Colly is a lid on a jar of pickles

I have always hated the analogies and metaphors used by cricket writers like one would feel about using stuffed porcupines for cushions but this one seems completely apt.

Page 2 | The Long Handle | Cricinfo.com: "...Colly is a lid on a jar of pickles. Not as awe-inspiring as rock face, I’ll grant you, but just as capable of defeating even the boldest opponent. No matter how hard you wrench, or pull or hit it with the blunt end of a screwdriver, the Collylid cannot be popped. You grunt and groan and roar with exasperation until in the end, your arms are tired, your hands are red raw and you drop the jar on the sideboard absent-mindedly, whereupon the lid pops off with a sigh. But it’s too late. You don’t care about pickles any more. In fact, you can’t bear the sight of them, and so you stomp off muttering something about lid-tampering."


(The context is England's miraculous escape act in Cape town, when they played out the 5th day of the third test on their South Africa tour with the last wicket standing. The third time they have done it this season. Paul Collingwood showing amazing strength of character on each occasion)