Uxbridge CC
That was the Week that Was
Uxbridge CC
By Groundie
July 27 2010
Our Uxbridge Groundie Vic's final duty at end of festival was to report for MTWD on the trials and tribulations of the week leading up to making this all possible. While it was a success there were some major traumas on route. Thanks Vic for a fascinating insight into the behind the scenes work.
Uxbridge CC
July 27 2010
Our Uxbridge Groundie Vic's final duty at end of festival was to report for MTWD on the trials and tribulations of the week leading up to making this all possible. While it was a success there were some major traumas on route. Thanks Vic for a fascinating insight into the behind the scenes work.
Sat 17/07.
Tennis finals day, courts looking as good as possible after a hard season, lines straight and all to play for. Club Coach sets the right example by launching his racket into the top of a twenty foot hedge having lost his third final of the day.
Sun 18/07.
Open pairs bowls tournament to get ready before thought turn to continued work on the cricket pitch. Call from my sister with news of the passing of a very close family friend, one of the most genuine men.
Mon 19/07.
Busy day, forecast of rain tomorrow, so all needs to be ready by tonight. Steven Finn is in for a session with the ECB fast bowling coach. By 6pm all is done and the square completely covered. Email JC and foolishly state the pitch looks a beaut. Told of the death of former Head Groundsman at Cheltenham College. These things tend to go in threes, so wonder if I will last the week.
Tues 20/07.
Practise day, Middlesex in 10-1, Sussex 2-4. Middlesex bring entire squad for nets. It’s a dangerous place in the middle, balls flying through my legs whilst marking the pitch and Morgan breaks another window. Jack Russell is in working with the keepers and we have a chat about my first ever pro game as a groundsman when Gloucs played Bucks in the old C&G at Ascott Park 2003.
Not sure Strauss is happy with the colour of the pitch but when Sussex arrive, they are clearly unhappy. “Don’t you have a heavy roller”, “are you going to take any grass off”, “those sightscreens are never high enough”, were just a few of the printable remarks. They then took it upon themselves to bowl a few balls on the pitch as well as do ball bounce tests, both illegal and proved nothing. At least Ollie Rayner was his normal cheerful self, welcoming all to the “spinners graveyard”.
The expected Pitch Liaison Officer never turned up and all in all it was a pretty stressed out groundsman who left late in the day to ponder all the comment and wonder whether to act on any of them.
Tom Smith is reported to have pulled a side muscle and will not play in the match.
Wed 21/07.
Weather dawns okay, start taking the covers off when a truck goes down Gatting Way blasting it’s horn, the arrival of our deputy Bob Carder, the next 4 days are going to be a blast as this guy is the funniest man alive. At the other end of the scale is the Sussex coaching team, who watch us with a degree of distrust. Overnight I had decided to back myself and not listen to the doubters; I would stand or fall by my decisions. Middlesex win the toss and insert, brave!
The game fluctuates, Sussex morning, Middlesex afternoon and Sussex evening. Toby Roland-Jones produced a fine bowling spell and Luke Wright was excellent hitting the final ball for 6 to bring up a fine hundred.
Covers on showers forecast but a happy groundsman 413 runs and 9 wickets, as Paul Weller said “That’s Entertainment”.
Thurs 22/07.
All started well, big day this. No sooner were the players out than the thunder came, resulting in a busy period fighting the elements. A slight exchange between the Sussex coach and the tetchy Uxb Head Groundsman didn’t aid the cause. Play was able to start after lunch in nice weather.
To my utter amazement, Jack Russell asked “Vic, may I take YOUR photo”, surely this is the wrong way around? He goes on to say that he is working on a book about cricket grounds and thinks I would make a good sketch – not sure exactly what he means – my spirits are only slightly dampened when I find out later that he has said the same to ice-cream Peter.
After tea the thunder returns to curtail play and hasten an evening in the bar, where the groundstaff are hosting a curry evening to try and raise funds for Breakthrough Breastcare.
Fri 23/07.
A long morning mopping up from the previous days rain. There are lots of friends around, all trying to recover from the night before and failing.
Another fine day of cricket, including top spells from Roland-Jones and Finn.
On a sour note, news comes though of a break in, resulting in certain players having valuables removed. This sort of occurrence does our club no favours and will be remembered long after the cricket has been forgotten.
Sat 24/07.
A beautiful sunny morning, covers off, no worry of rain. Should be a great day. Fancy Middlesex chasing up to 300. No early wickets and Sussex don’t push on which means declaration will not come at lunch, another late one for the staff.
Well the target was too many but a draw is achieved. All in all a great advert for the game of 4 day cricket played out in front of large crowds throughout. There were some fine players on show.
No after match drinks for me as there is a surprise birthday party to get to by 7:15.
The players of both teams have been great, the Sussex management not so. The off field supporters as always great fun and good company, I can now confirm that Lower Pavilion is a legend who should be awarded the freedom of Uxbridge.
I await the umpires pitch report form with baited breath, yet I believe this was the best surface for cricket that has been produced during my tenure.
My sincere thanks to the team, Ramesh, Bob, Jason & Lee. All diamonds
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That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Middlesex till we die (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 09:22
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:31:13:42:48 by Ged.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:31:13:42:48 by Ged.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: dingy bags (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 10:25
A really good read, as ever Vic.
Did the Sussex management apologise after the wicket proved so good for all-round cricket?
Did the Sussex management apologise after the wicket proved so good for all-round cricket?
