Well, that mountain on Mars I mentioned proved impossible for Surrey to climb, as anticipated. I would have liked a little more fight from the boys as a unit, even if a frisky Middlesex did bowl very nicely, but at least Steven Davies proved it was possible to play a well-measured innings in the face of adversity. Still, given that Maynard found himself stabbed in the back by lady luck in the first innings you kind of knew that Davies wasn’t quite going to reach his century. And sure enough he fell just short, another cruel victim of the nasty nineties.
Well played Middlesex. My teeth are gritted, but congrats all the same. They were the only team that deserved to win when all was said and done.
What bugs me more than the result – which was disappointing given the amount of talent out there for Surrey – is that the pitchfork waving doom mongers will be out in force calling for Chris Adams’ head on a platter yet again. It’s getting a little old. Surrey need to rediscover some backbone as a team and, if I may be so bold as to venture, the supporters need to do exactly the same. Losing in such a humiliating manner is never nice but if we do, a degree of dignity goes an awful long way...
Anyhow, that’s the bad stuff out the way. The slightly more hopeful news is that Mr Ramprakash, he of the 113 first class centuries and slightly dodgy knee is playing for the Surrey 2nds tomorrow! South London prayers will no doubt be said for the continuation of his rapid recovery from injury and that the 40 over game will not aggravate the problem at all. Should all go well he may find himself in line for the Leicestershire game in a week’s time, which would be terrific news all round! The Rampants are rather excited at the prospect, and I imagine all the Surrey supporters are too! I guess they are all hoping that he brings with him not only all his skill, elegance and experience but that most vital ingredient in cricket: a little bit of luck!
Friday 29 April 2011
Thursday 28 April 2011
Climb every mountain...
Surrey v Middlesex
In a nutshell:
We weren’t very good. They were.
Having had Middlesex by the short and curlies at the very start of the game - with the much longed for wickets (three of the darlings!) of Yasir Arafat making a timely and welcome appearance - Surrey allowed the north London side to wriggle off the hook until they amassed a preposterous 445! The bowling cost Surrey very dearly in the afternoon of day one.
There was a lot of wildlife on display at Lords. A few little ducks for starters. There were also some headless chickens running about as well by the sound of it! The only people with crowing rights were the Middlesex supporters!
The skipper did his level best to drag the score into more reasonable territory but in the face of hardly any backup from his team mates – with one exception – things went so pear-shaped you’d expect to see Masterchef’s Greg Wallace attacking it with a spoon...
Maynard stood alone on the burning deck whilst everyone else either abandoned ship or tried to bail the water out using a sieve. Poor Tom, stranded on 98 not out...it may do his average the world of good, but that’s no consolation for missing out on another century.
Oh, and just to complete the feeling of wicketus collapsicus déjà vu, de Bruyn scored a princely 2 runs in two innings, Surrey having been stuck in again, although it sounds as if Finn bowled the ball of his life to dismiss him second time round. At the end of the day, I guess that's cricket for you! Last weeks heroes suddenly find themselves with the tables turned upon them.
Brilliant effort from Middlesex? Poor show from Surrey? Bit of both? You decide.
This is what I have learned from the two days thus far:
Surrey are missing Meaker.
Surrey are missing Ramps (please come back quickly)!
Surrey are attempting to send poor Chris Adams to an early grave.
Johnny Barran makes splendid unintentional double entendres live on the internet! (I bet Linley will never live down today’s comment!)
‘Climb every mountain’, sang Frauline Maria’s mother superior. Well, Surrey are staring up a huge pig of a mountain. With snow on the top. Brian Blessed’s probably there as well. And he’s eaten all the Kendal mint cake. Not to mention started an avalanche with his shouting. There’s no mountaineering equipment, and the air rescue department are unavailable due to being on holiday for the Royal Wedding.
Oh, and the mountain’s on Mars.
I don’t have an ‘eeek’ emoticon big enough!
Sunday 24 April 2011
Oh, my giddy aunt! Another draw!
Having done the first two days in one post I guess I ought to do the same for days three and four!
It was one of those odd games where the individual performances from both sides were mighty fine, but where the end result felt like being astride a Space Hopper with a slow puncture. After all that effort from Surrey with their massive one-innings total, and the equally belligerent and doughty resolve shown by Glamorgan not to succumb to pressure, the game fizzled into an inevitable draw. Not that draws are necessarily boring: the match in which Ramps got his 100th hundred was fairly entertaining until the rain brought proceedings to a close.
There were all manner of weird little injuries and setbacks throughout the four days. Meaker and Schofield both at various points appeared to be suffering from some malady and Dernbach’s unfortunate indisposition appeared to be the result of a tummy bug. There were bashed fingers on the Glamorgan side, and what at first appeared to be an assault from a wasp later turned out to be an attack of cramp! Both painful, but I’d personally take the cramp any day!
