STICKY WICKETSKeep your cool, keep your powder dry

Take a pull but try not to get highDon’t get caught trying to hit the big shot

Wait for it, wait for it, take it slowWait for it, wait for it, let yourself go

Sticky wickets early in the morningSticky wickets last thing at night

Sticky wickets tossin’ and a-turnin’Sticky wickets stand up and fight

Show yourself, show them who’s the bossLose yourself but try not to get lost

It’s no good playing on the back footWait for it, wait for it, take it slow

Wait for it, wait ‘til it’s time to explode!

Sticky wickets early in the morningSticky wickets last thing at night

Sticky wickets tossin’ and a-turnin’Sticky wickets stand up and fight

Stand up and fight…

Sticky wickets early in the morningSticky wickets last thing at night

Sticky wickets tossin’ and a-turnin’Sticky wickets stand up and fight

Sticky wickets early in the morningSticky wickets last thing at night

Sticky wickets tossin’ and a-turnin’Sticky wickets stand up and fight

BOOM BOOM AFRIDIIf you wanna flash, flash hardIf you wanna flash, flash hardIf you wanna touch the starsIf you wanna flash, flash hard

Say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - AfridiEverybody say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - Afridi

If you wanna hear the crowdIf you wanna hear the crowdScreaming out your name so loudIf you wanna hear the crowd

Say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - AfridiEverybody say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - Afridi

“If you’re gonna flash, flash hard If you’re gonna flash, flash hardIf you’re gonna go, start the carIf you’re gonna flash, flash hardGo on…”

Everybody say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - AfridiEverybody say…Boom boom - AfridiBoom boom - the renegadeBoom boom - Afridi

IT’S JUST NOT CRICKETSgt.Yankee in his baseball cap

Throwing curveballs all over the mapIt’s not right, it’s not cricket!

Vlad the Impaler is taking off his shirt To wrestle with the riot girls down in the dirt

It’s not right, it’s not cricket!

All we’re really saying is it doesn’t really feel Like we’re all playing on a level playing field

It’s not right

“It’s just not cricket”

Bend over bank-man and take one for the teamA billion dollar bonus and a handshake from the queen

It’s not right, it’s not cricket!You’ve got a nerve to dedicate your victory to god

When all you’ve done is medicate your way back to the topIt’s not right, it’s not cricket!

All we’re really saying is it doesn’t really feelLike we’re all playing on a level playing field

It’s not right

“Well one thing it certainly isn’t is cricketYou simply can’t get away with that

It’s just not cricket”!

All we’re really saying is it doesn’t really feelLike we’re all playing on a level playing field

It’s not right

“You know it’s just not cricketNo, doesn’t work

My dear old thing, really you must pull yourself together!Calypso collapso

Dreadful…”

THE UMPIREI awake early morning, press my shirt, clean my shoesEgg and soldiers for my breakfast, kiss the wife, avoid the newsTake the wheel of my Escort, fifty five, middle laneWatch the Jags and the Ferraris leave me in their wake again

Who would aspire to be an umpire and who would be a referee?We’re only here to be sneered at, just a relic of yesteryearThere was a time when we were held high, but it’s not how it used to beThey only let us stick around so they’ve someone to kick aroundOne more relic of yesterday

Do you think they would miss me if I took a holiday?Spent the morning at the seaside, candyfloss, penny arcadeNo abuse, no indignation, no vitriol, no angry mobsNo high pressure situations, I’m just trying to do my job

Who would aspire to be an umpire and who would be a referee?We’re only here to be laughed at, just a relic of yesteryearThere was a time when we were held high, but now they’ve got technology Replaying every scene to prove that we are of no further useAnd sport is just a computer gameJust a relic of yesterday

THIRD MANBefore the captain calls to me I know where he’ll want me to be

I’ve dropped the ball too many times and out of sight is out of mindTo lessen my depression I spend session after session

In the decadent digression of a dream

Hey hey, whiling away the best part of the day down at third manHey hey, watching the play as I daydream away down at third man

I think I’ll spend a little time planning crimes like Harry LimeI’ll fantasise my enemies’ demise ‘til tea arrivesI could make a killing like the villain in the film

Selling Fleming’s penicillin to Vienna

Hey hey, whiling away the best part of the day down at third manHey hey, watching the play as I daydream away down at third man

“In the shadow of a doorway she is standing like a lost childAn old woman is screaming, the crowd’s becoming hostile

My thoughts have been diluted like a 2/6 novellaAm I in a field in England or in the dark streets of Vienna?”

