The Gift Tae Gie Us

Robert Burns
- could he play leg spin?

Recent discoveries suggest that Fantasy Bob and Robert Burns had much in common. 
This  effort was discarded by Burns (though he later used bits in other poems) but it confirms he and FB shared a weakness against leg spin bowling.

Oh thou! whatever title suit thee,
Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or Clootie!

The Batsmen true can ne'er refute thee,

Thou Hellish sinner.

In the Devil's sway we'll put thee,

Reviled leg spinner.

When auld lang syne Benaud and Warnie,

Were clearly baith the chiels o' Hornie,

Made English batsmen grope forlornly,  

It turned sae vilely.

But there’s no mortal human born, he

Beats Bill O’Reilly.

An' noo despite his monstrous patter,

Could Fant'sy Bob be cried a batter?

Forbye he gies the ba' a clatter,

Wi' michty fleg, he

Finds his vain pretensions shatter,

Against a leggie.

Ye'd hae tae see it tae believe it,

He disnae ken tae play or leave it,

He'll aye end up just trying tae heave it,

Then mak' tae thump it,

Gie it the charge and so maun grieve it,

Oh Bob!  Thou'rt stumpit.

The coach says watch the ba's rotations,

Advice that gies Bob consternations,

An’ hours o' tortuous vexations,

Thru' sleepness night.

Hoo can Bob mak sic observations,

Battin' wi' e'e shut tight?

Leg spin - it's Satan's bowling action,

For darkness marks its malefaction,
Tormenting batters tae distraction,

Oor nerves are shoogly.

Then will the De'il sense petrifaction,

An' bowl the googly.

Oh wad some power the gift tae gie us,

Tae play leg spin as naethin' devious,

It wad frae mony a blunder free us,

Stop melancholy.

And dream some day that ithers see us,

Bat just like Kohli.