The unexpected rain that had turned up during day three greatly reduced Surrey’s chances of taking the game, as did some wonderful batting from Glamorgan. By the time the final wicket fell (in the nick of time) enabling Surrey to stick them in again, the game had all but slipped from their grasp. It’s all very well saying “just 10 good balls” but when the opposition are equally determined not to lay down and die you may as well add a zero to that number. It was a case of handshakes all round come the eve of five o’clock and the inevitable draw ensued.
The draw does Surrey no favours. It leaves them second bottom already, despite some exciting performances, and next week they will face a resurgent Middlesex who have two wins to their name already this season! Gloves are off now as far as I am concerned. I usually like Middlesex to a certain degree...but not this time. Just this once I’m actually hoping they are ritualistically and miraculously put through the grinder. Now would be a great time for Mr Arafat to find his mojo again, poor fellow. He must be wondering what he has to do to get a wicket: it’s just not happening for him at the moment. Maybe Middlesex will be the catalyst he needs.
After the cricket there was the new series of Doctor Who to look forward to, which got me thinking. Eleven Doctors: where would they play in a cricket team? Of course, the fifth Doctor – resplendent in his cricket whites – would be the obvious choice for captain, but what of the others? Can you just picture it?
Doc 1: My dear young man, that was never out! Now kindly stop bothering me and let me get on, hmmm?
Doc2: Jamie, when I say run...RUN!
Doc3: Good grief! What’s the little fellow in the white coat up to? If I can just reverse the polarity of this cricket ball...
Doc4: I say, Mr Umpire. Would you care for a jelly baby? What do you mean, bribing an umpire isn’t acceptable?!?
Doc5: Can’t stop...must dash! Speak later!
Doc6: Out?!? Out?!? What do you mean, OUT?!?
Doc7: How very splendid, Ace! A six straight off the middle of my umbrella!
Doc8: One moment! I can’t run! These shoes...they just don’t fit!
Doc9: Oi! Do you mind? There’s nothing wrong with a sonic cricket bat!
Doc10: Oh...brilliant shot! Absolutely brilliant! Well...sort of brilliant. Well...okayish. Well...actually it was rather poor, but nevermind. Alon-zi!
Doc11: Fish custard again for lunch break. Can somebody please get new caterers?
The possibilities are just endless!
Thursday 21 April 2011
A welcome in the valleys
The story so far:
It’s day two, at the Swalec in beautiful Wales. Surrey are playing Glamorgan.
No, I mean it. They are! Genuinely! Last year I made a comment that it seemed Surrey were always playing Glamorgan for some weird reason. Some problem with an unravelling causal-nexus, no doubt, or some freaky wormhole in time. But I wasn’t the only one who had remarked upon the fact that no matter how many different teams there were in division two, it always seemed to be Glamorgan that was playing against their team!
Alas, Mr Cosgrove (he of the stout heart and even larger waistline) no longer seems to play the longer form of the game for Glamorgan, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are no batsmen in their ranks. For that matter, I’m sure the idea of facing a Ramps-less Surrey must have allowed the Welsh side to really fancy their chances of stealing a march against Surrey, given the fact that a fair few previous encounters have ended in stalemate.
So, what do a maestro-less side do when the going gets tough? Answer: find someone prepared to stick around long enough to play the same brilliant type of innings!
Today Surrey found three people who did just that. Firstly, big props to Schofield who fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved hundred, run-out on 99! That is just plain cruel. Equally big kudos to de Bruyn who, ever since we started calling him Reg, has flourished beyond all expectations from the wonderful batsman we knew him to be, to a mega-batsman of Rampresque stature. You can’t really get a better compliment than that, so I won’t go on about it save to congratulate him on his 172.
But the star of the day was Tom Maynard, back facing the club from whence he had come to not a few unsporting boos and jeers from the Glamorgan supporters. The best riposte therefore that Maynard could have given came in the form of his fantastic 123...a well crafted innings that saw him delightedly punch the air when the big moment arrived. Whether he really deep down wanted to turn to the crowd, waggle his fingers in his ears and shout “na na na naa naah!” we will never know, as he was too much of a gentleman to respond in such a way.
I would have!
Imagine. A side boasting a middle order of a fully fit Ramps, de Bruyn and Maynard – and with Davies, Brown and Hamilton-Brown on their A game – would be nigh on impossible to face down! At last Surrey seem to have the men to support Mr Ramprakash, and hopefully that will allow him at long last to feel the burden of expectation being lifted from his shoulders. Although no doubt playing his own game whilst the likes of de Bruyn play theirs may result in some very silly and massive scores! If all elements of the puzzle slot into place this is potentially a very serious Surrey side.
And let’s say a word for the bowlers, because having declared on 575-7, the Surrey team manfully stuck to their task, with three wickets for Meaker and one for Batty. Glamorgan closed on 95-4, and will have to be mighty careful tomorrow not to lose any quick wickets or else they could find themselves facing the ignominy of being stuck in again...
The only slightly worrying side note was the absence of Dernbach, having bowled a few overs and then being taken off, either as a precaution or for ongoing physio. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.
