Mourning for a tree

Very sad news. The ancient lime tree in the outfield at the St. Lawrence cricket ground at Canterbury (home of Kent CCC) has finally succumbed to heartwood fungus and a severe westerly gale (from The Telegraph). The tree had been growing for at least 40 years before the ground was first used for cricket (in 1847) so was around 200 years old. There were even special rules for the ground - nobody could be caught off a rebound from the tree, and it only counted as 4 if you hit the tree. Only three people in 158 years had managed to hit a ball over the tree (although several others claimed the accolade).

It was one of the most eccentric sights in cricket. Kent have however been given permission by MCC to replace the tree, although the new sapling (planted elsewhere in 1999) has not grown sufficiently yet to be transplanted to the pitch.