Middlesex CCC
Groundie Hog Day
Cross of Lower Pav
By Vic Demain ( Groundie)
July 13 2010
Our Uxbridge Groundie gives an insightful background to the behind the scenes and some visible work that went into last weekend's 20/20 cricket. This makes excellent reading and gives us a perspective of all the hard work of preparing for two days of cricket.
Barmy Kev contacted me and asked for a Groundie report on the weekend and I was happy to oblige.
Pitch preparation began towards the end of June; however, the main part of the set-up took off on the Thursday before the games. Marquee Mick came in to erect the various stations for hospitality, scorers, shop, press and BBC London.
Friday saw the ground converted from a club field into the first-class facility
visitors enjoyed. This was a hard day with sweltering temperatures and so much
work still to be completed. Lorraine and Fletch were soon in directing
operations and getting stuck in, in their own inimitable style. It was a long
hard day but by the end everything was ready. There is no point leaving jobs for
match day, in case the weather is bad or something goes wrong.
Funnily enough, this was my first pitch of the season, as my assistant Ramesh, has covered the cricket so far, whilst I looked after the tennis courts and bowling green. It showed as the pitch markings were all out resulting in lots of rubbing out. There had been no involvement from the Middlesex club this time; yet five important gents arrived shortly after lunch. All seemed happy with what they saw, which was a good start. Personally, I had a few concerns but the weather certainly helped for a change.
Saturday arrived, wake at 4am, take the dogs out, have breakfast and on the ground by 6am. First job put up the cross.
New C of LP, unlike our team, flying high in the distance
Uncover the pitch, no sabotage which is good as for once a spare had not been produced, getting complacent, I hear. Brush, cut, re mark the lines, do the stump holes, put in the 30 yd circle, a throw down net and a practise pitch on the edge of the square, check the boundary – Loz has a habit of pinching a bit - fold up the sheets and were ready. It’s only 9 am and the game doesn’t start for 5 hours, time to drink coffee!
Various people are around setting up catering stalls,
toilets and the chairs, including of course Kimmy, a good effort to be there by
10am
Players arrive and start their usual practise routines; it’s
a dangerous place as balls are flying in all directions. Word was that the team
which beat Surrey would be kept. Dawid and Scott were working together on their
batting when a familiar looking face walked towards me, my son Ian. This was
like turning the clock back, the two of us watching Hants in London. Editors note- ( Groundie Hog moment)
My phone rang and finally the press officer who had
interviewed me via telephone, for a trade magazine, a few days previous turned
up to take a few photos. What an embarrassment, being asked to pose in all
sorts of positions, not me at all.
By now the gates were open and the public were swarming in. One of the first I caught up with was Lower Pavilion, who had ventured around to the main scoreboard, and seemed quite pleased. What a difference a year makes, last season I wanted to rip him apart, now I enjoy the company of a man who is Middlesex through and through.
Finally it is start time; hide in case the first ball rolls
along the deck, thankfully, it bounces. My job is not to report on the cricket
as others have covered that extremely well. Suffice to say Middx were short of
a competitive total and Hants had the game won by early in their innings. Ian
seemed pleased with another Hants win in London, although I had to ask the
question “why have you called your beagle puppy Dexter?”
Game over, covers on time for a beer, I only drink six a year and used two up in one evening and copped a lot of unfair abuse for trying to sit outside and enjoy the scenery. ( Editor's note- I also observed good natured tongue in cheek banter in your direction)
Sunday, up again at 4am; check the web site for reports, all
fair. Bit of early morning rain which meant getting the covers back on.
Important bowls competition starting at 10am so work to be done there but again
a lot of time spent waiting for things to happen.
When the players get in, it is apparent that the team will be changed. Probably asked the wrong person as Tim seemed a bit miffed when he said he had been left out. Ian will play from his warm up; Jackson seems certain and it looks like Steve will be back. Quick chat with JB who confirms he won't play but did give us a laugh when knocking up catches he landed one in the hospitality marquee causing a few Pimms to go down. Steady trickle through the gates but by start time the gate was healthy, including my old mate JC who had caved in and come to see “the devils game” at one point I’m sure he was seen smiling.
Two chaps from Radio Bristol came out for a chat; one
introduced himself as the former groundsman from Neville Road, Bristol. He was
asked to be gentle on us and not slag the pitch too much.
Again unfortunately not enough runs were scored but what some fantastic hitting. The umpires had asked me to look after the spare balls, at one point I seemed to be running on every other ball and we were down to only one spare left.
End of the game the reporter came back out and said “great
pitch, the way the batsmen were able to just stand up and hit through the ball
says it all”. High praise indeed.
