By Ged
June 11 2008
The Stanford Super Series is upon us. Many new readers appear (welcome to you all), and there is no time to explain every strange nickname and glib term used on MTWD in the rapid pressure-cooker that is Twenty20 match reporting. So here, updated and enhanced, is our handy glossary of MTWD terms.
The Stanford Super Series is upon us. Many new readers appear (welcome to you all), and there is no time to explain every strange nickname and glib term used on MTWD*.
So here is your “cut out and keep”** glossary of MTWD technical terms.
We hope that readers will use this discussion topic to chime in with their own examples of Nicknames and MTWD terms, thus helping this glossary to evolve and be maintained.
Nickname or Glib Term | Actual name orReal Term | Explanation |
A.C. | Dawid Malan | A pun on the name of an Italian Football team. We’d prefer to go for “Inter”, but apparently that is reserved for Dawid’s brother. A.C. should not be confused with Ace (See “Ace”); that would never do. There’s only one Ace. |
Ace | Owais Shah | So called because his first name is properly pronounced o-ace. Also, of course, because he is absolutely Ace. |
ASBO | Danny Evans | Presumably based on the London-centric view that anyone who originates from the North-East has a propensity to present behavioural challenges. Also known as the Hartlepool Happmer |
Bard, The | Ed Smith | Ed is a bit of a writer in his spare time – see also “Shakespeare” |
Big Al | Alan Richardson | He’s big and he’s named Al. MTWD urgently needs a more original nickname for this Middlesex star. See also “Richo” |
Billy-the-Kid | Billy Godleman | One of the youngest players to break through to a regular 1st team place, this young man has a great future ahead of him. His nickname will start to look worn after very few years, though |
Blacksmith, The | Tyron Henderson | A reference to his rustic style of batting. See also “Typhoon” |
Brockett | Andrew Strauss | So-called after his (allegedly) vocal resemblance to Lord Brockett. Also sometimes just “Lord”. |
Captain, The | Eoin Morgan | Bright young talent of the Middlesex side. Nickname derives from a well-known brand of rum, “Captain Morgan”. |
Cyclone, The | Dirk Nannes | A reference to his style of bowling, perhaps. Out of fashion nickname due to recent natural disasters. See also “Diggler, The” |
Dial M | Tim Murtagh | Based on the famous 1954 movie “Dial M for Murder”. Puns on this word “murder” for “Murtagh” get a bit tired after a while, but that’s no reason to stop using them |
Dirk Diggler | Dirk Nannes | Named after the character “Dirk Diggler” (or “Dirk the Diggler” from the 1997 movie Boogie Nights. Sometimes just "The Diggler". Now back with Victoria, from whence he presumably plans to bushwacker Middlesex in Mumbai. |
Disgrace | Neil Carter | So-named by Kevin Pietersen, who thinks that it is a disgrace that Middlesex are allowed to borrow and hire players from other counties, while England, of course, are merely able to select whomsoever they like, such as, er, our Ace. |
England’s #1 | Ben Scott | Due to the exceptional quality of his wicket-keeping. Sometimes known as “Superbat” for less direct reasons. His batting in 2008 was almost as good as his excellent keeping, however…… |
Estate Agent, The | Dan Housego | Do we have to explain everything? Also perhaps “Mastermind” or “Fred” for old-fashioned nicknamers. |
Freedom Pass | Shaun Udal | A veteran signing and what a great signing it has turned out to be, Tim “Dial M” Murtagh was heard hollering “come on Free Bus Pass” at this player in June 2008. Of course, that shows Tim’s age too, as this pensioner essential has been called the “Freedom Pass” for years. |
G | Billy Godleman | Sometimes just the first letter of his surname is used, sometimes the first three letters. |
Get | Neil Carter | After the movie, "Get Carter". See also "Disgrace" above. |
Geyser, The | Adam London | As in “he’s a real cockney geyser”. See also “Streets Of” |
Iceman, The | Gareth Berg | Derived from the term “iceberg” and inducing useful headlines such as “The Iceman Cometh” and “Iceberg hits Titanic” |
Joycey | Ed Joyce | Not very original, apparently also known as “Piece” and “Spud”. See also “Portrait” |
