No runs, so they went for Bruns…..
Even for dyed in the wool English cricket fans, several hours of rain sodden non-cricket at Edgbaston at the England vs Australia Ashes proved terminally boring.
Somehow the on-line conversation turned to Caroline of Brunswick, wife of George IV of the United Kingdom from 1795, and his queen consort from 29 January 1820 until her death.
Understandable, if you think Cricket is boring, you should try watching no cricket in the pouring rain.
Apparently, Caroline of Brunswick’s name suddenly came up in the Test Match Special Blog inbox, with readers and contributors associating her name to the sport and it went on from there. The topic on Caroline of Brunswick shifted from the historical to hoax to nonsense in no time.
Nonsense turned to mischief, and the game became to change poor Caroline’s Wikipedia entry and associate her with nonsensical cricketing facts.
From Nick of Streatham, TMS inbox: “The ongoing mischief in dear Caroline’s wiki entry is a new sport in itself. As fast as TMS readers add previously unknown biographical facts, some killjoy is changing them back. Best so far and already lost to history – “She famously participated in the inaugural Ashes cricket match between England and the Australian colony of Botany Bay in 1793″ and “Known for introducing the earliest form of the duckworh-lewis method in cricket, using bones and rope.” Suggestions that she had “a face that would frighten a Police horse” have been reported as vandalism – I think the moderator is losing his patience….
Can’t see what objection wikipedia had to the following: ‘The marriage was further troubled by vicious quarrels over the relative benefits of numerous sporting competitors. Caroline was a devotee of Lord Graham of Onions, a hard-working but unspectacular “bouler” who achieved an uninspiring mediocrity in the world of international test croquet. However George had a bit of a thing for Stephen, Duke of Harmison-upon-Tyne, and was once heard to exclaim loudly over dinner “But he can hit 95 miles an hour and he has the aggression, you trout-faced woman!’”
In fairness, the moderator didn’t lose his patience, and eventually appeared in person on the cricketing blog…..
From Sean of Wiki, TMS inbox: “As ‘History Editor’ I was having such a peaceful day at the keyboard, making one or two fine adjustments to the odd inaccuracies that occur from time to time on Wiki, when what can only be described as a ‘gulley’ of cricket hooligans invaded our Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel web page. Now, you lot might find this highly amusing but I’ve traced the source and have your ‘number’. I’m watching you…”
By the end of non-play, Caroline had the distinction of being the 5th most popular searched item on Google……
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1
July 30, 2009 at 8:32 pm -
It is silly week after all.
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2
July 30, 2009 at 8:40 pm -
Wiki can be manipulated! Whatever next!
Don’t you mean the fifth most popular searched item on Googly!
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3
July 30, 2009 at 8:44 pm -
The Silly Mid Off season…..
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4
July 30, 2009 at 9:31 pm -
I was there on the board all day and feel somewhat responsible for getting that kicked off. Was very funny I thought. Never nice having your IP number dangling in the ether.
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5
July 30, 2009 at 9:53 pm -
I blame the Aussies – they will do anything to win a test match!
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