Thursday 21 May 2009

JM96*


That's Johnny Miller 96 Not Out to you son!

Born in Eastbourne, under the manic gaze of David 'Billy' Cotton. Initially just a cut and paste job, with the infamous "Best thing to come out of Eastbourne since the A22" strapline. It soon spread the length and breadth of cricketing Britain, standing firm against the reactionary cricket press. At one time it sold more copies per month than Wisden Cricket monthly and The Cricketer. The home for a more irreverent style of cricket journalism, which fairly soon migrated over to the broadsheets. Tim de Lisle, Gideon Haigh, Matthew Loukes, Alastair Maclellan and Andy Franks all contributed regular pieces for JM96*.

Banned from a number of county shops (Well Essex and Yorkshire at least), JM96*'s final hour was undoubtedly the Devon Malcolm cover which featured the White Ignorant Stupid Despicable Evil Nazis cover line as commentary on the Henderson/Wisden Cricket Monthly race case that had just been settled.

JM96* was years ahead of it's time, they were the champions of two divisional county cricket, increased number of overseas players and 20/20 cricket. Sometimes controversial, often funny and always passionate about cricket. Johnny Miller was the home for all who loved the game, sometimes played it but were amused and annoyed at the same time about the pomposity of the county commitees.

Sadly JM96* faded away under new ownership and a new banner 'Inside Edge'. However, there are still pockets of resistance and the spirit of Johnny lives on in the Barmy Army, Monty Panesar and of course The Jardine Report! So, do feel free to chip in anytime...

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