Hey hey, whiling away the best part of the day down at third manHey hey, watching the play as I daydream away down at third man

Hey hey, whiling away the best part of the day down at third manHey hey, watching the play as I daydream away down at third man

CHIN MUSICInstrumental…

STICKY WICKETSThomas Walsh - Vocals/Drums/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Electric Guitar/SynthsTosh Flood - Electric GuitarNick Seymour - Bass Guitar Neil Finn – Additional vocals

BOOM BOOM AFRIDINeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Vox ContinentalThomas Walsh - Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals/ PercussionTosh Flood - Electric Guitar/SamplesNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - DrumsDavid Lloyd - Spoken Word

IT’S JUST NOT CRICKETThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/ Electric Guitar/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Slide GuitarTosh Flood - Electric Guitar/Backing Vocals/WhistlingNick Seymour - Bass Guitar/WhistlingTim Weller - Drums Henry Blofeld - Spoken WordBilly Cooper - TrumpetNelson Bragg - Additional percucssionThe Cavaliers - Shouts

THE UMPIRENeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Farfisa Organ/SynthsThomas Walsh - Backing Vocals/PercussionTosh Flood - Omnichord/Backing VocalsNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - Drums

THE THIRD MANThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/ Kazoosaphone/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Electric PianoTosh Flood - Electric GuitarNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - DrumsDaniel Radcliffe - Spoken Word

CHIN MUSICNeil Hannon - Zither/Melodica/HarpsichordThomas Walsh - Tenor Acoustic Guitar/PercussionTosh Flood - Electric Guitars/MandolinNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - Drums

OUT IN THE MIDDLEThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Electric PianoTosh Flood - Electric Guitars/Backing VocalsNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - Drums

LINE AND LENGTHNeil Hannon - Vocals/Synths/Programming/Electric GuitarThomas Walsh - Vocals/PercussionTosh Flood - Vocals/Electric GuitarNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - DrumsCathy Davey – Additional Vocals

THE LAUGHING CAVALIERSThe Theatrical Cavaliers - ChoirThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic GuitarNeil Hannon - Vocals/PianoTosh Flood - Electric Guitar/Banjo/Backing VocalsNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - DrumsBilly Cooper - Trumpet

JUDD’S PARADOXStephen Fry - Spoken WordThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Electric Guitar/ Banjo/ProgrammingCathy Davey - Backing VocalsTosh Flood - Backing VocalsNick Seymour - Bass GuitarTim Weller - Drums

MYSTERY MANThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/ Kazoosaphone/PercussionNeil Hannon - Vocals/Piano/Vox Continental/Electric Guitar Tosh Flood - Piano/Electric GuitarNick Seymour - Bass GuitarJoe Fitzgerald - DrumsMatt Berry – Spoken Word

NUDGING AND NURDLINGNeil Hannon Vocals/Piano/Synth/Electric Guitar/Banjo/PercussionThomas Walsh - Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/PercussionTosh Flood - Electric Guitars/PercussionNick Seymour - Bass Guitar/PercussionTim Weller - Drums

Significant Nudgers:Alexander Armstrong/Mark Ellen/Isy Suttie/ Chris Addison/Michael Penn/Kate Mossman/ Paul Putner/Phill Jupitus/Daniel Radcliffe/ Neil Finn/Joe Elliott/Tim Wheeler/Dave Gregory/ Andrew Harrison/Harmony Kennedy/David Hepworth/ Matt Berry/Tosh Flood/Barbara Charone/Dermot O’Leary/ Warren & Dean Kennedy/Graham Linehan/ Mark Krais & Chris Worsey/Simon Little & Andrew Skeet/ Matt Lunson/Billy Cooper/Andy Afford/Carl Barât/ David O’Doherty/Duckworth & Guy Massey & Lewis…

OUT IN THE MIDDLEYou can be high in societyYou can be top of your family treeBut have you got what it takes to be out in the middle?You can be blessed with a fine physiqueYou can impress every girl you meetBut have you got what it takes to be out in the middle?

