The czar of extravagance, a cricket conservative, says Tests score over one-day internationals.
LONDON/MUMBAI: Beleaguered cricketers, who receive little sympathy for their toil from the authorities of the game, have found a supporter in Elton John. The singer, renowned for his overstated chic and wild parties, has criticised administrators for subjecting players to arduous schedules.
Sir Elton, self-confessed addict of the game, has said that one-day matches are cluttering the cricket calendar and burning out players. The popular performer, who has ruled the music charts with such memorable hits as ‘Nikita’ and ‘Candle in the Wind’, is a cricket purist who prefers Test matches to the limited-overs ‘pyjama’ version.
“I liked one-day internationals when they started them, but there are too many of them now,” Sir Elton told BBC Sports. “They wear out the players, and cricketers are playing too many games.”
Sir Elton thinks Tests are far more interesting than ODIs because the five-day version invites the thrilling acuity of chess. “I do think you see the best cricket in Tests and I like the fact that you can play for five days and no one wins,” he said.
Sir Elton — born Reginald Dwight — became hooked to the sport through BBC Radio, relishing the feats of heroes such as Denis Compton, Colin Cowdrey, and John Edrich. He found tennis “too girlish” and rugby “too tough”. Cricket seemed to offer him the happy blend of decorousness and excitement. In fact, cricket has seduced the international pop icon to such an extent that he has even dug in for a stint at the crease at Lord’s. “I got to the crease at a charity event and I thought ‘please let me score one run’. I scored 24.”
Sir Elton joined the revelries that followed England’s win in Melbourne in the 1986 Boxing Day Test. “It was one of the greatest — and most drunken — nights I can remember,” he said.
Last summer’s Ashes series riveted the cricketing world, and caused Sir Elton minor palpitations. “I was on tour when we won by two runs at Edgbaston. I was in France and on the phone with Michael Caine. I was saying ‘for God’s sake’ and he was saying ‘I can’t look’.”
-- With agencies
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