![\"\"](\"https:\/\/petermc.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/waughposter2-766x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBack in the ’90s, there was a monthly cricket magazine published in Australia, called “Inside Edge”, which as of the time of writing, doesn’t even have a wikipedia page.<\/p>\n
In the middle of the magazine was always a double sided poster, each side featuring a picture of a player. Below we see an example, chosen for inclusion here because of the accompanying poem (which certainly was a one-off)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I don’t know which issue this poster came from. Steve Waugh hit the Mercantile Mutual Cup sign on 22 October 1995 (video (youtube)<\/a>, scoreboard (cricinfo)<\/a>), and the only other reference I can find for the poem is this Barker College magazine (pdf)<\/a>, dated April 1996, which puts bounds on when the poster was released. Perhaps some kind reader will know the exact issue, or I will stumble across my archive of Inside Edge magazines and update this post.<\/p>\n I now include the text of the poem.<\/p>\n \nIn Perth, the WACA Cricket Ground It was here that Garth McKenzie The Mercantile Insurance Co. Big hitters round the wide brown land The WACA’s not an easy ground, This day the Western Warriors He took his guard and settled in, Tom Moody bowled to keep it tight The crowd’s cheers rent the western skies, All the rest was anti-climax, Back in the rowdy locker room And when the World’s Great Umpire gives Neil Marks<\/p><\/blockquote>\n For more cricket poetry, you might want to learn about How McDougall Topped the Score<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back in the ’90s, there was a monthly cricket magazine published in Australia, called “Inside Edge”, which as of the time of writing, doesn’t even have a wikipedia page. In the middle of the magazine was always a double sided … Continue reading
\nHas seen great feats unfurled,
\nAnd all those famous cricket deeds
\nAre known throughout the world.
\nGreg Chappell made his maiden ton
\nAnd Lockie showed his tricks,
\nThe Windies fell to brave Mery Hughes
\nAnd Douggie hit that six.<\/p>\n
\nFirst bowled himself to fame,
\nWhere the mighty Dennis Lillee
\nFirst learned to play the game.
\nThough their deeds will last forever,
\nThe greatest deed, for mine,
\nWas a day in late October
\nWhen Tugga hit the sign.<\/p>\n
\nHad offered lots of cash
\nTo hit a little piece of tin,
\nSo all would have a bash,
\nAround Australia’s major grounds
\nFrom straight hit down to fine,
\nIn eight strategic places stood
\nA little painted sign.<\/p>\n
\nHad tried to no avail,
\nJones, Ponting, Bevan, Border, Boon
\nShowed even champs can fail.
\nFor two years unsuccessfully
\nMen slogged for all they’re worth
\nBut never hit a bloody sign
\nUntil that day in Perth.<\/p>\n
\nOn which to score a win,
\nBut let me state it’s harder still
\nTo hit a piece of tin.
\nThe ground is fast and long and wide,
\n(I saw one hit score nine),
\nYou’d give long odds to Bradman that
\nHe couldn’t hit a sign.<\/p>\n
\nWere playing men in blue,
\nAnd Joey Angel made the break,
\nKnocked Slater’s stumps askew.
\nThen from the darkened locker room,
\nWith countenance benign,
\nOut strode the great Steve (Tugga) Waugh,
\nHis eyes fixed on the sign.<\/p>\n
\nFor Reid was bowling well,
\nAnd with his nose down on the pitch
\nSurvived a hostile spell.
\nWaugh then unleashed his finest shots,
\nStill playing down the line,
\nHe smashed the ball all round the field,
\nBut nowhere near the sign.<\/p>\n
\nAnd sent a slow one in,
\nBut Tugga saw it quickly and
\nHe aimed it at the tin.
\nThe clouds stood still, the strong wind dropped,
\nThe sun began to shine.
\nThe ball flew like a tracer shell
\nAnd crashed against the sign.<\/p>\n
\nThe Blues let out a roar,
\n(No doubt the greatest hitting since
\nMcDougall topped the score).
\nTug’ clenched his fist and held it high,
\nEmotion to the fore,
\nNot much for ‘Slats’ or ‘Mo’ perhaps,
\nBut quite a lot for Waugh.<\/p>\n
\nOf that there is no doubt.
\nSoon after Waugh’s dramatic hit,
\nYoung Stewart got him out
\nThe skipper seemed quite happy, though
\nwith Tayls’ it’s hard to tell.
\nBut he asked the ump a Question:
\n“Did we win the game as well?” <\/p>\n
\nWe quaffed the beer and wine,
\nAnd we raised our glass to Tugga \u2014
\nOur mate who hit the sign.
\nStill it makes you stop and wonder
\nWhy Destiny’s design,
\nMade sure the greatest player was
\nThe first to hit the sign.<\/p>\n
\nThis faithful servant out,
\nI’ll journey to Elysian Fields
\nWith not a care or doubt.
\nFor I have seen the champions play
\nThis golden game divine,
\nAnd was watching at the WACA
\nWhen Tugga hit the sign.<\/p>\n