Day off

By Vic the Groundie
September 15 2013

Vic returns to Middlesex and reports on his day At HQ.

It only seems like yesterday that Kev contacted me to ask if I would write a report following my first game at Trent Bridge, which happened to be Notts v Middlesex. Yet here I was going down for the final home day of the championship season at Lord’s!

A trip to headquarters is always special and even more so now, when living so far away from London. In fact my last visit to the capital had been in June when a group of friends cycled 100kms around the sights at night in an attempt to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Setting off at 07:00, one travelled through drizzle all the way to Brent Cross. There seemed little prospect of much play. An easy journey saw me parked in Lodge Rd by 09:15. Swift entry to the ground and straight to the shop to drop off my bits and see Eric, who introduced me to Jules and we were joined by Becs and Richard, seemed like old times.

Time to enter the pavilion, where the steward said “hope you and the other member enjoy the day”. The humour continued as I went to the long room “are you here to vacuum sir?”, when the subject of fee was raised, the mood changed rather!

It turned out that “other member” was none other than Phil the Power, always good company so we shared a coffee and I learnt all about his cricket season and what had been going on with the other Middle followers.

The morning was dismal and with little prospect of play, there seemed no thoughts of setting up a game. If play did start it would be about bonus points only. A nice chat with Mr Garrett, who is also a Nottingham man and also a certain Middle spinner (although I use that term in the very loosest manner). Both were in good form and looking forward to winter.

Play finally started after lunch was taken early, by this time I had been reunited with my old Uxbridge pal Ramesh. Chris Rogers and Sam Robson hit their third 100 partnership of the season against Notts, clearly enjoying the bowling. Chris went on to another 100 before miscuing a pull off Adams to Fletcher. Sam went shortly after when nicking off (goodness I hate that term). Notts as usual dropped a few catches, one resulting in Hussey splitting a finger webbing and having to go for 3 stitches. The ball before tea saw Malan bowled by a Patel turning delivery. Denly was batting well, when he got what looked a good nut from Gurney, the same bowler accounted for Dexter shortly after. The admirable Adams picked up two further scalps those of Berg and Rayner before the players shook hands when Simmo completed another 50 and brought a further batting point.

There was just time to catch up with Loz and Fletch to pick up my “bits” which Fletch had managed to get Buck to sign – an Invetec stump and a scorecard of the Australia 1^st innings at Durham, which had been completed by a scorer friend of mine – these will now be auctioned at a planned curry night in Oxfordshire on 18^th Oct, which is a celebration of our ride around London. Tickets just £10, should anyone be interested.

So much did I enjoy my day that I will return again in 7 days time. The only disappointment that so many friends were missing.

Winter well MTWDers, I look forward to further banter next time.