So, from a Surrey point of view this has gone rather nicely at the end of play. Moment of the day however came from the magnificent Mark Church with the following piquant observation:
"Batty's pulled."
Pause.
"Hamilton Brown to one side..."
That would have been fast work indeed from Gareth Batty whilst still on the field of play!
It’s day two, at the Swalec in beautiful Wales. Surrey are playing Glamorgan.
No, I mean it. They are! Genuinely! Last year I made a comment that it seemed Surrey were always playing Glamorgan for some weird reason. Some problem with an unravelling causal-nexus, no doubt, or some freaky wormhole in time. But I wasn’t the only one who had remarked upon the fact that no matter how many different teams there were in division two, it always seemed to be Glamorgan that was playing against their team!
Alas, Mr Cosgrove (he of the stout heart and even larger waistline) no longer seems to play the longer form of the game for Glamorgan, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there are no batsmen in their ranks. For that matter, I’m sure the idea of facing a Ramps-less Surrey must have allowed the Welsh side to really fancy their chances of stealing a march against Surrey, given the fact that a fair few previous encounters have ended in stalemate.
So, what do a maestro-less side do when the going gets tough? Answer: find someone prepared to stick around long enough to play the same brilliant type of innings!
Today Surrey found three people who did just that. Firstly, big props to Schofield who fell agonisingly short of a well-deserved hundred, run-out on 99! That is just plain cruel. Equally big kudos to de Bruyn who, ever since we started calling him Reg, has flourished beyond all expectations from the wonderful batsman we knew him to be, to a mega-batsman of Rampresque stature. You can’t really get a better compliment than that, so I won’t go on about it save to congratulate him on his 172.
But the star of the day was Tom Maynard, back facing the club from whence he had come to not a few unsporting boos and jeers from the Glamorgan supporters. The best riposte therefore that Maynard could have given came in the form of his fantastic 123...a well crafted innings that saw him delightedly punch the air when the big moment arrived. Whether he really deep down wanted to turn to the crowd, waggle his fingers in his ears and shout “na na na naa naah!” we will never know, as he was too much of a gentleman to respond in such a way.
I would have!
Imagine. A side boasting a middle order of a fully fit Ramps, de Bruyn and Maynard – and with Davies, Brown and Hamilton-Brown on their A game – would be nigh on impossible to face down! At last Surrey seem to have the men to support Mr Ramprakash, and hopefully that will allow him at long last to feel the burden of expectation being lifted from his shoulders. Although no doubt playing his own game whilst the likes of de Bruyn play theirs may result in some very silly and massive scores! If all elements of the puzzle slot into place this is potentially a very serious Surrey side.
And let’s say a word for the bowlers, because having declared on 575-7, the Surrey team manfully stuck to their task, with three wickets for Meaker and one for Batty. Glamorgan closed on 95-4, and will have to be mighty careful tomorrow not to lose any quick wickets or else they could find themselves facing the ignominy of being stuck in again...
The only slightly worrying side note was the absence of Dernbach, having bowled a few overs and then being taken off, either as a precaution or for ongoing physio. Fingers crossed it’s not too bad.
So, from a Surrey point of view this has gone rather nicely at the end of play. Moment of the day however came from the magnificent Mark Church with the following piquant observation:
"Batty's pulled."
Pause.
"Hamilton Brown to one side..."
That would have been fast work indeed from Gareth Batty whilst still on the field of play!
Monday 11 April 2011
So Near and Yet So Far...
Surrey v Northants: Day Four
Well, the match finally stopped pinging and ponging, so to speak. The unexpected poor weather and the umpires finally colluded, decreeing that the game be terminated somewhat abruptly. It was a bit inconsiderate of the heavens to choose the last half hour or so to inflict bad light upon proceedings, but there you have it!
I’m sure that Surrey will be mostly pleased with the way they played over the last few days, but no doubt there will be some small amount of sighing when they look back on what might have been. As Chris Adams said, the overall effort was very good but those crucial moments on day one when the batsmen didn’t quite kick on from the excellent starts they got made the overall difference. Another 150 runs and Northants would have been stuffed from the word go. Instead Surrey let them get a very tricky lead.
So, having played one game and with a draw to their credit Surrey sit mid table, with Northants ironically 1 point head of them. Still, to use another overused phrase, let’s take the positives from it. This did look like a genuinely hungry Surrey team. There’s an energy there that I’ve not seen in a good while and a belief that they can do well. Long term, I think this is going to pay off for them. The batsmen at least look as if they have the ability to play a decent innings, as de Bruyn showed with his 90 odd runs before the lunchtime declaration. And the bowlers all performed very nicely, with some of them toiling away without the results they richly deserved for their effort.
Best moment for me: Meaker upending Sales’ stumps for the third occasion in as many encounters. Poor fella! I hope it’s a while before they next meet, because if Meaker does the same thing subsequently then Sales is going to end up with the nickname ‘Bugs’...
