Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10

Cricket is all when it comes to some people’s lives and it is with little wonder when you consider that at one time the game, especially the Test arena, was seen by millions of people across British summer’s on the B.B.C. as a right and not as is now the case a preserve for those who are able to take, or even wish to procure, Sky Television’s Shilling.

Cricket arguably produces more characters, more stories and anecdotes than any of the other sports currently vying for attention on the back pages of Britain’s excellent newspapers or tabloid sensationalism. So it was with great timing, Yorkshire having completed back to back County Championship success and England taking the Australians on once more in pitch battle as The Ashes were restored to their rightful place that Geoffrey Boycott O.B.E. and Jonathan Agnew took on the fast wicket of the Philharmonic Hall for An evening with Boycott & Aggers (The Second Innings.)

If Jonathan Agnew is rightly seen as the voice of cricket, then Mr. Boycott is its wonderfully outspoken but never anything but honest heart and it was this superb combination that gave the Philharmonic Hall audience a night out to rival anything else on in the city.

If the evening was filled with laughter, then the sadness was even more poignant as both Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott remembered the life of former Yorkshire, Somerset and England Captain Brian Close who had unhappily passed away a couple of days before. It was a life, as always with anyone who has made such an impact on the game, that was worth remembering with absolute fondness and the short clip of him facing up bravely to the West Indian attack, which was, at the time noted for being more like war than cricket, without any type of protection at all, was is one of the all-time great innings by an England batsman and the sadness on Mr. Boycott’s face as he looked on to his early mentor in the game said it all.

This though was a night at the Philharmonic built for anecdotes galore and righteous opinions and in the space of just over two hours, the cricketing fans in the audience were treated to more googlies being bowled by the perfect foil but gentlemanly Jonathan Agnew and the straight bat, shoulders out of Mr. Boycott than could ever be asked for in a single day’s cricket being reported on the radio.

Mr. Boycott and Mr. Agnew’s partnership at the crease was entertaining, full throttle, handled with a sense of keenness and deft control and was never once found to be slowing down towards a predictable draw. This is Geoffrey Boycott doing what he does best, his wonderful no-nonsense approach, his absolute love of the sport, his own battle with cancer, all had an opinion and all was greeted by the Philharmonic audience with great valour and abundant charm. As evenings of sport go, this was perhaps one of the finest knocks of them all.

Ian D. Hall