Please look after this Irani

Grey clouds over Chelmsford today as Ronnie Irani, the captain who was for a spell the best all-rounder in the country, announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season. He popped up into the press box to share some final thoughts, including this story about his first day at Essex, having joined as a 22 -year-old from Lancashire in 1994:

"I had no idea where Essex was - I just knew it was somewhere near London - but it took me three trains and two buses to get to Chelmsford. These days parents would drive their kids the length of the country to get them a new job, but I set off from Bolton with five bags on my shoulders and no idea where I was going. Naturally, the train I was on derailed at Sheffield, so we had to get taken by bus to Nottingham, where I got a train to London, but it didn't come in at Euston, as I'd planned.

"I had no clue where I was so I called the county and said 'I'm lost but I think I'm at somewhere called St Pancreas' (I'd done a bit of science at school so I recognised the word Pancreas). Eventually they were able to get me to understand how to use the Tube across London to get to Liverpool Street for the train to Chelmsford. I arrived saddled down with luggage, like Paddington Bear, but full of hope."

Farewell, Ronnie. It's been fun having you.

Comments

[Humphrey B Bear]

From one big bear to another....

All the best in retirement Ronnie...definitely one of the good guys.

The game in Pomland needs blokes like Ronnie who play with an obvious joy in their heart.

We didn't see a lot of him in Australia, but he'll be missed in the game nonetheless.