It did feel a bit of an anti-climax, with Surrey having claimed five scalps and Northants all-but deciding to throw in the towel as regards the run-chase, with not enough overs left in the day to make the effort worthwhile. Especially after the herculean efforts from both teams to gain the upper hand! But as the game came to an abrupt and somewhat subdued end, and even despite Churchy and Johnny Barran’s best efforts right to the very last ball, most of the Rampants had already turned over to ITV4 where Mr Ramps and Alec Stewart were punditing on the IPL.
Sorry Churchy...
Well, the match finally stopped pinging and ponging, so to speak. The unexpected poor weather and the umpires finally colluded, decreeing that the game be terminated somewhat abruptly. It was a bit inconsiderate of the heavens to choose the last half hour or so to inflict bad light upon proceedings, but there you have it!
I’m sure that Surrey will be mostly pleased with the way they played over the last few days, but no doubt there will be some small amount of sighing when they look back on what might have been. As Chris Adams said, the overall effort was very good but those crucial moments on day one when the batsmen didn’t quite kick on from the excellent starts they got made the overall difference. Another 150 runs and Northants would have been stuffed from the word go. Instead Surrey let them get a very tricky lead.
So, having played one game and with a draw to their credit Surrey sit mid table, with Northants ironically 1 point head of them. Still, to use another overused phrase, let’s take the positives from it. This did look like a genuinely hungry Surrey team. There’s an energy there that I’ve not seen in a good while and a belief that they can do well. Long term, I think this is going to pay off for them. The batsmen at least look as if they have the ability to play a decent innings, as de Bruyn showed with his 90 odd runs before the lunchtime declaration. And the bowlers all performed very nicely, with some of them toiling away without the results they richly deserved for their effort.
Best moment for me: Meaker upending Sales’ stumps for the third occasion in as many encounters. Poor fella! I hope it’s a while before they next meet, because if Meaker does the same thing subsequently then Sales is going to end up with the nickname ‘Bugs’...
It did feel a bit of an anti-climax, with Surrey having claimed five scalps and Northants all-but deciding to throw in the towel as regards the run-chase, with not enough overs left in the day to make the effort worthwhile. Especially after the herculean efforts from both teams to gain the upper hand! But as the game came to an abrupt and somewhat subdued end, and even despite Churchy and Johnny Barran’s best efforts right to the very last ball, most of the Rampants had already turned over to ITV4 where Mr Ramps and Alec Stewart were punditing on the IPL.
Sorry Churchy...
Sunday 10 April 2011
Swings and roundabouts
Surrey v Northants day 3
I may have to cut this report a tad short. I’m informed there’s a rogue wasp loose in the house.
Whilst I’m not as phobic as my sister when it comes to the nasty, striped, pointy ended barstewards (I don’t tend to turn into gibbering, high-pitched version of Beaker from the Muppets, arms flailing like a human windmill) I can’t say they’re my favourite things in the world. And the fact there’s one hiding in a corner somewhere waiting to get me is making me distinctly nervous.
Anyway, the story so far.
You will recall that the ping-pong like nature of yesterday’s play had meant that both Surrey and Northants appeared to have periods when each side got their snouts in front. Well, the same thing happened today with perplexing regularity. I’m still confused as to where this one is heading. An awful lot is going to depend on how long de Bruyn (or Reg) sticks around in the morning and how quickly he scores. It’s going to be a tricky balancing act; take too long and the game will dwindle to a draw. Undercook it and suddenly Northants will be chasing down that target like an avenging angel...
Middlebrook proved himself utterly obdurate in the face of reasonably decent Surrey bowling; probably now earning the title of the tail ender you would least like to face at the death. It took an absolute age to shift Hall courtesy of Gareth Batty, and by then the worst of the damage had been done. The Surrey lead was whittled down, then equalled, and then surpassed with rapidity. And just when you expected the next two to capitulate, both Lucas and Daggett refused to fall on their swords! Lucas did eventually go, and then finally Middlebrook (who had reached a well deserved century en route) succumbed for 103 just a few balls before lunch.
Hats off to them for making this game an interesting one if nothing else.
The opening partnership of Brown and Wilson finally had the chance to show what they could do by way of reply, and I think it potentially could be a good one for Surrey long-term. Brown put a relatively good total on the board before perishing for 46, but at least he will take a small amount of satisfaction with the way he batted. Wilson too got into the forties before being undone by a rather wicked googly. Are you seeing a pattern here? Remember the case of thirty-itus that struck down the batsmen on day one? Well, with the exception of Davies who sadly managed only a score of 11 in the second innings, each wicket that fell went in the forties (the skipper making 41). If de Bruyn makes 45 tomorrow or thereabouts you’ll know somebody has hexed us...
So, there you have it. The old cliché about the game being ‘delicately poised’ was never more true than in this instance. Surrey still have batting to come, but if things get sticky and de Bruyn falls cheaply you’d have to fancy Northants for the win, as the total they would be chasing probably wouldn’t be nearly enough. A score of 260 or thereabouts might at least give Surrey a chance of bowling Northants out, or at the least securing a draw, but anything less and it’s probably ‘Goodnight Vienna!’
