Welcome to Twenty Two Yards, a newsletter celebrating cricket's biggest moments

In this issue:

• Exclusive interview with Marais Erasmus

• The Taliban’s attempt at cricket

• Cracks in the Indian Team

Exit Interview: Marais Erasmus

By Ollie Goodwin

Marais Erasmus. Social media sensation, king of the middle, 'rock 'n roll' review star. In a world where officials are often maligned by the rest of their sporting peers—he's still got a cult hero status. Accounts in his honour are constantly popping up online. From rumours he's friends with Taylor Swift to leading the England football team, the memes and stories are hilarious and infused with creativity. The crowning moment was between himself and Pakistan star Babar Azam, who recreated a viral photograph of the two from days before. An icon in his own right. 

"You know, I'm on no social media. There are a few fake accounts on Facebook that the ICC has managed to take down, and they just pop up again! People tell me about it. That's nice to hear, are they funny? I do remember having that photo taken with Babar Azam. I was standing in the background, and it looked like he's got a big belly, and then the next day, he said, 'Did you see the photo?' I said, Yeah. "And he said, 'Shall we do it again?'"

Aside from the occasional joke with Pakistani cricketing icons, umpires are forced to stand alone. Penguins, forever wandering their frozen tundra. Marais is universally recognisable as one of the best in the business. The ICC Umpire has taken charge on all the big occasions. From World Cup finals, Ashes matches, and IPL to winning the ICC Umpire of the Year for 2021. On a rainy afternoon in London, we called Marais to talk cricket while he kicked back in the South African sun. 

You've been there for nearly every big occasion in Cricket, from the Ashes to World Cup finals across multiple formats. What's it like being in the middle of those big moments with all eyes on you, and how do you deal with the pressure? 

"I think you sometimes pinch yourself in these big moments. The 2019 World Cup final was an amazing game. And then in 2022, India versus Pakistan at the MCG, 91,000 people. I had made an important call on a high full toss. Afterwards, you think that was a big moment, but you must put that out of your mind. We are so focused, and we've got our own little routines. And if you stick to that, you'll make better calls. Not always. We're all humans. 

Umpires are judged on those moments. When you have to manage the game, when things reach boiling point. Unfortunately, umpiring and much officiating is a negative space, and when they do speak about us, it's because we've probably made an error. That's when you see who can manage that pressure and still perform his normal job. If you're around, as long as I have been controversial, things obviously will happen in your games, and how you get through it is important.

Iconic moments. You've had a first-hand view of some historical moments in cricket from just yards away and some ferocious bowling spells. Any that stand out? 

"I was a TV Umpire when Stuart Broad took his 8 for 15, so I wasn't on-field for that but still in the game. Mitchell Johnson. In that 2014/15 Ashes series. There was a period when he was bowling to Michael Carberry. He was a proper high-class batsman and it looked completely unplayable. He was awesome in that series because it was swinging at pace. 

I also was umpiring at a domestic game with a young Dale Steyn running in. I think he took eight wickets on my end, and it was 141/45 kmph swinging. It was a good batting lineup. But even when he was younger, he made it look like boys against men; it was scary. 

Nathan Lyon when he took over last year. Australia took eight wickets after tea to beat India. Adelaide looked like India was gonna chase it down. Then Virat (Kholi) got out for 100 odd, and Nathan took over. Those are special, but in the moment while it's happening, you just adjudicate afterwards you think, wow, that was special."

But all good things must come to an end. Thank you for the moments, Marais.

*Some quotes edited for clarity.

The Slip Corden

• Opium and Overs
  In Kabul, the Taliban. Yes, that Taliban is trying to turn Afghanistan into a cricketing powerhouse. Incredible reporting in the WaPo by Rick Noack, who quoted the younger brother of the Taliban's interior minister, Anas Haqqani, "If we hadn't waged a war, many of us would be on the national team now." 
  

• No Deal for Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan

  Surprisingly, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan were not offered annual contracts by the BCCI. The Hindustan Times reports they were denied due to not playing domestic cricket.

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Issue: Here’s to the Minnows
Publisher: J. LaLonde
Editor-At-Large: Angus Wilson
Contributing Writer: David Scipione
Contributing Writer: Ollie Goodwin
Illustration: Sidney Secolo