Sussex skipper game for a laugh

By Jamie Lillywhite

Chris Adams was asked to play a straight bat on the comedy stage

Timing is often said to be the key to comedy, and is also pivotal to the art of batting, but that is probably the only similarity between the two.

Unless of course you recall the dismissal of Chris Read to a slower ball from Chris Cairns in the Lord's Test of 1999.

But it would be fair to assume that Sussex captain Chris Adams would have some trepidation about taking the stage in front of a raucous "adult" audience.

The occasion was a charity concert in aid of the tsunami appeal. Held at the Komedia, a homely venue in the centre of Brighton, it was the brainchild of Mark Brailsford, a diminutive, genial chap who compered the evening in his own inimitable style, regularly threatening to appear naked if substantial money was not raised.

The adrenalin was flowing, but I'd like to have more than five minutes to rehearse next time! Chris Adams

Brailsford wrote to Adams and other leading personalities from the Brighton area, including Carol Cleveland and Chris Difford, to take part in an evening of songs and sketches.

It had the feel of It Ain't Half Hot Mum, but there was sadly no Windsor Davies, Melvyn Hayes or "Mr la-di-da Gunner Graham."

BBC Sport spoke to Adams about his part in the proceedings the day before the concert was due to take place.

Instead of interrupting rehearsals with cast and crew, he was discovered in Dubai, about to board a plane homeward bound after playing in a match for the Lord's Taverners.

"I think I'm doing a Morecambe and Wise sketch," he said at the time.

As the drinks flowed, money poured in at the Komedia Club bar

It was Brailsford who began the scene, swishing a bat and telling the audience how it was he that skippered Sussex to the Championship.

Adams then emerged stage left, immaculately dressed in club blazer and tie, and in mock-menacing manner put the matter straight.

He was inadvertantly caught on the arm by a Brailsford cover drive as the sketch appeared to be heading towards a Rik Mayall/Ade Edmondson confrontation in Bottom, the MC worried that he had seriously injured the cricketer!

"I'm not sure anyone realised it was a Morecambe and Wise sketch," Adams conceded afterwards. (He was right!)

"But I don't think it matters on a night like this."

Rehearsals had been limited to "one run-through five minutes before we went on," but did Eric or Ernie ever prepare for a revue by arriving the evening before from the Middle East?

He can be my nightwatchman any time Local businesswoman Fran Grice's view of Chris Adams

So how did he feel performing comedy on stage compared to facing fast bowling

Adams said: "Malcolm Marshall bowled me a spell once that, whilst I wouldn't want to use the word 'petrified', aged 22 at the time, it left me completely mesmerised.

"I've done after dinner speaking before so this was fine, the adrenalin was flowing, but I'd like to have more than five minutes to rehearse next time!"

So will there be a next time? A future career perhaps?

"Definitely not!" is the rapid response. "The important thing is the charity," he added. "They should make £7-8,000 which is terrific."

Carol Cleveland, here circa 1970, still cuts a dash in a negligee

The highlight of the evening for a large percentage of the audience was the appearance of a seemingly ageless Carol Cleveland.

The majority of them were probably not born when the glamorous actress appeared in the great Monty Python series, but took considerable interest in a sketch where she appeared in a negligée and Brailsford sported a Benny Hill-style raincoat.

Money had been pouring into the collection buckets all evening, but it seemed as though America's Gross National Product would not have prevented Brailsford baring all, and to howls of varying emotions from the audience, he did, some wondering if it was noticeably colder on the stage.

The evening was an outstanding success, however, with large amounts of money raised for the very worthy cause and a good time had by all.

Local businesswoman Fran Grice, of neighbouring shop Purple Heart, admitted: "I had no idea who Chris Adams was.

"But he certainly bowled a maiden over and can be my nightwatchman any time!"

All in the line of duty for the modern day county captain.