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Any mentions of the game of cricket in the James Bond Novels and Films?
Dragonpol
https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
This thread is exactly what it says on the tin: Are there any mentions of the game of cricket made in Ian Fleming's James Bond novels and short stories or in the films? I know that tennis, golf etc. are mentioned, but what about cricket?
If not, are there any mentions of the game of cricket in the continuations of Amis, Gardner, Benson, Faulks, Deaver et al?
If not, are there any mentions of the game of cricket in the continuations of Amis, Gardner, Benson, Faulks, Deaver et al?
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According to John Griswold's Annotations and Chronologies for Ian Fleming's Bond Stories (link here) there is a reference to the Kent Cricket Grounds in The Spy Who Loved Me, as well as Lord's Cricket Grounds. Lord's Cricket Grounds is also apparently referenced in Moonraker. The pages of the chronology this is included on can be viewed here.
Upon further research, an Ian Fleming is recorded to have played a cricket match at Lord's Cricket Grounds, St. Johns Wood on three occasions, cited here. It would appear this Ian Fleming was not indeed our famed writer. I can't be sure, but here is the bio of another Ian Fleming cricketer.
Matthew Fleming, nephew to our famous Ian, was a cricketer representing Kent (and was once Captain) and England. His wiki can be viewed here.
That was just with a few quick google searches. Frankly I'm not too interested to do any further research, but I hope I helped with some project of yours!
Yes, I've a lot written of a paper called 'James Bond versus The Laws of Cricket' on the early critical reception of the original Fleming Bond novels and the early Connery Bond films. I've been working on the idea on and off since June 2010 but I really want to publish it on the blog later on in the year or on the MI6 Community Main Page as there was interest from that quarter.
Not a problem at all. Before your post, I only knew of the CR PTS reference. Also I've updated a few things up there, in case you've yet to notice in my original post.
Happy writing.
Thank you so much - yes there was an Ian Fleming (also born in 1908) who was a cricketer - I had a thread on this topic on CBn in 2012 when I was still a member there and some of this turned up then, but I wanted a fresh set of eyes on the subject and I saw it had never been discussed on the community before so it was ripe for a new thread. I appreciate your research.
Yes, I was Silhouette Man over there at CBn between 10 May 2002 and 17 November 2012. Were you a member over there, @Birdleson?
Oh, I see. I used to post for many years under that name of Silhouette Man, but no longer sadly.
There are comparisons to the size of a cricket ball. In Octopussy, after Smyth is stung by the fish, he sees a patch of skin the size of a cricket ball swelling up. In TPOAL, the jeweled egg is compared to the size of a cricket ball.
In Dr No, Bond, Quarrel and Honey each get a "cricket ball of bread."
In OHMSS as Bond is skiing away from Blofeld, he compares a distance as about "a cricket pitch away."
In FRWL, General Vozdvishensky says that the British are not intereste in heroes unless they are footballers, or cricketers or jockeys.
In TSWLM, Derek is in the cricket eleven and plays a lot of cricket and tennis.
In MR, mention is made of Jack Hobbs who was considered the greatest cricketer in England.
In YOLT there is this exchange between Bond and Tiger:
<blockquote>'Don't I know it!' said Bond from the heart. 'Some of our chaps wear a box when they think they're in for a rough house. I don't care for them. Too uncomfortable.'
'What is a box?'
'It is what our cricketers wear to protect those parts when they go out to bat. It is a light padded shield of aluminium.'
'I regret that we have nothing of that nature. We do not play cricket in Japan. Only baseball.'
'Lucky for you you weren't occupied by the British,' commented Bond. 'Cricket is a much more difficult and skilful game.'
'The Americans say otherwise.'
'Naturally. They want to sell you baseball equipment.'</blockquote>
Hope that helps.
:D
Yes, I was just watching that scene last night as I've been pondering OP of late. Thanks, @WillyGalore!
Thanks you for that, @patb. I think that the MCC gets a mention in Sebastian Faulks' Devil May Care (2008) as well.
An interesting idea of yours there for a Bond film or continuation novel. There was the cricket match cut from the 2006 Casino Royale film PTS too of course.
Is that how it was called in Russia ?
No, it's my damn smartphone thinking it's being helpful again. Apologies!
I don't think I'll use mine to post here again either much. The trusty old PC at home is hard to beat!
No Time to Die but always time to score: James Bond and his cricketing connection:
https://cricmash.com/cricket-and-literature/no-time-to-die-but-always-time-to-score-james-bond-and-his-cricketing-connections
And to add: a cricket match is briefly seen in NTTD, after Bond leaves his place, and just before meeting up with Felix and "the blond"...
Well there's the character Cricket in James Bond Jr, employed by The Slug. Just saying.
More seriously there's the (deleted) cricket scene in CR. And cricket club restroom fight scene.