Middlesex CCC
Is Kev at Grace Road or Grace Gates?
Lords fpr me
By Barmy Kev
May 31 2010
Barmy Kev reports from Lords on some of events at Leicester , but mainly his experience at test match and the Middlesex presence.
Originally I was planning to go to Grace Road today. I was put off by state of game and tempted by £10 a ticket for the test at Lords. There was something in this game, a Middlesex interest and an easier cheaper day. I felt I should really be going to Grace Road, but my head ruled my heart.
I thought the special offer it would be popular and maybe should have got up earlier. But I followed my normal 11am Lords start routine. Leave around 10:15am and normally arrive having missed a couple of overs. There was no Jubilee Line so got Northern Line from Edgware to Chalk Farm and made a very pleasant walk over Primrose Hill to Lords-I really like this stroll. As walking along St Johns Wood Terrace not a hint of cricket fan. As I approached North Gate appeared to be short queue for turnstiles, should get in soon. Then steward pointed out I needed to join back of queue to get ticket first. This queue went back and further back through 3 different roads and seemed never ending. It was 11:30 by time I reached the end. I was wondering if I’d ever get in. I checked phone for score updates. England had taken an early wicket and yikes Middx lost 3 wickets for 35. I am a bad queuer (don’t ever go shopping with me) and not very happy with Middx position so not in best of moods. As I get to front of queue Middx are still 3 wickets down and Bangladesh now 8 down.
Even though I had no alcohol, I was relieved no bag searches taking place and could get just get in ground. I wanted to sit in Upper Compo, but was blocked off. So went to Upper Edrich, which was packed. This is my home ground, I normally have 3 seats to myself and can’t find one. At this stage a steward said Upper Compo now opened. A further unnecessary 10 minute delay as I returned there but at least stand empty. I worked out my actual door to ground timing was same as I anticipated to Leicester. I sat at my seat and realised I missed Hi Fi's Michelle (5fer)- shame.
So concentrating on test Bangla had 140 lead with 8 wickets down. This was a position only Middlesex could throw away. There was a stubborn 8th wicket stand with plenty of playing and missing and all runs to 3rd man, yet there was no 3rd man, yet a mid on and mid off who were superfluous. A bit of tactical naivety from Strauss, I thought.
I checked phone and saw still 3 wickets down at Grace Road, Checked again later no Internet access so could concentrate on cricket I was at.
The crowd free of corporate sorts were quite knowledgeable and into cricket which was pleasant. Also, with kids in free nice to see families. As the kid behind me mentioned Strauss hasn’t touched ball, he caught a nifty one at first slip and soon after all out just before lunch setting 160.
As walking outfor lunch a steward who recognised me said can't wait for proper 4-day cricket, which I concurred. He said it’s been chaos with unexpected high demand and they were struggling to cope. It was a good-natured well-behaved crowd, which was just as well. I was then amazed the crowd were allowed on pitch during interval- excellent idea. I then resented queuing for my urgent call of nature. Having completed that task, I made my way to Middlesex Shop, where Eric advised Middx something for 3 at lunch. An anonymous member of staff suggested having seen that Ped Vid, Beefy and me didn’t enter Eurovision Song Contest. Meanwhile, it was nice to see Middx Merchandise selling, people enquiring about membership and 20/20 tickets. Mind you the queues at Lords Shop longer.
So after lunch 160 required. If England score at 4 an over it’s finished by tea, which I wanted as wasn’t enthralled and it was cold. First ball, Strauss hits for 4 as he does 3rd ball. In fact he is in a hurry too for a pre tea finish. He looks far more relaxed than when playing for Middlesex , but then again this bowling is Minor County standard which (apart from Sorry) has not had to face. The way he was dominating could see a ton out of 160, especially as Cook looked very uncomfortable. Once Cook out, Trott dominated scoring and as England meandering to victory seemed unlikely Strauss if carried bat would get ton. Strauss was on 60 with 40 needed and scored almost all of next 20 and worked out if he kept going and got 6 off last ball could still make it. As I was doing sums he is out. I was with crowd happy to applaud him back, but felt it was shame he was walking to sparse pavilion.
I still had no phone internet so relied on Beefy updates. Just after lunch, he mentioned 3 down with Ace and AC in, I was sure it was Dext. I then get text straight after, which normally indicates a wicket , no phew correction it is Dext in. Only 1 more text no further wickets and we were safe.
Back to Lords. As Strauss was out KP came in above Bell to massive cheer. I didn’t join in. With KP and Trott inevitably someone shouted out “Come on South Africa”. The target was far too easy, although a maiden over to KP with 1 run needed was amusing.
Match over, I was not particularly overwhelmed. Another text from Beefy no more Middx wickets 301-3.
As walking through Primrose Hill where lots of celebs hang out I was looking for someone famous. Then someone stopped me saying they recognised me from MTWD website. Not a contributor but an avid reader and spotted me from Holland pictures. He was very complimentary about the site and reports etc. Made me feel this was all worthwhile. Cheers Jeff.
Now had Internet coverage on phone and clear draw only option at Grace Road.
Arrive home at 5pm. Tune into Kevin Hand reading a Ged e-mail. I emailed him telling him briefly of my day at test, which he read. Then interestingly he and IOB were talking about reducing CC games. One poignant point made that there was crowd of 200 there, all these members who want to preserve CC where were they? Me I was a test match instead. Sorry, I can promise I won’t do it again.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:02:07:51:07 by Ged.
Good knock by Straussey though he got away with a few gungho shots and was I think dropped at slip on 31. Still he deserved a bit of luck.
Good to see Finny get a deserved fivefer and MOM.
The weather forecast 4 2moro at Grace Road ain't great. We still have 7 overs to get 44 runs and the 5th batting point.
Watch yourself on those London Hills with men approaching you though , some of them offer quite strange propositions.
All MIddlesex need is a few more runs and the saving grace of the weather tommorow .
Grace Gates , Grace Road , Grace of God , this weekend will live long in the memory of many ,mainly the kids and youngsters who got a taste of meaningful Test cricket for free or a tenner , well done MCC (and MCCC)
Great report, thanks
Kimmy
I had been saying for months that I was hoping to go to Wimbledon today, but even if I hadn't then my mum would have probably made suggestions about how we should spend the day (probably by going on a train ride somewhere, and indeed part of what motivated my mum to go today was the train ride) and I don't think going to day five of the Test match was ever on the cards, although obviously had there not been a match at Wimbledon then I would have liked to have gone to Lord's.
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:Jonathan Winsky
If people must know what I did today, my parents and I went to Surrey 2nd XI v Middlesex 2nd XI in a split-innings 40-over match at Wimbledon, in which Surrey won by seven wickets, although I don't want people to start asking me things like what scores everyone made and how did everyone get out. I expect Surrey's website to publish a report tomorrow and I am sure a scorecard will be available sooner or later on Cricket Archive.
The scorecard is now available on Cricket Archive while a report is available on Surrey's website.
My personal assessment is that Middlesex lost the match in the first 'quarter' as we batted first and made 79-3 off our first 20 overs, whereas in the three other 'quarters' there were lots of runs scored. Surrey scored 116-0 off their first 20 overs and then Middlesex scored another 155 for the loss of seven more wickets to take their score to 234 all out. Surrey took a further 16.3 overs to score the further 119 required to win, losing three wickets.
I suppose Surrey got the best of the first, second and fourth quarters, but Middlesex seemed to get the best of the third quarter.
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)
Oh dear oh dear.