With its many twists and turns, Deirdre would have loved this game! But I can’t help but feel she’d have loved it more were it to twist in Surrey’s favour!
I may have to cut this report a tad short. I’m informed there’s a rogue wasp loose in the house.
Whilst I’m not as phobic as my sister when it comes to the nasty, striped, pointy ended barstewards (I don’t tend to turn into gibbering, high-pitched version of Beaker from the Muppets, arms flailing like a human windmill) I can’t say they’re my favourite things in the world. And the fact there’s one hiding in a corner somewhere waiting to get me is making me distinctly nervous.
Anyway, the story so far.
You will recall that the ping-pong like nature of yesterday’s play had meant that both Surrey and Northants appeared to have periods when each side got their snouts in front. Well, the same thing happened today with perplexing regularity. I’m still confused as to where this one is heading. An awful lot is going to depend on how long de Bruyn (or Reg) sticks around in the morning and how quickly he scores. It’s going to be a tricky balancing act; take too long and the game will dwindle to a draw. Undercook it and suddenly Northants will be chasing down that target like an avenging angel...
Middlebrook proved himself utterly obdurate in the face of reasonably decent Surrey bowling; probably now earning the title of the tail ender you would least like to face at the death. It took an absolute age to shift Hall courtesy of Gareth Batty, and by then the worst of the damage had been done. The Surrey lead was whittled down, then equalled, and then surpassed with rapidity. And just when you expected the next two to capitulate, both Lucas and Daggett refused to fall on their swords! Lucas did eventually go, and then finally Middlebrook (who had reached a well deserved century en route) succumbed for 103 just a few balls before lunch.
Hats off to them for making this game an interesting one if nothing else.
The opening partnership of Brown and Wilson finally had the chance to show what they could do by way of reply, and I think it potentially could be a good one for Surrey long-term. Brown put a relatively good total on the board before perishing for 46, but at least he will take a small amount of satisfaction with the way he batted. Wilson too got into the forties before being undone by a rather wicked googly. Are you seeing a pattern here? Remember the case of thirty-itus that struck down the batsmen on day one? Well, with the exception of Davies who sadly managed only a score of 11 in the second innings, each wicket that fell went in the forties (the skipper making 41). If de Bruyn makes 45 tomorrow or thereabouts you’ll know somebody has hexed us...
So, there you have it. The old cliché about the game being ‘delicately poised’ was never more true than in this instance. Surrey still have batting to come, but if things get sticky and de Bruyn falls cheaply you’d have to fancy Northants for the win, as the total they would be chasing probably wouldn’t be nearly enough. A score of 260 or thereabouts might at least give Surrey a chance of bowling Northants out, or at the least securing a draw, but anything less and it’s probably ‘Goodnight Vienna!’
With its many twists and turns, Deirdre would have loved this game! But I can’t help but feel she’d have loved it more were it to twist in Surrey’s favour!
Saturday 9 April 2011
Surrey v Northants: Day 2
Don’t. Start. Me.
I’ve had it up to my neck with all the anti-Grand National idiots that conveniently come out the woodwork whenever a horse meets a regrettable end in the race. So, this is a blog post about cricket, and about the National, as I spent the day tying myself in knots trying to listen to both!
I go back a long way with the National. I’ve loved it since I was four. My enthusiasm for this historic sporting event is therefore unwavering, and I and have locked horns with people defending it. And will continue to do so.
I'm always sorry when horses are killed - I love horses (they are very noble animals). What gets my goat is when people single out the 'National for vitriol...I mean, if people think horse racing in general is cruel then okay: it's not a view I share but I can understand that line of thought. Picking on the 'National because it's so high profile is idiotic in my opinion. Horses tragically die every day at race courses but it gets no attention because few people watch racing on TV any more. But the world and his wife tune in for Aintree, and when fatalities sadly occur everybody's walking about with placards and banners.
There are aspects of racing I'm not so keen on - I wish that more money was donated from betting to go to equine welfare - and it took the rather high profile and sad case of my favourite ever racehorse to have the law made more favourable in that regard. But horses, whilst they are in training, live like absolute kings in 5 star accommodation. Some sadly have their lives cut short, but they'll have had a damn good life up to that unfortunate point! Most are better looked after than some people in this country. And the more vehement protesters who say that races like the 'national are cruel and liken it to out dated blood sports like bull fighting are missing one very obvious point: the object of horse racing is not to kill the horse. In bull fighting it is.
My issues with horse racing, such as they are, stem from what happens to the animals after their racing days are over. More care ought to be taken on that front.
I think I've always loved the 'National because it seems a bit like a metaphor for life: you get the best and the worst things reflected in it. Such wonderful, fabulous tales that you could sometimes not make up in fairy stories! And, alas, the more tragic side as well.
