Having a ball

The Australian media is hot on the heels of the scoundrel who made off with a cricket ball at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart a couple of weeks ago. Not just any ball, but the one that Adam Gilchrist hit for his 100th Test six, 12 more than the next best man (Lara).

A spectator got a picture of the man running away after picking up the ball and the papers have tracked him down to a Melbourne hospital. Apparently, his name is "John". Well, John, should you be reading this blog, don't be a pillock, give it back so that Gilchrist can put it on his mantlepiece next to his World Cup medals. Unlike in baseball, there is neither tradition nor any rule allowing spectators who gather a ball that has been hit for six to keep it. The ball still belongs to Cricket Australia and they want it back.

John has a chance to be the bigger man, to give the ball back, shake the hand of a great Australian cricketer and show that he is not a dill. Otherwise perhaps Gilchrist should send Roy Symonds and some of his pig-hunting buddies round to talk some sense into him.