Sunday 8 April 2012

The (Obvious) Way to My Heart

I've had the mickey taken out of me a few times on Test Match Sofa because I like Jade Dernbach. No, not in that way (although his car is rather lovely), but I do rate him as a player. A few people both on and off the Sofa think he's all hype and no substance, and doesn't deserve his England place. They're entitled to their opinions, obviously, and I'll accept that he's had a few off games... but who hasn't? Really, though, I think that the reason a lot of folk aren't keen on him is that he can come across as a bit arrogant on the pitch. The image is backed up rather by the blingy earrings and the tattoos. There seems to be a general opinion that Dernbach is a bit of a strutting tosser, in fact.

I met him on Thursday, and he really, really isn't.

Now, I have no idea what Jade's like in the dressing room or down the pub with his mates. I don't even have a proper idea of what he's like on the pitch because it's not as though I've been out there during a game. And it's not that I don't care, exactly, but what's more important to me is that he was lovely to my son. I know that's a biased-mummy opinion, but a few moments being nice to a six-year-old is worth solid gold to me. MiniSurreyFan does birthday cards for the Surrey guys so he took one in for Dernbach on the first day of the season. He came down from the dressing room, had a little chat with MSF, posed for a photo... it's not like it took a huge amount of his time or anything, but if he really was the arrogant sod that people seems to think, he wouldn't have done that. And today, when MSF was watching the warmup, he got a hair ruffle and "How're you doing?" from Dernbach as the team headed back to the dressing room. This little gesture made MSF's day and, by extension, mine.

Jade Dernbach isn't the only one of the Surrey boys that's good with MiniSurreyFan. Everyone at the Oval has been fantastic with him - not just the players but the coaches, the stewards and the splendid (TM) commentary team of Mark Church and Johnny Barran. It's this sort of thing that made renewing our memberships a complete no-brainer. While the Oval is my sanctuary and I'll happily sit there on my own with my maths books and a cuppa; it is also, more importantly, a place where my son feels happy, confident and welcomed. MSF is fearless at the Oval. He'll happily chat away to the stewards, or hang over the boundary fence watching the warmups, or tell other spectators his opinion of the game (sorry about that). The players now recognise the little blond dynamo charging about the place - although never never behind the bowler's arm, he knows that much - and are almost always good for a smile even if they're really busy.

I know it doesn't take much time or effort to be nice to the fans but it does take a bit, and I'm sure there must be times when a bouncy small child is the last thing* the players want to see. I think that there has been a push at Surrey to overcome the image of the side being rather aloof and up themselves (the 'Surrey strut' and all that) and I'm sure someone has emphasised the importance of keeping the kids - and therefore the parents - onside. I do feel, though, that Surrey have gone above and beyond this with MSF. If they are just being nice to him because they've been told that they have to, then they've all got a career in acting when they retire from cricket. I genuinely believe that the folk - both players and staff - at the Oval are nice to my son because they are happy to see a six-year-old who's so into the game. (And also because he's utterly fabulous, obviously!)

So...
...when the team look genuinely pleased to see MSF and me when we show up for the start of the season...
...when so many of them ask about him at the pre-season lunch...
...when MSF waves chocolate eggs in front of the dressing room window, gets invited in by Chris Adams who then gets Rory Hamilton-Brown to give him a new season cap**...
...when Chris Tremlett writes him a little note that tells him to 'keep bowling fast'...
...when Mark Church sticks MSF in the commentary chair and puts headphones on him so he feels a proper part of the action...
...when the stewards (thank you, Shashi, thank you) take him out of the autograph crush at the Test match and make sure all of the players sign his card...
...when Gareth Batty gives MSF high-fives or ruffles his hair every single time he comes off the pitch...

...these are the moments that make my heart belong to Surrey. My whole biased-mummy heart.


* Apart from Giles Clarke doing the Macarena in a bikini. But nobody should have to see that EVER. Or think about it. Er, yeah. Sorry.
** I totally count this as his first Surrey cap, by the way. First of many, I hope.

18 comments:

  1. Great piece. Although not a father I am a brother of a much younger brother who used to tag along with me to rugby and cricket in Gloucester. It really does make the day of a little lad if one of these guys do take a few moments out of their day to sign something or even just say "hi".

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    1. It really is the tiny things that matter to MSF and to me. Just that bit of eye contact and a wave - it makes a small child feel part of the experience.