Sorry for rambling. I've had it with the drum beating, ill-informed people on Twitter who never look at the facts before opening their rather ridiculous mouths and sprouting nothing but nonsense.
It’s a good thing I had the cricket before and after the race to calm things down! Day two of Surrey versus Northants continued to swing in favour of first one team and then back to the other, and so on, to the extent where I now have not got the slightest clue as to who if anyone is going to come out on top! You would have been tempted (pre-Grand National) to say that it was Surrey’s day, because after a rather slow first hour things suddenly started to happen for the bowling side. Linley should be upgraded from Viscount to Duke if you ask me for his hard won fourfer. Absolutely brilliant! And, just when little annoying (from a Surrey p.o.v) partnerships threatened to spring up – for example White with a very respectable 78 – in stepped Linley to nip it in the bud. Having taken the first wicket for Surrey last year it came as no surprise that he should do so again today.
There were two wickets for Gareth Batty, and one for Meaker who memorably turned poor Sales into his Bunny by doing unto him exactly what he did last time he faced him, bowling him for a duck. I can’t see Sales being overly keen to face Meaker in the next Northants innings somehow...
With eight wickets down it seemed only a matter of time before either Middlebrook, who I rate highly, or Hall, managed to get out and so I switched my attention to the National expecting to find Surrey batting again when I came back. Not only was Surrey not batting, having come back to the game an hour later, but Middlebrook and Hall were still there! And all credit to them as well for sticking in so obdurately when it looked as if Northants were going to be swept away on a Linley shaped wave.
Tomorrow’s going to be crucial for both teams. Surrey have to get rid of this turbulent partnership double-quick, to paraphrase Henry the 2nd (although hopefully not using swords, cudgels and other pointy things). And more than anything, when they bat next the boys will have to stick in and not give their wickets away like most of their batsmen did first time round. Defeat in the first game should be unthinkable. Because I don’t think Chris Adams will be in the mood to accept anything but a win!
You think that ‘National is violent? Wait until you see the reviews in the papers if Surrey fails to deliver yet again. It’ll be a field day...
I’ve had it up to my neck with all the anti-Grand National idiots that conveniently come out the woodwork whenever a horse meets a regrettable end in the race. So, this is a blog post about cricket, and about the National, as I spent the day tying myself in knots trying to listen to both!
I go back a long way with the National. I’ve loved it since I was four. My enthusiasm for this historic sporting event is therefore unwavering, and I and have locked horns with people defending it. And will continue to do so.
I'm always sorry when horses are killed - I love horses (they are very noble animals). What gets my goat is when people single out the 'National for vitriol...I mean, if people think horse racing in general is cruel then okay: it's not a view I share but I can understand that line of thought. Picking on the 'National because it's so high profile is idiotic in my opinion. Horses tragically die every day at race courses but it gets no attention because few people watch racing on TV any more. But the world and his wife tune in for Aintree, and when fatalities sadly occur everybody's walking about with placards and banners.
There are aspects of racing I'm not so keen on - I wish that more money was donated from betting to go to equine welfare - and it took the rather high profile and sad case of my favourite ever racehorse to have the law made more favourable in that regard. But horses, whilst they are in training, live like absolute kings in 5 star accommodation. Some sadly have their lives cut short, but they'll have had a damn good life up to that unfortunate point! Most are better looked after than some people in this country. And the more vehement protesters who say that races like the 'national are cruel and liken it to out dated blood sports like bull fighting are missing one very obvious point: the object of horse racing is not to kill the horse. In bull fighting it is.
My issues with horse racing, such as they are, stem from what happens to the animals after their racing days are over. More care ought to be taken on that front.
I think I've always loved the 'National because it seems a bit like a metaphor for life: you get the best and the worst things reflected in it. Such wonderful, fabulous tales that you could sometimes not make up in fairy stories! And, alas, the more tragic side as well.
Sorry for rambling. I've had it with the drum beating, ill-informed people on Twitter who never look at the facts before opening their rather ridiculous mouths and sprouting nothing but nonsense.
It’s a good thing I had the cricket before and after the race to calm things down! Day two of Surrey versus Northants continued to swing in favour of first one team and then back to the other, and so on, to the extent where I now have not got the slightest clue as to who if anyone is going to come out on top! You would have been tempted (pre-Grand National) to say that it was Surrey’s day, because after a rather slow first hour things suddenly started to happen for the bowling side. Linley should be upgraded from Viscount to Duke if you ask me for his hard won fourfer. Absolutely brilliant! And, just when little annoying (from a Surrey p.o.v) partnerships threatened to spring up – for example White with a very respectable 78 – in stepped Linley to nip it in the bud. Having taken the first wicket for Surrey last year it came as no surprise that he should do so again today.
There were two wickets for Gareth Batty, and one for Meaker who memorably turned poor Sales into his Bunny by doing unto him exactly what he did last time he faced him, bowling him for a duck. I can’t see Sales being overly keen to face Meaker in the next Northants innings somehow...