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Jeff Coleman (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 10:29
Wot, no mention of the crater left by the meteorite?
Well done mate.
Well done mate.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Haringey Racer (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 10:41
Mark Robinson has always been a miserable @#$%&, Vic. He gave me an earful at Southgate a couple of years ago - someone else had called Rayner a chucker and Robbo took it out on me. I wouldn't worry.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Vic. (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 12:14
DB, not a word. Was it expected? That would be a no!!
JC, covered that on Ask the Groundie.
HR, should have realised what we were dealing with when he failed to reply to an email inviting him and his players to join us for a curry.
Worried? I ain't bovvered.
JC, covered that on Ask the Groundie.
HR, should have realised what we were dealing with when he failed to reply to an email inviting him and his players to join us for a curry.
Worried? I ain't bovvered.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Jonathan Winsky (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 12:34
I didn't notice Jack Russell at Uxbridge.
If anyone wants to wind Mark Robinson up, they should mention his batting. According to the Cricketers' Who's Who 2005 he didn't score a single first-class run for a world record 12 innings in 1990, while in a match v Surrey at Hove in 1999 he scored his 500th first-class run the same day as his 500th first-class wicket. His final first-class career statistics were 229 matches, 590 runs and 584 wickets.
Most tailend batsmen have a run-to-wicket ratio balanced in favour of runs, yet Robinson seemed to score runs and take wickets in equal measure.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
------------------ -
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
If anyone wants to wind Mark Robinson up, they should mention his batting. According to the Cricketers' Who's Who 2005 he didn't score a single first-class run for a world record 12 innings in 1990, while in a match v Surrey at Hove in 1999 he scored his 500th first-class run the same day as his 500th first-class wicket. His final first-class career statistics were 229 matches, 590 runs and 584 wickets.
Most tailend batsmen have a run-to-wicket ratio balanced in favour of runs, yet Robinson seemed to score runs and take wickets in equal measure.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: BeefyRoberts (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 16:19
A superb read Vic,shows how much hard work you and the team put in for us to enjoy our cricket,and for other club members to enjoy their own sports they play.
A HUGE thanks to you and the team for your work,and for Thursday as well.
Carry on your work mate.And hopefully get to see the sketch Jack Russell may do for you.
A HUGE thanks to you and the team for your work,and for Thursday as well.
Carry on your work mate.And hopefully get to see the sketch Jack Russell may do for you.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Jonathan Winsky (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 16:31
Jack Russell is currently at Taunton, viewing the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final between Somerset and Northamptonshire.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
------------------ -
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: lower pavilion (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 16:31
Vic.
A great report.Well done to all the staff for making the festival a success.
I thought the wicket for our 4 day game was excellent.Good for the batsmen and enough in it for the bowlers, if they bowled correct line and length.
It would have been even better if we had batted after winning the toss.
A great report.Well done to all the staff for making the festival a success.
I thought the wicket for our 4 day game was excellent.Good for the batsmen and enough in it for the bowlers, if they bowled correct line and length.
It would have been even better if we had batted after winning the toss.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: kimmy (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 18:40
Well done Vic, not only a great wicket which AGAIN provided a fantastic match, but a great report!
Kimmy
Kimmy
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: The Diamond ruled ok (IP Logged)
Date: 27/07/2010 19:24
Super "diary" of events Vic.
Many thanks for everything .
Diamond is currently at home supping a beer and contemplating a 5:30am start (sorry no web links ).
Many thanks for everything .
Diamond is currently at home supping a beer and contemplating a 5:30am start (sorry no web links ).
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Jonathan Winsky (IP Logged)
Date: 29/07/2010 08:23
This diary is now the subject of another Diary, the one that features every week in the cricket section of the Daily Telegraph. Hopefully the fact Vic's diary is now public knowledge does not lead to repercussions from Middlesex, Sussex or the ECB.
The part of the Tues 20/07 section that most caught my eye was that Tom Smith had pulled a side muscle as I am often kept in the dark about injuries and length of players absences, but the Telegraph were drawn to the two previous paragraphs.
It is great to see that MTWD is read by people from national newspapers, although my dad would like Angus Fraser to read this site so he can listen to how the supporters feel about team selection.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
------------------ -
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
The part of the Tues 20/07 section that most caught my eye was that Tom Smith had pulled a side muscle as I am often kept in the dark about injuries and length of players absences, but the Telegraph were drawn to the two previous paragraphs.
It is great to see that MTWD is read by people from national newspapers, although my dad would like Angus Fraser to read this site so he can listen to how the supporters feel about team selection.
Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford
(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: Vic. (IP Logged)
Date: 29/07/2010 08:49
Oh shoot, me and my big mouth. Good job I didn't mention the cr*p photo they published of Matt Prior in front of our 2nd pavilion or should I say shed?
Tomorrows chip paper.
Tomorrows chip paper.
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: The Diamond ruled ok (IP Logged)
Date: 29/07/2010 18:05
Gus gets plenty of input from members as to what the side should be , only last weekend at Uxers was I saying to him "you have got to play Pedro and Dial M against Sorry and that I thought Arthur(Newman) would get a few runs against them "
Re: That was the Week that Was
Posted by: BeefyRoberts (IP Logged)
Date: 29/07/2010 19:13
Bought the local Uxbridge gazette to read match report that i was expecting to see.Fat chance,the whole match wasnt mentioned once in the sports pages.Im sure the paper had advertising around the ground,and in the match programme.Poor show really.
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