CRICKIPEDIA
The alternative compendium of cricket
Words James Wallace
Elton
It’s no secret that Elton John loves his sport. The rugtopped ivory-tinkler had stints as chairman and owner of Watford FC during his most hedonistic years and credits the club with keeping him grounded when his life was at its most turbulent, which sounds a bit like a backhanded compliment. Elton is also a keen cricket fan and enjoyed showing the likes of Botham, Gower and, err, Bill Athey a debauched time on southern hemisphere tours in the 80s, often organising his own touring schedule around England’s so that he could follow the team. His Greatest Hits Vol II furthered his cricket credentials, the LP cover featuring Elton in full whites standing proudly in front of a set of stumps and backlit by moonlight. The singer might be used to the sun going down on him but any umpire worth his salt would have whipped off the bails long before the appearance of a crescent moon.