And you can pray to any deity you likeI’m sure he’s got a lot of better things to do with his time

You can have a suit from Saville RowYou can have a yacht down in MonacoBut have you got what you need to go out in the middle?You can have money, you can have fameYou can have crowds calling out your nameBut you have only yourself to blame out in the middle

And you can pray to any deity you likeI’m sure he’s got a lot of better things to do with his timeWith his time

You can have an Oxbridge PHDYou can have a box at the MCCBut have you got what it takes to be out in the middle?You can be the last great pioneerYou can be the king of the wild frontierBut do you know how to face your fears out in the middle?

Out in the middle…

LINE AND LENGTHLine and length (put it in the blockhole)

Line and length Line and length (put it in the blockhole)

Li-Li-Li-Li-Line and length

The line of a delivery is the direction of its trajectory Measured in the horizontal axis

The line of a delivery is the direction of its trajectoryMeasured in the horizontal aaaaaxis!

Check your line and length (shoulda, woulda, coulda…)Check your line and length (shoulda, woulda, coulda…)

Line and length (put it in the blockhole)Line and length (pitch it up)

Line and length (put it in the blockhole)Li-Li-Li-Li-Line and length (pitch it up)

The length of a delivery is how far down the pitchTowards the batsman the ball bounces

The length of a delivery is how far down the pitchTowards the batsman the ball bbbbbounces!

(bounces, bounces, bounces…)

Check your line and length (shoulda, woulda, coulda…)Check your line and length (shoulda, woulda, coulda…)

Gotta get the ball where it oughta be in the corridor of uncertaintyGotta get that ball where it oughta be in the corridor of uncertainty

Line and length (put it in the blockhole)Line and length (pitch it up)

Line and length (put it in the blockhole)Li-Li-Li-Li-Line and length (pitch it up)

Ad lib C-C-C-C-Chorus to end

THE LAUGHING CAVALIERS(The Cavaliers are here, the Cavaliers are here)

Here we come, the Laughing CavaliersWinning grins pinned between our earsWe are happy fellows, very happy fellowsWe are free from misery as far as we can tell-oDo we have a dark side? Do we hell-o!

Say hello to the Laughing CavaliersSay goodbye to tan-ta-rums and tearsWe are always ready, permanently readyWhen the world is wobbling we’re stoic and we’re steadyThey will sing about us when we’re dead-y

The Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersThe Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersThe Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersWin or lose we’ll always have a beerThe Laughing Cavaliers

(…are here, the Cavaliers are here)

Rain stops play but never dampens spiritsThunder claps but Cavaliers don’t fear it‘Cause everything is better when we’re getting wetterPropping up the bar and pouring Guinness down our sweatersThen we’ll sing this noble song together

The Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersThe Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersThe Cavaliers – The Laughing CavaliersWin or lose we’ll always have a beerThe Laughing Cavaliers

Win or lose we’ll always have a beerThe Laughing Cavaliers

(…are here, the Cavaliers are here)NOW WE’RE NOT!

MYSTERY MANHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t pick himHe ain’t nobody’s foolHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t pick himHe doesn’t play by the rulesHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t read himHe’ll beat you every timeHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t read himYou never know what’s going on his mind

Wrist spin, top spin, leg spin, off spinIn-swinger, out-swinger Shake it all about swingerWhat’s it gonna be, aw-hawYorker, seamer, bouncer, beamerDoosra, slider, just can’t decide-erWhat’s it gonna be, aw-haw

He’s a mystery man, you just can’t pick himHe ain’t nobody’s foolHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t pick himHe doesn’t play by the rulesHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t read himHe’ll beat you every timeHe’s a mystery man, you just can’t read himYou’ll never know what’s going on his mind

Will it be a full toss or left arm orthodoxLeg break, off break, genuine or fakeWhat’s it gonna be, aw-hawFast ball, slow ball, arm ball, no ballOff cutter, in dipper, maybe slipping in the flipperWhat’s it gonna be, aw-haw

Wrist spin, top spin, leg spin, off spin, in-swinger, out-swinger, shake it all about swinger, yorker, seamer, bouncer, beamer, doosra, slider, just can’t decide-er, will it be a full toss or left arm orthodox, leg break, off break, genuine or fake, fast ball, slow ball, arm ball, no ball, off cutter, in dipper, maybe slipping in the flipper..!!

