Ottis Gibson is being sorely missed at the Riverside this year. A fairly simple statement you might think. The man was nothing short of talismanic last year. But while his presence was not only vital to our on-field results, as wickets came his way with considerable regularity, he also lent much-needed credibility to the club’s Twenty20 marketing campaign. That the campaign won an award for best advertising (forgive me for not knowing the actual name of such a prestigious acclaim) owes solely to Gibbo’s presence.
There was someone else who featured… someone who you may feel was equally as critical to its success, as his name was the cornerstone of the whole gimmick. At this point I will cease that most nauseating of habits – talking about myself in the third person – yes, Gibbo and I were the chosen ones. Those of you who have seen the film ‘Men in Black’ will know that it features one of many Will Smith’s that exist in this world.
So due to my penchant for favouring the moniker ‘Will’ to my full Christian name William, the fact that Gibbo has the aptitude for looking mean and moody (not to mention his innate coolness), and that for last year’s Twenty20 competition the Durham Dynamo’s wore black, all went hand in hand to create the fantastic opportunity for my good name to be sullied. I simply cannot do mean and moody like my multi-million pound namesake. Or, it seems, like Gibbo.
Nevertheless, the photo shoot was conducted, amid much shoddy sunglass-enhanced pouting and pseudo gun (for gun, read silver-painted cricket bat) waving. Interesting fact: the man charged with organizing this just so happened to be a good school friend of mine. He is now an ex-school friend.
So for this year’s Twenty20 campaign, one in which we as a club are determined to make successful on the pitch (helped by the signings of Albie Morkel and Shaun Pollock) it appears the marketing department are keen to repeat the dose of excruciating embarrassment for me, by commissioning ‘Men In Black II.’
Presumably, I thought, they would draft Gibbo in to provide the sequel with the necessary ballast. After all, ‘Men in Black II’ featured both the cool, mean Will Smith and the nerdy Tommy Lee Jones. Not so. Maybe Gibbo has realised that in assuming his role as England’s bowling coach, he has just risen above this kind of shenanigan. I don’t blame him.
So who to cast as my sidekick then? He has to be someone tough, someone who takes no prisoners, someone who has a threatening physical presence perhaps. It turns out Gibbo’s replacement is one of only two people in the squad who I actually might have covered in the height stakes! That man’s identity may surprise you; it is the one and only Gareth Breese – our loveable, pint-sized off-tweaker.
So, a few weeks ago, a similar photo-shoot took place. Of course it was all old hat to a seasoned ‘Man in Black’ like myself. I must say I had to guide Breesey through the tougher aspects of the shoot. He had trouble in particular trying to perfect the slight head-tilt, necessary to create the aura of such a brave world-saving hero. It took time, but we got through it in the end, and now the results are on display for all to see. ‘Men in Black II – Back in Black.’ Should you find yourself wandering through Newcastle city centre, or perhaps if you use any form of North-East public transport, then you may just notice us, two of the most un-intimidating cricketers imaginable, staring at you smouldering with intent. Don’t be scared.
For the mean time its back to my day job – the somewhat mundane matter of county cricket will make do for now, but I expect the job offers and castings to flood in due course.
On the pitch, the early season gripes about rain and no form seem to have disappeared for the time being. A few sunny days followed by a few runs in the second team, and all things seem rosy again. Cricket is an amazing game – the ups and downs can go from the richly rewarding to the excruciatingly frustrating. As a team, we are through to the quarter finals of the Friends Provident Trophy, after two victories over Bank Holiday weekend. We are defending champions of course, and a mouth-watering tie at home to Nottinghamshire next Wednesday is looming large on the horizon.
All that and then the explosive Twenty20 arrives in town. I believe we are running out to field to AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black’. You’ve got to hand it to our marketing department!
Comments
Posted by: Rejoy at May 30, 2008 7:31 PM
Fun read :) Really enjoyed it! Good luck with your day job! You're in my fantasy team :) Now THAT is pressure :)
Posted by: Ahmer Khan at May 30, 2008 7:42 PM
Boy! You look cooler than the other Smith did in the movie! Way to go!
Posted by: Andrew Graham at May 31, 2008 11:56 AM
Will,
For this year's T20, please try to remember to leave the reverse sweep in your locker. 2 reverse sweeps and a dozy run out cost us victory against Lancs and with it, any hope of progressing.
Good luck for this year and congratulations on the form that you have shown so far. Keep it up!
Posted by: Richard Driver at June 2, 2008 6:20 PM
Excellent read and excellent knock against Sussex. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Susie Mudd at June 3, 2008 8:52 PM
enjoyed the article. we did laugh too when we saw the posters up at Riverside. Breesy can almost look menacing in his 'sunnies' but um perhaps not your boyish looks! still keep up the good form esp tomorrow as weve taken a day off work to come and watch 1/4 final. no pressure!
Posted by: SixSixEight at June 3, 2008 9:21 PM
Just a fantatic century at Hove, Will, well done! And long may it continue!
I read somewhere that Durham are the worst twenty20 team? Perhaps I’ll come up to Riverside and find out if its true?
I think the men in black thing has been done well. Pretty cool for cricket too. If I had my way Durham would meet Middlesex in the final – the teams with the best strips really should go all the way!
Good Luck and best wishes.
Posted by: Anon at June 4, 2008 3:01 PM
I particularly like your comment regarding this 'ex' friend of yours. I, like you, am no longer friends with this bloke... unfortunately I still have to live with him. Lovely work on the article and of course the form of late. Keep it up. PS. you are most definitely not in my fancy league team, well at least you wouldn't be if I bothered to have one.
Posted by: Kevin Martin at June 4, 2008 7:45 PM
Just as long as you dont end up as Will Smith "The Prince of the Fresh Air Shot". Looking forward to our annual Lords Final.
Posted by: Mike Robson at June 5, 2008 12:29 PM
I enjoyed the posters on a recent visit to the Riverside.
Well done to Will on his early season form. The same cannot be said of Neil McKenzie who must be our worst overseas signing ever.
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The Contributors
James Foster was still a student for Durham University when he was called up to the England A squad in 2000-01, before progressing to full
international honours the following winter. However, he broke his arm in the nets early in the 2002 season which allowed Alec Stewart back into the side and he has played just one further Test, at Melbourne in 2002-03. But two strong seasons have put him back in the frame and he was part of the England Lions squad during the 2007-08 winter tour to India. He was appointed
Essex's vice captain in 2007.
Nick Compton, grandson of the legendary Denis, was raised in South Africa before moving to Harrow as a teenager. Like many young South Africans, he excelled at handball sports and, although he took some time to
cement his place, he's been a consistent and elegant batsman at the
top of the order for Middlesex ever since. This winter, instead of
spending it in the gym, he and Graham Napier trekked in the foothills
of Mount Everest to stage the world's highest ever cricket match.
Will Smith was 22 when he sparked Nottinghamshire's interest with a fine 156 for Durham Universities in 2005, and it was enough to earn him a
contract and three games with the county in their Championship-winning
season. A strong opening batsman, he had to wait until 2006 to hit his
maiden first-class hundred following a winter in which he had double
hernia and shoulder operations. He joined Durham in 2007 and has a
range of curious nicknames: Posh Kid, Smudge and Jiggy.
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