With eight wickets down it seemed only a matter of time before either Middlebrook, who I rate highly, or Hall, managed to get out and so I switched my attention to the National expecting to find Surrey batting again when I came back. Not only was Surrey not batting, having come back to the game an hour later, but Middlebrook and Hall were still there! And all credit to them as well for sticking in so obdurately when it looked as if Northants were going to be swept away on a Linley shaped wave.
Tomorrow’s going to be crucial for both teams. Surrey have to get rid of this turbulent partnership double-quick, to paraphrase Henry the 2nd (although hopefully not using swords, cudgels and other pointy things). And more than anything, when they bat next the boys will have to stick in and not give their wickets away like most of their batsmen did first time round. Defeat in the first game should be unthinkable. Because I don’t think Chris Adams will be in the mood to accept anything but a win!
You think that ‘National is violent? Wait until you see the reviews in the papers if Surrey fails to deliver yet again. It’ll be a field day...
Friday 8 April 2011
C'mon the Reg!
So, here we are at the start of a new County Championship, brought vividly to life via the magnificent BBC London ball-by-ball internet coverage. Its commentators - the splendid Mark Church and the suave J Barran esquire – as ever do their level best to make sure we don’t miss a single stroke or ball bowled in anger. And, when like today, the action is bathed in unseasonal warm weather you can simply close your eyes and imagine you’re at the Oval, accompanied by the sound of leather hitting willow...
Unfortunately I was stuck at work running the annual Grand National office sweepstake this morning so I missed the opening salvos. When I got home Michael Brown had long since departed (for a second ball duck, poor fellow) and lovely Gary Wilson – who I still maintain should have the word ‘chirpy’ forever prefixing his name had followed suit for 29.
Dad hailed me with a “your team’s down two players” and my natural reaction was to stare back with dramatically widened eyes, and then I remembered Ramps was still sidelined and felt slightly better. For a few moments at least.
I do feel sorry for Michael Brown. All those months of hard work, trying to get fit after a year on the sidelines through injury, and then out for zero. But there will no doubt be better times ahead. The same goes for all those who felt the sting of the hurty-thirties, with de Bruyn, Maynard and Davies (or Reg, Winegum and Dangerous, as they are known to the Rampants) all suffering early middle-order crisis with scores of 35, 31 & 32 respectively). Actually, de Bruyn picked up his moniker today when our own wonderful Marilyn tried to offer some encouragement with a resounding if accidental typo of “come on the Reg” instead of the more customary battle cry of “come on the ‘rey!” Well, with de Bruyn in and going well at the time it seemed likely that was who she was referring to!
Reg did show us what he was capable of, however, if we had forgotten what a tricky player he can be. Maynard too. He was ticking along nicely with the skipper when he got out. And probably the least said about the Davies run out the better. I still maintain that immediately after lunch a man’s mind – if not his stomach – is on his digestive tract. Two balls after resuming and Davies was walking back to the pavilion. A bit of a shame because, like the others, he had a decent start that he could have capitalised on. And it’s never nice being run out, regardless of whether it’s your fault or someone else’s. Not to mention downright embarrassing...
RHB, a man on a mission to lead by example, provided one of the genuine moments of pride for Surrey with a well-paced, finely executed 74. He has the talent but last year was never really going to be a vintage one. Taking on the captaincy at such a tender age was always going to be a struggle of biblical proportions first season. This year it appears he knows he has to be one of the Surrey mainstays in the absence of Ramps, which I think basically means ‘don’t give your wicket away with a rush of blood to the head’. There were very few signs of impetuosity, certainly: it seemed like an innings that was level headed and controlled. Well, up to the point when he was given out lbw...
And if your top order doesn’t quite do what it should, what then? Well, in the recent past, Surrey did have a tendency to roll over and die when six or seven down, but last year there were signs on a good few occasions that the tail was more than capable of putting up a fight. And lo – today in stepped the mighty St Gareth of Batty to stop the seemingly inexorable slither to a total some way short of 300, with a resounding 64 of his own. Mr Batty really is beginning to fill that priceless roll of all-rounder. Fingers crossed he can be as successful with the ball should the pitch begin to turn on day two.
So, with Surrey all out for 322 claiming their three bonus batting points, and Northants also on three bowling points, it really is all to play for tomorrow: a day which I have to devote to the Grand National, so my multitasking skills will really be put to the test. Between listening to the cricket and watching the racing from Aintree I shall be so distracted that were Clare Balding to pull on some pads and have a bat, nothing would surprise me!
Unfortunately I was stuck at work running the annual Grand National office sweepstake this morning so I missed the opening salvos. When I got home Michael Brown had long since departed (for a second ball duck, poor fellow) and lovely Gary Wilson – who I still maintain should have the word ‘chirpy’ forever prefixing his name had followed suit for 29.
Dad hailed me with a “your team’s down two players” and my natural reaction was to stare back with dramatically widened eyes, and then I remembered Ramps was still sidelined and felt slightly better. For a few moments at least.
