Barry Norman says England can win The Ashes (From Watford Observer)

Barry Norman says England can win The Ashes

4:01pm Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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Cricket is not the first thing that springs to mind when you mention the name Barry Norman, given that the journalist and TV star has spent a sizeable chunk of his career presenting BBC1's Film programme (1972-82 and 1983-98), as well as writing and presenting a number of film documentaries: Hollywood Greats (1977-79 and 1983), British Greats (1980) and Talking Pictures (1987). So it may come as a bit of a surprise to learn he is a self-confessed “cricket nut” and will soon be visiting Chorleywood to talk about his new publication Barry Norman’s Book of Cricket, a lavish tome entirely devoted to the game, and a timely one too, with The Ashes getting underway this week.

Barry, who has lived in Datchworth, near Knebworth for the past 50 years, says he got into the game at an early age.

He recalls: “My maternal grandfather, Harry Crafford, was the one who got me into the sport when I was about ten years old. He was a great cricket fan and among all his grandsons I was probably the only one who began to take an interest. It was during World War Two so people were not playing a lot of cricket as they were too busy avoiding bombs and rockets and the like. I didn’t attend a game until the 1945 Victory Test match between the Aussie services and the England 11 at Lord’s, but I visited the local library and borrowed every book until I was a mine of cricket lore.”

All these facts and figures have stood Barry in good stead in his book, which is clearly a labour of love. Covering the history of cricket from the formation of the Marylebone Cricket Club in the 18th Century through to the emergence of Twenty20 in the latter half of the 21st, the book features a wealth of cricket information, statistics and stunning photographs.

Sometimes it seems you have to be born to cricket; it’s the most glorious way of wasting time ever invented by man

Barry Norman

Naturally, the ongoing battle for The Ashes forms the core of the book, with the ten Test cricket nations commanding the lion’s share of its pages. Barry finds time however, to devote chapters to county cricket, the rise of the women’s game, the future of the sport and give advice for budding players.

“Sometimes it seems you have to be born to cricket; it’s the most glorious way of wasting time ever invented by man. Cricketers are the nicest, most philosophical of sportsman given it’s such a frustrating game. You can be on best form and have the most awful game, but you have to get over it and come back again another day.”

Barry’s abiding passion for the game led to an invitation to join the prestigious Lord’s Taverners and he will be sharing anecdotes about his time with the charity cricket team at the Chorleywood talk.

“Half the team were people like me, Jasper Carrott, Robert Powell and Chris Tarrant and people who played for England such as Viv Richards and Dennis Lilley. I got Colin Cowdrey out twice and played against Ian Botham, but I didn’t get him out.

“I’ve never been star-struck by movie people as I’ve been around actors all my life. The only people remotely resembling heroes to me are writers and sportsman. To play alongside my heroes was a privilege.”

Cricket buffs will no doubt be aware The Ashes tournament is upon us with the England and Australia first test in Cardiff running from tomorrow, Wednesday, to Sunday, July 12.

I mention to Barry that we have already done a pull-out in the Watford Observer bearing the headline: ‘Can England regain The Ashes?’. I put the question to him, can we?

“I think they might,” says Barry. “Whenever England are involved be it tennis, football or rugby, I’m a deep, deep pessimist but on this occasion I’m taking the glass half full approach. I think it will be 2-1 to England. That’s my gut feeling but I hope it’s my head talking more than my gut.”

Barry Norman’s talk at Chorleywood Memorial hall, organised by Chorleywood Bookshop, is on Wednesday, July 22 at 7.30pm. Tickets: 01923 283566, www.chorleywoodbookshop.co.uk (£5)