cricketers know about failure – they know it constantly. it is conceivable that it could become too much. that a cricketer could lose interest or become distracted. there is no problem – there is nothing unusual – here. cricketers also know how things progress, change, modulate. at times it is surprising change or a modulation has effects that could never have been predicted. a chance remark can inspire a new dream and what was previously important well mister it vanishes into the air. it is also known that vanished forms can always return. the mythology of the ashes is steeped in this. english cricket dies at the hands of australian cricket and is cremated. the ashes henceforth played every 2 years. teams lose form teams gain form from time to time the urn changes hands. before today cricket was off the radar. but the ashes brought it! brought it big time. diddle had been out due to injury for some time. a selection panel watching his progress closely – a bug implanted in his head. the indications were favourable. he had been working concertedly on developing his butt, altering his body shape to better fit it to the rigours of test fast bowling. the power he was feeling within himself was transmitted to the panel and the call was made to include the reformed diddle in the team. the new form happened to have a birthday today. it was not by chance. today diddle initiated his birth 26 years ago. 26 years ago today he was born for today. sometimes time works like that. diddle conceived himself today. as he grew and roared into heroic god form upon dismissing broad for his hat trick diddle created the conditions for his birth 26 years ago today. sometimes time works that way.

nothing interesting was happening after lunch. hilfenhaus and watson were bowling wide of offstump and swinging it further away. bell and cook were playing brilliantly off their toes to anything straighter. they were patient, waiting for it. they had no idea. diddle came on and started similarly wide. there was nothing to indicate the approaching rupture. it happened while the viewers were fetching cups of tea or on the toilet or had popped down to the  workshop to do some routine bicycle maintenance or change a sprocket. things were in the balance. cricket v the distractions. next thing …

the bell form also reached for the chance to be born 4eva today but failed at the last. theres always another chance until there isn’t anymore.