RIP Michael Parkinson

[Username Taken]

Sir Michael Parkinson has died aged 88.

[armchairlawyer]

When Michael Parkinson was 19, he was a good enough batsman to keep the young Geoffrey Boycott out of the Barnsley cricket team. As a left-handed opener he made a century in a league match against Harrogate and a fifty in the next game, ensuring that England’s future batting hero was left to fume in the second XI while Parkinson took his place and dreamt of sporting glory.

Long after, he was still citing his brief summer of cricketing supremacy as his proudest achievement and giving every impression that he would have happily swapped his television career to have joined Boycott in the England team. Instead, a disastrous trial with Yorkshire put paid to his ambitions when his stumps were repeatedly shattered by Fred Trueman.

He attended the trial with Dickie Bird, later the international umpire, who recalled his best friend’s rejection. “What does tha’ mate, Parkinson, do?” Arthur Mitchell, the Yorkshire coach, asked Bird. “He works on the local newspaper,” Bird replied. “I’ve some advice for him,” said Mitchell. “Tell him to stick to journalism.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mich ... -mph6r2ww5

[Jerry Atrick]

When Michael Parkinson was 19, he was a good enough batsman to keep the young Geoffrey Boycott out of the Barnsley cricket team. As a left-handed opener he made a century in a league match against Harrogate and a fifty in the next game, ensuring that England’s future batting hero was left to fume in the second XI while Parkinson took his place and dreamt of sporting glory.

Long after, he was still citing his brief summer of cricketing supremacy as his proudest achievement and giving every impression that he would have happily swapped his television career to have joined Boycott in the England team. Instead, a disastrous trial with Yorkshire put paid to his ambitions when his stumps were repeatedly shattered by Fred Trueman.

He attended the trial with Dickie Bird, later the international umpire, who recalled his best friend’s rejection. “What does tha’ mate, Parkinson, do?” Arthur Mitchell, the Yorkshire coach, asked Bird. “He works on the local newspaper,” Bird replied. “I’ve some advice for him,” said Mitchell. “Tell him to stick to journalism.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mich ... -mph6r2ww5

Wouldn't Boycott have been a 12 or 13 year old then?

[pissontheroof]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

[Clutch Cargo]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

He was a pom, not a convict!

[pissontheroof]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

He was a pom, not a convict!

What’s the dif ?

[Freightdog]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

He was a pom, not a convict!

The previous correspondent has dementia, me thunks.

[newkidontheblock]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

Unless he’s related to James Parkinson, the apothecary who published symptoms of the disease in 1817, it’s not him.

[newkidontheblock]

I’m not “ into “ reading about dead australiens ,
Let me guess , the inventor of Parkinson’s ( thanx auto correct ) disease ?

Unless he’s related to James Parkinson, the apothecary who published symptoms of the disease in 1817, it’s not him.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histor ... 's_disease

[Doc67]

When Michael Parkinson was 19, he was a good enough batsman to keep the young Geoffrey Boycott out of the Barnsley cricket team. As a left-handed opener he made a century in a league match against Harrogate and a fifty in the next game, ensuring that England’s future batting hero was left to fume in the second XI while Parkinson took his place and dreamt of sporting glory.

Long after, he was still citing his brief summer of cricketing supremacy as his proudest achievement and giving every impression that he would have happily swapped his television career to have joined Boycott in the England team. Instead, a disastrous trial with Yorkshire put paid to his ambitions when his stumps were repeatedly shattered by Fred Trueman.

He attended the trial with Dickie Bird, later the international umpire, who recalled his best friend’s rejection. “What does tha’ mate, Parkinson, do?” Arthur Mitchell, the Yorkshire coach, asked Bird. “He works on the local newspaper,” Bird replied. “I’ve some advice for him,” said Mitchell. “Tell him to stick to journalism.”

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mich ... -mph6r2ww5

Wouldn't Boycott have been a 12 or 13 year old then?

Correct, so it's hardly a surprise.

Anyway, I can beat that. When I was 16, I batted higher in the order than Nasser Hussain in the Ilford Cricket Club under 16 team. I was at No.6 and he was at 8 or 9. At the time he was only a 5ft 0 inch 15-year-old leg spinner that couldn't be bothered about batting as his bowling was prodigious.