Middlesex CCC
We were Warned - 2 from the Rose Bowl 22 Apr 07
Absent
By Gareth and Dingy
April 23 2007
Two of our top reporters, Gareth Blake and Dingy Bags, report from The Rose Bowl. Middlesex were Warned but no amount of advance notice can save you from a severe Warning. We were also Udally Noodled. Read on.
1 OF 2 - GARETH BLAKE'S VIEW
MATCH: Hampshire vs. Middlesex - Friends Provident Trophy
DATE: Sunday 22nd April 2007
VENUE: The Rose Bowl
NEAREST TOWN: Southampton
An obscure fact about the venue or town: Southampton was named "fittest city in the UK" in 2006 by Men's Fitness magazine. The results were based on the incidence of heart disease, the amount of junk food and alcohol consumed, and the level of gym membership.
Getting there (e.g. accessibility, price of entry, obscure rules for visitors, quality of the pitch): An extreme lack of road signs to the Rose Bowl caused us a little frustration (not that driving aimlessly around Southampton's suburban villages was horrible in any way). We were driving in from University in Southampton (in the centre of the city itself) however we had to go past the Rose Bowl and back around on the Motorway before we were allowed to view directions to the ground; which was surprising for such a large venue. Once there and running a little late, the ground's lack of signs didn't help either! You enter the ground and then join the cue to what seems to be the car park up however only when you reach there does a steward then tell you to turn around and park in the visitor's car park on the other side of the ground where one would have passed about 5-10 minutes before hand! We did double check, there were no signs! The parking was also at a cost of £7. Price of entry for us was £14 with a student concession. I believe a full priced ticket was £17. Flat pitch that seemed to offer everyone a little. One thing that should be noted was that the pitch really slowed up in our innings when the sun went in, many-a-good shot was left just short of the boundary rope and as soon as Ed's wicket fell, the sun came back out again!
Describe the food and beverage at the ground (e.g. quality of ales, variety of foods, prices, value for money): The prices were not bad at £3 per pint of larger but I of course was not drinking and driving! There was only one mobile unit for proper food that I could see and the line stretched on for a good while at lunch.
Comment on the locals (e.g. friendliness of local supporters, size of crowd, a stewarding story, snobbery or otherwise of the members’ bar): The Hampshire crowd seemed to be most passionate, which was nice to see and experience. Most of them interestingly wear their membership badges either around their neck or clipped on to their clothing, which I thought was quite a nice way of doing things. We had the usual section of slightly sozzled fans who got quite rowdy/entertaining during our innings, one of them shouting "You've been Warned!" to Murtagh after he was bowled on the off stump. I also noticed that their range of clothing (non-kit) was of a very high standard compared with ours; that is something that MCCC should aim to sort out!
What is there/was there to do during a rain break?:
Spitted for a few seconds so we carried on as usual. I have to say though, that if there was a rain delay at the Rose Bowl, there is absolutely no cover and little else to do. The shop is tiny and much like a portable hut!
Eccentric supporter of the day story (this might be a local or it might be a visiting supporter): Probably the one mentioned above and nothing too eccentric comes to mind. Tomlinson however did eat bananas the whole way through the match though and he had a new bunch brought out to him a few times.
Summarise the cricket you saw (e.g. brief summary of events, your champagne moment, your man of the day/man of the match) : Was definitely a good pitch to bat first on weather wise as mentioned above. It was a beautiful day for batting when Hants came out to bat and they never looked in any real trouble against our bowling attack. Constant boundaries helped them along to a strong total. The cloud cover then ominously arrived for the start of our innings; however things didn't start badly for us at all! I was surprised when Godleman came out to bat with Ed and was even more surprised that he would face the first ball, but he looked to have the aggressive attitude that we had missed last season in our one-day cricket and even with his low score and many edges, that was a positive for me. At the half way stage the match looked poised with Shah and Smith in and going very well. However Warne done us again planting the first nail in the coffin taking the wicket of Shah (caught Benham off a top edge) and then along with Udal killing the game off in two overs with them both taking the three wickets of Ed, Murtagh and Jonno (with Nash who came in at 5 falling in between to Udal as well). I have to say however, that their fielding looked better, especially in the field placement. We did as expected, look short in the batting order and hopefully next week at Lords (with the possibility of our England boys back) we can get back to winning ways in the Trophy!