I do feel sorry for Michael Brown. All those months of hard work, trying to get fit after a year on the sidelines through injury, and then out for zero. But there will no doubt be better times ahead. The same goes for all those who felt the sting of the hurty-thirties, with de Bruyn, Maynard and Davies (or Reg, Winegum and Dangerous, as they are known to the Rampants) all suffering early middle-order crisis with scores of 35, 31 & 32 respectively). Actually, de Bruyn picked up his moniker today when our own wonderful Marilyn tried to offer some encouragement with a resounding if accidental typo of “come on the Reg” instead of the more customary battle cry of “come on the ‘rey!” Well, with de Bruyn in and going well at the time it seemed likely that was who she was referring to!
Reg did show us what he was capable of, however, if we had forgotten what a tricky player he can be. Maynard too. He was ticking along nicely with the skipper when he got out. And probably the least said about the Davies run out the better. I still maintain that immediately after lunch a man’s mind – if not his stomach – is on his digestive tract. Two balls after resuming and Davies was walking back to the pavilion. A bit of a shame because, like the others, he had a decent start that he could have capitalised on. And it’s never nice being run out, regardless of whether it’s your fault or someone else’s. Not to mention downright embarrassing...
RHB, a man on a mission to lead by example, provided one of the genuine moments of pride for Surrey with a well-paced, finely executed 74. He has the talent but last year was never really going to be a vintage one. Taking on the captaincy at such a tender age was always going to be a struggle of biblical proportions first season. This year it appears he knows he has to be one of the Surrey mainstays in the absence of Ramps, which I think basically means ‘don’t give your wicket away with a rush of blood to the head’. There were very few signs of impetuosity, certainly: it seemed like an innings that was level headed and controlled. Well, up to the point when he was given out lbw...
And if your top order doesn’t quite do what it should, what then? Well, in the recent past, Surrey did have a tendency to roll over and die when six or seven down, but last year there were signs on a good few occasions that the tail was more than capable of putting up a fight. And lo – today in stepped the mighty St Gareth of Batty to stop the seemingly inexorable slither to a total some way short of 300, with a resounding 64 of his own. Mr Batty really is beginning to fill that priceless roll of all-rounder. Fingers crossed he can be as successful with the ball should the pitch begin to turn on day two.
So, with Surrey all out for 322 claiming their three bonus batting points, and Northants also on three bowling points, it really is all to play for tomorrow: a day which I have to devote to the Grand National, so my multitasking skills will really be put to the test. Between listening to the cricket and watching the racing from Aintree I shall be so distracted that were Clare Balding to pull on some pads and have a bat, nothing would surprise me!
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Here we go again!
So, here we are. The first championship game of the year is hurtling towards us like...a giant hurtling thing. I’ve been quite bursting with anticipation (not a pretty sight at the best of times) over the last few weeks for the start of the county championship, even although it feels pretty odd that Mr R won’t be fit to take to the field for some time yet. As a Surrey fan I am interested to see how the team do in his absence. As a Ramps fan it’s just a little weird...a bit like Destiny’s Child without Beyoncé.
That was a strange analogy! Anyhow, you know what I mean.
Surrey have already gone through their pre-season warm ups, and I think we have to accept that this is exactly what they are and basically not panic before the main event. It was lovely to see Michael Brown return, and equally magnificent to hear that Chris Jordan is back and bowling (not to mention taking wickets) for the team. I do think that Surrey need the maestro back as soon as possible, however, looking at the rather Ramprakash-sized gap in the middle order scores. People like Ramps – and let’s be honest, Dominic Cork, Robert Croft and Marcus Trescothick – are more than just run scorers or wicket takers. They are lucky charms and bring not only years of experience with them but have that bit of magic about them: the aura that belongs to the battle scarred veterans who cheat time, and hold the seasons at bay.
Surrey will be missing their chief lion for the first part of the season, but it needn’t all be doom and gloom. The show must go on, and fingers crossed by the time everyone is fit and firing Surrey will be winning games once again.
Best of luck, lads!
That was a strange analogy! Anyhow, you know what I mean.
Surrey have already gone through their pre-season warm ups, and I think we have to accept that this is exactly what they are and basically not panic before the main event. It was lovely to see Michael Brown return, and equally magnificent to hear that Chris Jordan is back and bowling (not to mention taking wickets) for the team. I do think that Surrey need the maestro back as soon as possible, however, looking at the rather Ramprakash-sized gap in the middle order scores. People like Ramps – and let’s be honest, Dominic Cork, Robert Croft and Marcus Trescothick – are more than just run scorers or wicket takers. They are lucky charms and bring not only years of experience with them but have that bit of magic about them: the aura that belongs to the battle scarred veterans who cheat time, and hold the seasons at bay.
Surrey will be missing their chief lion for the first part of the season, but it needn’t all be doom and gloom. The show must go on, and fingers crossed by the time everyone is fit and firing Surrey will be winning games once again.
Best of luck, lads!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