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  2. that's very classy of them - not quite enough for me to switch allegiance from Kent, but impressive nonetheless. Still remember asking players & umpires for autographs in the early 80s, and which ones were tossers (umpires, Eddie "form an orderly queue" Hemmings), and which ones had time for a joke (Derek Randall taking the piss out of my brother who was wearing lederhosen and completely deserved it).

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    1. We've been so lucky with Surrey - I don't think any of them have ever been off with MSF in the smallest way.

      To be fair, it's not just the Surrey guys who've been great with him - Swanny was fab at his book signing, Claude Henderson let him have a second go throwing the ball back onto the pitch, Nigel Llong let him hold the old ball in the England/India Test... He's very lucky!

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  3. If only more fans, and some scribes, could make the quantum leap to understand that playing ability and personality are not linked - some of the greatest players in the game would turn their back on their mothers, and vice-versa. I'm not a huge fan of Jade Dernbach as a cricketer (and it's not because of the bling and ink) but what he did for MSF resonates with me in a big way.

    It's great to hear that the Surrey lads understand they are bastions for their county, and that they do it unprompted is fantastic.

    As for the cap - MSF will always have one more first class cap than the stats gurus at cricinfo will record, and may they be numerous...

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    1. Fair play if you don't like Dernback as a cricketer, so long as - like you said - it's because of his cricket. I know that some people's view is very much influenced by the ink and the swagger. I'm quite a fan of ink anyway, but that's not why I like him on the pitch!

      Surrey lads are all fabulous with MSF. It's really lovely to see.

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  4. What a lovely, lovely, piece. Cricket was divisive in our household; seen simply as something that took Daddy away from the family at weekends, whether I was going to watch Kent play or, much more often, playing for my club. My eldest loved it and opened the batting for his school until he was 15 (and discovered the things most 15 year olds discover) but the youngest two have never loved any sport but especially not cricket.

    To see the joy on MSF's face at the treatment from all involved at the club must be great for you as a parent. Kudos to Surrey for creating a positive environment for the next generation to flourish.

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    1. Thank you. I never gave half a damn about cricket as a kid - my parents weren't into sport at all. When I read MSF's school books at parents' evening, his weekend reports almost all start "we went to the cricket" or "we went to cricket coaching"!

      It IS sensible on the club's behalf, being nice to the kids. If it goes on, the only reason MSF might not be a member in 10 years time is because he's on the squad.

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  5. I'm desperate for my 6 year old girl to get into cricket - taking her to day 3 of the Windies test, but maybe we can come to the Oval later in the summer and MSF can explain what's going on? Do they let non-members into the pavilion seating? Or maybe the T20 v Surrey game at Beckenham on 17th June?

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    1. Members can have non-member guests in the Pavilion during the first-class games no problem. I'm not sure about the CB40s but definitely not during the t20s. Come up to the Oval for a champtionship day some time. MSF is a terrible flirt, I'll warn you now!

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    2. Does he like colouring and / or Hello Kitty? If so, he'll be well in there...

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    3. He likes dinosaurs, Kung Fu Panda and food!

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  6. Nice piece, I think the Surrey boys are just down to earth, good guys contrary to some people's perception of them. Just because Dernbach has tattoos doesn't mean he's a rude guy or whatever, unfortunately a lot of traditionists seem to think this is the case. Don't judje a book by its cover eh!

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    1. I'm a big fan of ink etc anyway, and I get judged on my own. Got quite a few funny looks during the summer, sitting in the Pavilion with my tattoos showing! I think it's also that Dernbach was a bit full-on in his first few England games but he seems to have been judged on that, not his behaviour since.

      The Surrey boys are lovely, really nice bunch.

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  7. This is a shocking blog undermining the erstwhile poor reputation of the Surrey team! More seriously liking your writing on the blog and very glad to hear they treat your little fella so well at the Oval.

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    1. I know. How dare I reveal that they're just a bunch of nice lads?! Shocking!

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  8. I sneaked into the dressing room in Madras as a little kid and was mostly ignored. I was trying my best not to look goggle eyed and nervously plonked my ass down on a chair. Kumble managed to give me a smile as the physio worked on his back. Dravid was so sweet. Spent a couple of minutes chatting with me before posing for a photo. Venkatesh Prasad was an absolute tosser though. He rudely told me to get out and start shouting at me as I stared back speechless.

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  9. that is pretty interesting and I see why I do not understand women haha, nothing against you, I think my problem is my work, I work as a pay per head bookie and it takes most of my time and I cannot spend so much time with my special someone :(

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