Nelson
When a cricket team reaches a score of 111, cuddly umpire David Shepherd skips about on one leg until the score changes. This is because the score has reached a 'Nelson', not the little irritating 'haha' chap in the Simpsons...but originally from bankers in pre-decimal days who coined (pun intended) the phrase for an amount of one pound, one shilling and one pence. But why Nelson I hear you cry? There are two offerings I have found for this - firstly that Nelson had one eye, one arm and one leg and a second, that he was victorious in three battles - won- won- won (much like the Arsenal of late with just a small glitch at Bolton). Whichever of those two offerings you choose to accept...it is considered most unlucky. Jolly old Umpire Shepherd, like most cricket fans, believes the score to be unlucky and so skips about on one leg until it changes to avoid the bad luck transferring to the batsman. What a nice chap. You can stop skipping now Mr Shepherd - this is blog entry 112 :)

Comments
Australian cricketers think 87 is an unlucky number. However, in the 645 test matches played by Australia (up to March 2004) only 11 players have been out for a score of 87. Hardy unlucky eh?
Perhaps they got better when they stopped hopping about on one foot at the crease!
Posted by: Ryan | September 29, 2004 1:54 PM
Thanks for that Ryan - did you know that or did you look it up? ;)
Posted by: Kary | October 1, 2004 11:06 PM