Knocker | David Nash | David Nash famously explained in an MTWD interview why he acquired this nickname – some people suggested that we edit the interview but within hours the piece had been syndicated everywhere. Anyone who knows how to Google properly can find the answer for themselves |
OBE | Andrew Strauss | Batsmen who go off to play for England often acquire this nickname, “Only Bat’s for England”, even if, as in Strauss’s case, the facts to not even faintly fit the nickname. Shame on you if you use this one. |
Piece | Ed Joyce | According to Cricketer’s Who’s Who (via Janet) – if someone can explain the reason behind this name we’ll all be grateful. See also “Spud” and “Joycey” |
Portrait | Ed Joyce | The most popular of several James Joyce related suggestions, others include “The Artist”, “Ulysses” and “Nora Barnacle”. See also “Spud”, “Piece” and “Joycey”. |
Rent, The | Eoin Morgan | More often known as “The Captain” (see “Captain, The”) |
Richo | Alan Richardson | MTWD urgently needs a more original nickname for this Middlesex star – See also “Big Al” |
Scooby | Ben Scott | As Shaggy's side kick and given his somewhat canine manner, this nickname works much better than the crass "Scotty" which preceded it. See also “England’s #1” |
Shaggy | Shaun Udal | So called, because he allegedly looks like the cartoon character of that name from Scooby Doo. A veteran signing and what a great signing it has turned out to be, we suspect he acquired this nickname when he was a little bit younger. Currently the Skipper (that's what he is, not his nickname). See also “Free Bus Pass” and “Freedom Pass” |
Shakespeare | Ed Smith | The Middlesex Captain is a bit of a writer in his spare time – see also “Bard, The” |
Shorty | Steve Finn | All six-foot-eight-inches of him (or six-foot-five inches depending on which expert you believe). One of our young stars in the making. |
Sick Note | Any bowler who shows signs of being injury prone | The use of this nickname usually triggers an e-mail from the club management to Ged asking him to moderate references to players’ health and fitness – so please try not to use it in writing |
Silvers | Chris Silverwood | MTWD urgently needs a more original nickname for this Middlesex star – please submit suggestions |
Special One, The | Murali Kartik | A combination of “Special K” (a well-known breakfast cereal) and the nickname of a famous Portuguese football manager. Also known as “TSO” and , in India, “The Trickster”. |
Streets Of | Adam London | Based on a dirge originally sung well by Ralph McTell and subsequently sung terribly badly by inebriated students and do-gooders throughout the land. |
Take That | Robbie Williams | You may also use the name of any appropriate Robbie Williams song of your choosing – post your best suggestions on this thread please! |
Ted | Neil Dexter | Not the most original idea, but there you go. I prefer "Uni", in memory of the great Peter Cook sketch about the unidexter who applies for the role of Tarzan. Other suggestions include "ambi" and "sinister". |
Typhoon | Tyron Henderson | A reference to his style of bowling, perhaps. Out of fashion nickname due to recent natural disasters. See also “Blacksmith, The” |
* MTWD – Middlesex Till We Die, the name of the website you are reading.
** Cut Out and Keep – a 20th century term for a published piece about sport ahead of a major event; less experienced readers should not try to cut out any part of their computer equipment – your parents or partners might get upset. A better modern idiom might be “print out and keep”, but we're old school round here.
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Quote:Janet Davis
Richo is obsessional about Stoke FC.
How about 'Stoker' ?
Quote:BarmierKev
Housego- How about Fred or Mastermind. Remember that boffin taxi driver?
And chant House We Go , House we go, etc.
Quote:You wouldn't be alluding to his unfortunate habit of cocking his leg behind the pavilion perchance?Ged
Yup, good one HR. Not only appropriate in the specific batting circumstances but also there is something canine about Ben Scott's manner that makes "Scooby" fit really well