"I was never any good at cricket thought I love it as a, as a sort of mystery"

Thomas Keneally’s words, “I was never any good at cricket though I love it as a, as a sort of mystery,” highlight a poignant divide between participation and fascination. He confesses an inability to master cricket, relinquishing any claim to expertise or prowess. Yet, his affection for the sport endures, rooted not in achievement but in the allure of the unknown. The speaker acknowledges his outsider status, he cannot truly inhabit the world of cricket as a player, but the sport continues to captivate him. In this way, Keneally’s statement resonates with anyone who has admired something from afar, entranced by complexity and ritual, even as actual skill eludes them.

Cricket, with its intricate rules, pauses, and idiosyncratic pace, often appears enigmatic, even to those who watch regularly. Keneally’s use of the word “mystery” encapsulates this quality: the sport remains partly inaccessible, its full meaning withheld. Love, in this context, does not require mastery. The speaker’s affection is sustained by questions, by the gaps in his comprehension, by the subtle strategies unfolding beneath the surface, and perhaps even by the sense of exclusion itself. This speaks to a broader human experience, the allure of things we cannot fully grasp, the beauty embedded in complexity.

Furthermore, the gentle resignation in admitting lack of skill suggests humility and self-awareness. Rather than being deterred by his shortcomings, Keneally embraces them as part of his relationship with cricket. His appreciation deepens because it is tinged with reverence, acknowledging the game’s subtleties and profundities. In loving cricket not as a triumphant insider but as a humble observer, he embodies the capacity for intellectual curiosity and emotional resonance in the face of the mysterious. Through this, Keneally celebrates the pleasure found in wonder itself, shaping a narrative where connection is forged not through mastery, but through an enduring sense of awe.