuff into the bag!?

Three bats is excessive, and I don’t intend to take three to a match, but the bag is advertised as having room for three and as I ‘just happened’ to have three I thought I would include them all for this post. To be fair they fit in the pocket at the back no problem at all and whether two of three makes no difference really, other than weight of course.

Pads (which are bigger), thigh Guard (which is bigger), gloves (two pairs – both bigger), two pairs of shoes (sane size but twice as many!), box (bigger of course!!!!), helmet (new addition), practise balls (lot more), practise bat (new addition), baseball glove (new addition), dog thrower (new addition), contact lens and medical bag (bigger than before as I used to carry contact lenses, sun cream etc), repair stuff bag (New addition BUT I did carry a few things like spare grips but back then we always had a ‘team bag’ as well with bat cone, spare gloves, bats and pads and sunglasses (new addition was just not done back then).

All the above does fit in the Gray-Nicolls Legend Duffel Bag, but it is a bit of a squash and I have not put any of my clothes in, nor will I as not only do I not want them crushed and creased (tad anal like that), but I am already committed to carry a second bag for spare helmet, wash bag, towel, club cap, summer hat, spare thigh guard, spare box.

More stuff for sure, bigger bag for sure but in a comfortingly familiar way, same old problem. I have a Range Rover now, but I still think will struggle to get four kit bags into the boot along with any additional holdalls, so I am fully anticipating having two in the back with their kit bags on their knees and the fact that despite of all the changes, additions and improvements to the equipment since I last played it is this familiarity that I am looking forward to the most.

Those of you of a ‘certain age’ may even remember these bags. You can just get a set of modern pads into it!

Thank You

Gray-Nicolls are generously providing financial support to this diary and my return to cricket for the 2021 Season.