Managed to remember a promise made to Beefy at Richmond and
later he was seen getting the match stump autographed by the players. ( Editor's note - marvellous gesture well done lads)
And so a fantastic weekend was over, healthy crowds,
drinking lots, entertaining cricket but two bad results for Middlesex. Reports
have been very favourable for all the staff at Uxbridge, my thanks for that,
but I ask you to give some time to Loz and Fletch, these guys do so much to
make the event run so smoothly, even when restricted with ankle problems and
huge hangovers. I have the utmost respect for both.
Monday morning and team Uxbridge really pulled together to clean up the ground. One wonders how often Mick Hunt goes around the stands at Lord’s picking up the rubbish, on his own!
Now for the Championship match, proper cricket, a different
pitch required, bit more grass, hopefully offering a little to the bowlers and
an even contest. If I were selecting the team, there are eight definite I would
have – Dexter, Shah, Malan, Berg, Scott, Udal, Murtagh & Collins but what
do I know?
It is my belief that the only person I need to please is myself. Well this pitch I was satisfied with. It offered the batsmen a chance to play shots. Some may say it lacked a little pace, that I couldn’t argue with but two paced? Please, it was a road.
Footnote I asked Groundie about broken window in Pavilion caused by Ace 6. he replied. I missed that one, probably happened when I was pulling out a stuck car - which I forgot to report- in true Uxb style, it will take weeks to fix.
Broken window
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:18:17:43:05 by Ged.
Great and informative report.
My views on Uxbridge and outgrounds in general, have changed considerably.
I have realised the amount of effort that is required by all the staff to make these festivals a success.
I also realise how dependant Middlesex are in having grounds like Uxbridge available.
I have learnt that the secret is not to compare, a day at say Uxbridge, to a day at Lords.It is a totally different experience and none the worse for that.
For instance at Uxbridge, you get closer to the players and can have a chat with some.You can also wander around and see the game from different angles etc.There is also less formality.
By the way Vic I am glad you did not rip me apart.
As regards the wicket.Uxbridge has, in my memory, always been good for batsmen.However, I do believe, that if for instance a fast bowler bowls the correct line and length,and varies his pace etc then he will get rewards.A sign of a good bowler is how he can perform on all types of wickets not just bowler friendly ones.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:13:12:52:26 by lower pavilion.
I can see it now.
We are poised to win an important game and suddenly The Cross Of LP comes tumbling down, rain lightning and thunder comes pouring down from a hitherto blue sky and all is lost.
Vic, secure that cross.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:07:13:13:29:41 by lower pavilion.
I really interesting report on how much gets put into the ground for us to watch.
Maybe you could follow up with another after the county game??
Well done to all.
Quote:lower pavilion
I have learnt that the secret is not to compare, a day at say Uxbridge, to a day at Lords.It is a totally different experience and none the worse for that.
For instance at Uxbridge, you get closer to the players and can have a chat with some.You can also wander around and see the game from different angles etc.There is also less formality.
Well said.
With regards to the team for next week's match v Sussex, I have known for a long time that there is a high possibility of Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn being available, while on Sunday's episode of Cricket Writers on TV it was hinted that Andrew Strauss may also be available. England do not play any cricket between now and the first Test v Pakistan at Trent Bridge starting on 29th July, so all players in contention to play at Nottingham could benefit from getting a County Championship match under their belt the week before. I don't know whether having those players back would improve how fortunes as after our County Championship defeat at Bristol by 10 wickets two weeks ago I had the feeling that even if we were full-strength we would have still lost.
If Morgan, Finn and Strauss are available for us then Matt Prior as well as two players not in the Test side in Michael Yardy and Luke Wright will be available for Sussex, while Ed Joyce and Monty Panesar are also likely to play.
When Strauss played v South Africa at Uxbridge in 2008 he wanted to get through the barriers to enter the players' area, so he moved the barrier, my dad said to me "Andrew wants to get through" and now whenever he appears on TV he says to me "you were in his way at Uxbridge".
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)
Quote:Vic Demain
suddenly had visions of that horrible scene from The Omen when the poor old parson gets impaled.
And of course there is a cricketing link there as the "poor old parson" was played by Patrick Troughton, grandfather of Jim of Warwickshire and England.
The cross was great again, and the extra sign, can I say was a revelation!
Great to see you, and see you next week! I'm there all days!
Kimmy
One thing that struck me reading report is you turn up for event like this and its easy to just concentrate on events going on the pitch without realising a helluva a lot of work goes on to make it all possible.
Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele
I really enjoyed Uxbridge (and not just the result). Look forward to catching up with MTWD types at Cheltenham.
