The BBC radio commentaries on cricket matches used to be famous for unintended double meanings, some because the cricket-slang had another everyday meaning. The most famous was probably when a bowler called Holding was about to send the ball at a batsman called Willey: “The bowler’s Holding, the batsman’s Willey” (willie being a kid’s name for the penis). However, my personal favourite came when a batsman was painfully hit in the genitals by a ball delivered at speed. Explanation: the ball is bowled six times in an “over” before people change round. The commentator is trying to avoid direct language:
“Oh dear, he’s been hit in the, ah, unmentionable region… and yes, I’m afraid, he’s had to go off…one ball left.”