NUDGING AND NURDLINGNudging and nurdling…

We don’t want to be superstars‘Cause that’s not really who we are

We are nudging and nurdlingAnd nurdling and nudging

Not budging the whole day through

Nudging and nurdling…

We don’t want to be superstars‘Cause that’s not really who we are

We are nudging and nurdlingAnd nurdling and nudging

Not budging the whole day through.

Nudging and nurdling…

JUDD’S PARADOXSweet is the sound as leather bound the well timed willow strikes

Mild the applause that cheers the cause of the bat and the ball alikeSoft is the ground where can be found a young man sound asleep

And old is the game that shares its name with the insect at his feet

How could he know the lengths to which they’d goTo claim his soul for England and the Queen

How could it be colonial brains conceivedThat glorious game

It always seems to be the paradox

The bourgeoisie bat, the proletariat toil in the field all dayI should be incensed by what it represents

And yet it’s a damn good gameAnd although I hope that the peasants revolt

And cast off the yoke of oppressionPerhaps Europe’s millions can storm the pavilions

After the afternoon session

How could he know the lengths to which they’d goTo claim his soul for England and the Queen

How could it be colonial brains conceivedThat glorious game

It always seems to be the paradox…

All String Arrangements by Neil HannonConducted by Andrew SkeetViolins: Everton Nelson, Lucy Wilkins, Natalia Bonner, Alison Dods, Gillon Cameron, Emil Chakalov Violas: Bruce White, Reiad Chibah, Adrian Smith Celli: Chris Worsey, Ian Burdge, Frank SchaeferBasses: Simon Little, Mary ScullyStrings Contractor: Isobel GriffithsAssistant Strings Contractor: Lucy Whalley

Album Design by Brian Hickey at Emagine Media, www.emagine.ie Cover Star: Michael Angelow, captured by Derek Brind, Lords 1975 Zombie photography by Graham Keogh All other photography by Ben Meadows

Duckworth & Lewis would like to thank the following people…

Daddy Duckworth, Lewis’ Loved-Ones, Guy, Nick, Tim, Joey, Cathy, Andrew, The Cavs, Billy The Trumpet, Nelson Bragg, Julia Ewan, Bumble, Blowers, Matt Berry, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, Neil Finn, Phill Jupitus, all our nudgers and nurdlers... (we are not worthy!) Hester, Cecelia, Holly and Alison at Divine, Barbara Charone and all at MBC PR, Charlie Myatt and all at 13 Artists, Luke McGrellis, Will Downs, Gary Bhupsingh and all at Sony ATV, Wyn Grant, Jessica Lee Grant, Barry at The Madison, Rob Kirwan, Clive, Aileen, the 3 Gerry’s and all at Tower Records Dublin, Barry O’Donoghue and his students, Stephen O’Brien, Rathmines Chiropractic (sorry about the noise), Graham Keogh, Ben Meadows, Brian Hickey, Micky Kelleher, Steve, Heléna, John and all at PIAS, Neil Adams, Rich and all at Alan James PR, Mark Krais, Tom Roberts, Jo Crocker, Neil Fairbrother and Tracy Gaffey, Paul Curran, Neil O’Brien and Geoff Alun-Jones, Spencer Solomon, Marcia Gresham and Claire Comiskey, Alex Gold, David Hepworth and Andy Afford, Warren, Dean and the crew, and of course Frank Carter Duckworth MBE and Anthony John Lewis MBE.

Special thanks to Tosh and Natalie (without whom... etc)

Written and produced by Thomas Walsh and Neil HannonAll songs published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Managed by Natalie de Pace for Divine Management

Recorded in Exchequer Studios, Dublin Engineered by Guy Massey

Additional recording in Play School Studios, Dublin Engineered by Neil Hannon

Strings recorded in Snap Studios, London Engineered by Guy Massey, Assistant Engineering Ben McCluskey

Mixed by Guy Massey in Fluff Studios, London Assisted by Thomas Walsh and Neil Hannon

Mastered by Geoff Pesche in Abbey Road Studios, London

℗ & © 2013. The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Divine Comedy Records Limited. This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.

Cat No: DLM004IT

Sticky WicketsBoom Boom Afridi

It’s Just Not CricketThe Umpire

Third ManChin Music

Out In The MiddleLine And LengthThe Laughing CavaliersJudd’s ParadoxMystery ManNudging And Nurdling