A Cricket Casualty

My dear, I'm awful shorry
   'Bout gettin' home sho late.
I orra been in hoursh ago;
   But you know how I hate
To biss a crit of micket -
   (Shuse me) I mean to say,
To criss a mit of bicket -
   Cricket! Ash right. Hooray!

In-toshicated? Nonshense!
   Just need a lirrle rest.
I shush been round to Johnson's place
   Lish'nin' to the Test.
Great game! It's nervish teshion
   Has made me feel like thish.
You know how I like cricket -
   I wouldn't bit a mish.

Hooray for Misher Bra'man!
   Anurraa fourer hit!
Hoo - what? Don't be inshultin'!
   I'm norra leash bit lit!
Not even s'ightly shrozzled.
   Jush had a lirrle spot
Each time they hirra fourer -
   Mean to call tharra - lot?

My dear, don't get - hic - cited,
   I wouldn't hissa mit.
Three sheers for good old Washaname!
   Anurra boun'ry hit! ...
Hic! Struse me, love. Per-haps you're right,
   I berra gessum rest.
Jush beein - Hum! You know, Jolson's place -
   Lish'nin' to - the Test.

Poem Analysis & Reflection

C. J. Dennis’ A Cricket Casualty is a lively, humorous exploration of a very Australian scene - a man, thoroughly intoxicated after a day spent spectating a radio-broadcast cricket match (the sport, not the insect!), makes his way home in a manner that is as erratic as it is endearing. Drawing upon the vernacular and cultural touchstones familiar to his readers, Dennis crafts a narrative that is both a slapstick comedy and a subtle commentary on the eccentricities of everyday life. This common, yet delightfully absurd, slice of Australian life is played for laughs through the use of spelling that replicates the slurred speech of someone who may have consumed one-too-many VB stubbies.

Dennis’ style in this poem is unmistakably conversational and down-to-earth. He uses a rhythmic, almost sing-song quality that mirrors the ebb and flow of a cricket match and the equally unpredictable excuse-telling of his inebriated protagonist. This accessibility is one of the poem’s greatest strengths; its colloquial language and humorous tone invite readers to laugh along while also gaining insight into a specific cultural milieu. The playful cadence and exaggeration in the description of the character’s late arrival home from Johnson's place serves not only to entertain but also to capture the liberating, if chaotic, spirit of the moment.

Beneath the surface of the light-hearted narrative, A Cricket Casualty also hints at broader themes of celebration and personal excess. While the protagonist’s drunken state is played for laughs, it also reflects the sometimes blurry boundary between joyous communal experiences - like spectating a beloved sport - and the personal consequences that can follow. The exaggeration and satire Dennis employs suggest that even in moments of collective national pride, there is room for the kind of personal folly that makes us both human and hilariously imperfect.

Ultimately, Dennis’ poem remains a beloved piece not only for its humour but also for its genuine portrayal of a uniquely Australian experience. It captures the vibrancy of a day spent immersed in cricket culture and the unexpected aftermath of overindulgence, all while maintaining a tone that is warm, engaging, and accessible. For students and lovers of poetry alike, A Cricket Casualty offers a witty example in using vernacular language and comic exaggeration to both entertain and illuminate the quirks of everyday life.