Summarise the overall experience in words: The atmosphere was lively, passionate and friendly and now that I know the way, I am sure that I will be attending the Rose Bowl again some time soon!
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RATING FACTOR |
RATING (UP TO 5 STARS EACH)
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NOSH’N’QUAFF |
*** |
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LOCAL FOLK |
***** |
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THE PLACE |
*** |
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THE CRICKET |
**** |
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OVERALL EXPERIENCE |
**** |
2 OF 2 DINGY BAGS'S VIEW
MATCH: v Hants [Trophy]
DATE: 22/4/07
VENUE: Rose Bowl
NEAREST TOWN: Southampton
An obscure fact about the venue or
town: The entrance road is
named after the late, fast Malcolm Marshall
Getting there (e.g. accessibility, price of
entry, obscure rules for visitors, quality of the
pitch): M3; M27east; signed
from J7. £18 to enter; no scorecard, you had to buy the match programme for
£2
Describe the food and beverage at the ground
(e.g. quality of ales, variety of foods, prices, value for
money): Ales average (£2.90
a pint)
Comment on the locals (e.g. friendliness of
local supporters, size of crowd, a stewarding story, snobbery or otherwise
of the members’ bar):
Reasonable sized crowd, all stewards etc friendly
What is there/was there to do during a rain
break?: Get wet, not much
cover – will nee3d plenty of extra facilities if it wants teat
matches.
Eccentric supporter of the day story (this
might be a local or it might be a visiting
supporter): Some Aussie
seemed to make a lot of noise for Hampshire – you’d have thought he was
captain.
Summarise the cricket you saw (e.g. brief
summary of events, your champagne moment, your man of the day/man of the
match) :
Hants started briskly against bowling
that looked frankly knackered, having conceded 850, bowled God knows how
many overs, journeyed from the far west etc. Hants ran well between the
wickets from the start, clearly a tactic. Our fielding looked a little
laboured, plenty for Mr Pybus to work on, methinks. We could have had a
little more luck. Indeed, around mid-innings, Johnson, in particular,
exerted a little control – Pothas had only one boundary in his first fifty,
for instance. Champagne moment was Shah’s wicket – Lumb top-edging a
sweep.
I’d not seen Kartik, Murtagh (I think)
or Whelan bowl before (and Johnson not for some time). Impressions: Murtagh
was a little quicker than I expected but gave too much width; Kartik was
steady, without much threat; Whelan has pace and a whippy action and
impressed me a little more than Wright has. Johnson bowled off a shorter run
than I recall (but memory plays tricks).
I expected Smith to open (he said he
would in one-day stuff at the forum) but Godleman was a surprise. But he is
an opener, after all, and we have something of a surplus of batsmen (or will
have soon), so he could be a regular option. Incidentally, Morgan played for
Ireland in this competition last year, so if the same will apply this, that
will explain why he wasn’t playing for us.
Smith started by flailing at a few and
then settled down but it was the 18 yr old that interested me. He played
forward to deliveries you’d expect him to play back to, with strong arms and
excellent timing. However, if the ball moves or bounces a bit, this is a
risky game and after a few excellent shots, so it proved. Compton skied one
pretty quickly but Ace and Ed were moving at about the required rate
until…Mr Warne. His first three deliveries are worth describing in detail,
for this was the crucial period of the game. First ball long hop that Smith
tried to hit very hard, but picked out a fielder for only a single. I’d seen
Ace play Warne before and he often tried to attack him, so I was expecting
something. Second ball, leg side long hop that Ace missed having swung so
hard that he span rounf a full 360 degrees. Wide given. Third ball, another
long hop that Ace tried to hit into Sussex: top edge ball straight up in the
air, game effectively over.
Nash came in ahead of Hutton which was
a surprise but Warne and Udal ran through the middle order (Murtagh bowled
playing no shot) with little trouble. Only a few defiant hits by Silverwood
remained.
We didn’t play as badly as the result
suggests but the bowling needs a little variety (Vaas and Dalrymple would
have helped a lot). No need for despair yet.
Summarise the overall experience in
words:
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