Last week of holidays for many of the children. Quite a few mums with their kids. A few adults. And me, taking this panorama.
What don't you see the kids doing? (admittedly it's late August in my not-quite-local park, set in one of the more diverse parts of London Town)
Look at the movie. And try to see into it if you're able.
Can you tell what it is yet?
That's it...
...they're not playing cricket. I walked almost the entire length of the park. Up past the café and past the back of said café where the adults were playing tennis. Up to the top of the park where the woodland copse is. People running. Jogging. Walking their babies in buggies and pushchairs. Walking back down around the outside, seeing a man lying down on the corner. The still small voice says leave well alone. I do so reluctantly. I go back into the park and look around and recognise that we are still in summer, albeit at the tail-end of August.
Loads of kids - mostly boys - playing football, in big and small groups. Some with adults, many more on their own.
A warmish, dull day. Ground firm. Not too dry.
I personally did not see one child (or adult for that matter) playing cricket.
No-one noticed. It hit me hard as I was recodring this snapshot of time. Lots of people in the park today - and not one person had a cricket bat or ball in his or her hand.
Will anyone mourn the loss of the game's profile in four or five years' time when the bidding for 2014-2017 gets underway?
Will anyone out there give a ƒ*¢% ?