Watching R4C bat

By Barmy Kev
May 20 2010

Barmy Kev reports on half day at Lords that turned out completely different to what expected.

The plan was for me toattend Day 2 and 3.  I was lookingforward to having a break from work, where there were staffing problems and wasbecoming overworked.  So I arrivedat ground was getting settled when I got a text from my manager.  Someone phoned in sick and I wasdesperately needed. I left ground after only 15 minutes play back to work, reallynot happy about things.  Don’t ask! I then was told I mayhave tomorrow half day, depending on operational matters, but by then wasn’tbothered and thought forget it. 

Next day, with the sun brightly shining early morning and the thought of watchingMiddlesex piling on the runs I’ll go for it, if work allows.  Also as designated reporter didn’t wantto let anyone down. Work did allow, I saw on BBC Sport score was 200 for 2, thesun still shining and thought will have a good 4 hours.   I get home at lunch to seein the past ¾ hour we have lost 3 further wickets and BBC forecast for day wasgrey cloud.

I leave on theunderground still very sunny and arrive in the Lambeth slums and it’s verycloudy.   I get into ground justafter 2pm surprisingly for me not feeling sociable.   As I walked into stand, saw we were now 6 down.  The Croaker greeted me. I can’t do hisvoice but croaked to me “ Comon the Rey”. I shouted back ” who r ya.”, which was well received and settled to myseat. I then joined Whinsky Major - charming man.    He tried to update me of details of themorning, but ended up digressing talking about religion, family and mattersclose to his heart regarding Middx. He mentioned Gareth Batty had been bowling all day and Gareth Berg was batting and was suggesting headline for report regarding tale of two GarethB’s.     Beefy sendsme a text as told him was at game.  His words were – I will show you this Saturday Beefy- “ stuck at workboard”.  I would have respondedabout not using super glue when on work board but as was reading this Shaggyout and my advice was to stop texting. At 292-7, it occurred to me we are likely to be followingon and will be in danger of losing. Dial M and Pedro Collins follow soon after296-9. Its getting colder James Dernbach gets a 5fer.   So much for a day in sun watching a run fest.  If I only “I can Dernbach Time” I wasthinking.  Hi Fi came in right lets get at leastanother bonus point, which we promptly did.  Hi Fi lookedmore comfortable against the quicks and played a superb straight drive for 4worthy of an opener.       Suddenly we were edging to thecrucial 340 follow on target and was getting tense.   Batty was put on and Hi Fi was struggling and they were2 byes, which I thought should have taken 1 to give the Ice Man thestrike.   You guessed Hi Fiout next ball.  Ice Man stranded on45. Begs the question why can’t he bat at 6?  I moved to Turkey corner as tea was taking expecting a tenseafternoon us following on.

Everyone was stunned,no more so than me, that Sorry came out to bat. Phew.  The only issue was when they would declare and regardlessunlikely to have enough overs to bowl us out.    If follow on was enforced and few wickets taken,this would have put us under pressure. A slow start early wicket, not worth getting excited about. R4C comes inand we reckon he forced issue of batting so he can achieve a personal milestone (with declaration once his tonreached proved to be the case- thanks for the favour to Middx).  True Middlesex fans were sick of thesight of him batting and the usual arguments were bashed out.   Mind you some had 3 days of thisand was getting a bit tiresome.  The entertainment was provided by roaming fox and jokes were made about maybe a free dinner for someone.  

As play is concluded,I was reflecting on how completely different my half day panned out and was itworth it.   Of course it was,although would have preferred decent weather and a meaningful lastsession.  My main thought was greatrelief that Sorry’s crazy tactics saved us from potential defeat.