By Crouchend
May 8 2003

There's nothing better than an eye witness account. Thanks to Crouchend for taking the time to sit in an internet cafe and put it down. Enjoy!

Crouchend in Scotland

Mr C.Wyvern was at the game yesterday and spent a little time putting me right on a few details and giving a supporters eye view of the first part of the Great Somerset Scotland Expedition.  Thanks a lot Mr Crouchend.

Banger Warms up a Chilly Day

Several dozen Somerset die-hards joined a small crowd of locals to sit in a cold wind at The Grange. A bright morning was deceptive, as clouds came over and the wind made us appreciate why the Scots usually have a dram handy. The terracing in front of the pavilion was brightened by ‘Tractor’s Tartan Tour 2003’ T-shirt, with red lettering on a black shirt. Rumour has it that he has volunteered to be the sight-screen for Scotland’s first white ball game on Friday!

Caddick was left out and Francis came into the team. Caddick looked glum, but then he always does, and left the ground early, presumably for treatment. I was unreliably informed that he had a foot injury. Let us hope that it is nothing serious, and that his withdrawal was a precautionary measure.

The part-timers batted first, and the ball was soon seaming and swinging as Johnno passed the bat regularly. Johnno and Francis were the pick of the bowlers, but finished with only one wicket between them, while the medium pacers, who found plenty of swing, took five.  Wickets fell regularly, although Doug Lockhart held firm for a 50 until the skipper bowled himself in the last third of the innings. With a few lusty blows from Wright the Scots held out for their 50 overs, but with very few runs to show for it.

There were several mistakes in the field, probably inevitable in the cold conditions. James Bryant threw down the wicket sharply to dispose of Williamson, but dropped an enormous skier during the final thrash. Opinions were divided about whether it went higher than the catch Rob took at Lords to dismiss Afridi. Given the howling wind, we were all pleased not to be under it, and I expect ten Somerset players on the field were too.

Highlight of the innings for the Grocklees assembled behind the bowler’s arm was witnessing the combined expertise of Chief Executive Peter Anderson, former Chairman Richard Parsons and Coach Kevin Shine, as they moved the sight-screen when Blackwell came over the wicket. Tractor and PA exchanged jocular remarks about it later, and if it rains on Friday, some of us are hoping for a sight-screen pushing race between the two of them for alternative entertainment.

Yes, Grockle, your disciples the N19s, Tractor and Hackney Shire were there as well as yours truly, and will return on Friday, when it is alleged there will be reinforcements to supplement our frozen tribe. When Tractor left he said “I am going to be some time”. I wonder what he meant by that.

When Somerset batted we all hoped for an early finish, but feared that we might have another 50 for 5. Watching Johnson bat is always fun, but it was a pleasure that we were willing to forgo. As it happened our fears were groundless. Cox opened with Banger and both were playing fine strokes from the start, with Banger hitting two sixes and a four in the third over. He is difficult to bowl to in this form, but a mixture of leg side full tosses and off stump half volleys make the job more difficult for the fielding side.

The only worry came towards the end, as we wondered if Jamie was going to leave Marcus enough runs to get to take him to his century. In the end Tres needed one for his hundred with the scores level, and ended the only tense moment of the day by hitting a four.

The facilities were not what we are used to, coming from the cricketing metropolis of Taunton, and the Vera Duckworth target was on a board propped up against a tree. When we were on 87 we were 69 runs ahead of the target, although I am not sure if we are allowed to mention that number on this website. Aaron Laraman was wearing an un-numbered top for his twelfth man duties, although it did have the word ‘Shine’ on it. Do you think he is trying to impress someone?

There was a very friendly welcome for us at the Grange club, and I urge anyone who can to get here by train, plane, car or very fast bicycle for Friday’s game.

CrouchEndWyvern